Film Print Emulation Display LUTs vs Film Look LUTs

I've noticed that the free version of Resolve locks you out of using the film print emulation display LUTs but allows me to apply various "film look" type LUTs onto nodes and clips.

To me, this implies there is a significant difference in the way these different LUT types affect the footage, and that the film print emulation display LUTs are over all much better for my intended use in some way that I don't understand the details of. Am I on the right track?

I'm investing in a film print of my personal project, and I'd like to grade for that print as accurately as possible. Thanks

That's not the way to accomplish what you're trying to get. Talk to the company that's going to do the film-out of your project and ask them what they want. A film LUT will not necessarily show you what it will look like recorded-out to film and then turned into a print at a photochemical film lab.

Generally, the Print Film Emulation (PFE) LUTs in Resolve were intended to be used with DPX film scans in Log space, so it expects to see a log image and then turn it into a Rec709/gamma 2.4 signal. It's fair to say this is a very complicated area with a lot of potential for error and problems.

Fotokem in Burbank is a good lab with a lot of experience dealing with indie filmmakers who want to make film copies of people's digital projects, and they have decent expertise at it. I'd recommend them as being able to give you good advice as to what they'd need from you in order to wind up with a 35mm print copy of your project. They're set up to just have people grade their film in normal Rec709/gamma 2.4 (normal TV distribution), then use their own proprietary LUTs going to their Arrilaser film recorders, recording on and then they make minor changes as needed to create a timed print from the negative. I believe Kodak Digital Intermediate 5254 negative is pretty standard for people going out to film these days.

That's not the way to accomplish what you're trying to get. Talk to the company that's going to do the film-out of your project and ask them what they want. A film LUT will not necessarily show you what it will look like recorded-out to film and then turned into a print at a photochemical film lab.

Generally, the Print Film Emulation (PFE) LUTs in Resolve were intended to be used with DPX film scans in Log space, so it expects to see a log image and then turn it into a Rec709/gamma 2.4 signal. It's fair to say this is a very complicated area with a lot of potential for error and problems.

Fotokem in Burbank is a good lab with a lot of experience dealing with indie filmmakers who want to make film copies of people's digital projects, and they have decent expertise at it. I'd recommend them as being able to give you good advice as to what they'd need from you in order to wind up with a 35mm print copy of your project. They're set up to just have people grade their film in normal Rec709/gamma 2.4 (normal TV distribution), then use their own proprietary LUTs going to their Arrilaser film recorders, recording on and then they make minor changes as needed to create a timed print from the negative. I believe Kodak Digital Intermediate 5254 negative is pretty standard for people going out to film these days.

Thank you so much, this clears up a great deal of confusion for me lol. I'm definitely going to look into Fotokem.