[Interview] Make Each Second Cinematic: How Cinematic LUT Transforms Video on the Galaxy S26 Collection


Past excessive decision, video traits are shifting towards temper and emotional storytelling. Samsung Electronics debuted the Superior Skilled Video (APV) codec on Galaxy S26 Extremely, laying the groundwork for cell video manufacturing whereas sustaining picture high quality and minimising loss throughout enhancing.

 

In response, Samsung requested a easy query — can anybody create Hollywood-style movies on a Galaxy cell phone? The reply is the Cinematic Look-Up Desk (Cine LUT) characteristic on the Galaxy S26 sequence. Whereas the APV codec gives the inspiration for cinema-quality video, Cine LUT brings a definite color model to the footage.

 

Cine LUT makes professional-level color grading — as soon as reserved for specialists — accessible to anybody. Samsung collaborated with inside groups and exterior specialists to convey the characteristic to life. The Cell eXperience (MX) Enterprise led closing digicam implementation, Samsung Analysis developed core video processing applied sciences and U5K Imageworks — a colourist studio behind globally recognised productions — helped form its visible aesthetic.

 

Following the introduction of the APV codec, which delivers a visually lossless stage of picture high quality, Samsung Newsroom spoke with three key builders behind Cine LUT — Sugon Baek of the Digicam Picture High quality R&D Group on the MX Enterprise, Bomi Kim of the Actuality Media Lab at Samsung Analysis and Taesik Eom, CEO of U5K Imageworks — to listen to the story of its creation.

 

▲ (From left) Taesik Eom, Bomi Kim and Sugon Baek

 

Q. What’s a LUT? What units Cine LUT on the Galaxy S26 sequence aside?

 

Baek: A LUT is actually a “map” that transforms one set of colors right into a desired look. In contrast to standard filters that merely overlay color, Cine LUT reinterprets Samsung Log[1] footage to ship the depth and look {of professional} filmmaking.

 

Kim: It’s optimised for Log video. By leveraging its large gradation,[2] the characteristic exactly reconstructs color and brightness to protect delicate tonal particulars typically misplaced with standard filters for richer, extra pure depth.

 

 

▲ Comparability of Log footage in commonplace settings and with the Thriller LUT and Blockbuster LUT

 

▲ Taesik Eom, CEO of U5K Imageworks

Q. What challenges did you face throughout improvement?

 

Kim: We wanted a big information set to validate efficiency throughout numerous situations. Testing in real-world environments — from pure and indoor lighting to day and night time — and shut collaboration have been key to capturing the nuances of color.

 

Baek: Sustaining constant, undistorted color in several environments was difficult. By means of steady testing, we developed a LUT that balances subjective desire with goal high quality.

 

Q. What was the important thing consideration in creating appears to be like optimised for cell phones?

 

Eom: Guaranteeing dependable efficiency in real-world situations was key. Since lighting, publicity and white stability continuously differ, we targeted on creating appears to be like that stay pure in any scenario.

 

Kim: High quality was our prime precedence. We analysed every body and validated efficiency utilizing instruments like color charts, grey stability and vector scopes.

 

Q. Why have been these 4 types chosen for the Galaxy S26 sequence?

 

Baek: We analysed the visible language of common movie genres and recognized 4 consultant types. From the high-contrast Blockbuster to the contemporary Coming-of-age, heat Romance and moody Thriller, every color palette was designed to provide on a regular basis scenes an immediate cinematic look.

 

 

▲ Comparability of Log footage in commonplace settings and with the Coming-of-age LUT and Romance LUT

 

Q. What led to the event of Cine LUT?

 

Kim: Whereas Galaxy gadgets supported Log video for high-quality seize, color grading remained difficult for customers. We aimed to make professional-looking outcomes accessible with out superior enhancing abilities.

 

Baek: We needed to create an expertise that lets customers preview cinematic footage in the intervening time of seize, then apply a LUT and share the video with a single faucet within the Gallery.

 

▲ (From left) Bomi Kim of the Actuality Media Lab at Samsung Analysis and Sugon Baek of the Digicam Picture High quality R&D Group, MX Enterprise

 

Q. How did the collaboration with U5K Imageworks start? How was Cine LUT developed?

 

Eom: Our collaboration started two years in the past with Rec. 709 LUT advisory work for Samsung Log video, the place we refined sturdy colors into extra pure tones — an expertise that led to Cine LUT. For this mission, we developed a number of variations throughout three depth ranges — impartial, comfortable and powerful — and examined them in numerous scenes, in the end deciding on 4 core types.

 

Kim: Constructing on U5K’s color course, we validated the ideas towards quantitative standards to make sure constant efficiency in several environments, refining them by testing till inventive intent and technical high quality aligned.

 

 

 

▲ Customers can preview Cine LUTs when taking pictures in Log and simply apply them to recorded footage utilizing enhancing instruments.

Q. Which Cine LUT types do you suggest for various conditions?

 

Eom: There’s no mounted reply — it will depend on the scenario. Blockbuster fits high-contrast environments like outside and concrete scenes; Coming-of-age matches comfortable, fashionable settings like cafes or vlogs; Romance provides heat to character-driven scenes; and Thriller creates a extra putting impression.

 

Q. What stood out to you in person suggestions?

 

Baek: We anticipated it may be seen as simply one other video impact, however the response exceeded expectations. Customers rapidly recognised that combining Log taking pictures with Cine LUTs expands inventive prospects past easy filters. We’re additionally seeing extra customers select types based mostly on the scene, with high-quality movies broadly shared on social media — and even inspiring new methods to create content material.

 

Q. What are your plans for the long run?

 

Baek: We goal to additional set up the Galaxy S26 sequence as a professional-grade digicam. We hope to see extra content material that resonates with each creators and viewers and can proceed to set new requirements in video creation.

 

Kim: Because the world adjustments quickly, our purpose is to establish next-generation applied sciences. By means of shut collaboration with enterprise divisions, we’ll work to convey them into merchandise and ship modern experiences to customers all over the world.

 

▲ Baek, Eom and Kim watch a video with Cine LUT utilized.

 

Born from shut collaboration, Cine LUT on the Galaxy S26 sequence transforms on a regular basis moments into cinematic visuals. Past its technical achievements, the characteristic marks an necessary step towards making video creation extra accessible — reducing boundaries as soon as reserved for professionals and enabling anybody to specific themselves.

 

Heesub Han, a business and documentary director, shot a sequence of brief movies on Galaxy S26 Extremely utilizing the APV codec and Samsung Log. Discover the movies beneath to find the chances of Cine LUT by the making-of and brief movies.

 

 



 

[1] The Intel vPro® platform is simply out there for the 14-inch mannequin of the Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Version.

[2] UK particular enterprise Service Centre for UK service necessities.