How to Use a Custom LUT for OBS Webcam White Balance

Correcting the white balance of your webcam in OBS Studio can significantly improve your video quality. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step process to generate a custom Look-Up Table (LUT) and apply it as a filter in OBS Studio, allowing you to achieve natural, balanced colors for your live streams or recordings.

Step 1: Download the Original OBS LUT Template

To create a custom LUT, you need the default neutral LUT PNG file that OBS Studio uses as a baseline. 1. Open OBS Studio. 2. Right-click your webcam source in the Sources dock and select Filters. 3. Click the + icon under Effect Filters and select Apply LUT. 4. In the filter settings, click Browse. This will open the folder containing OBS’s default LUTs. 5. Copy the file named original.png (or download a standard 512x512 neutral LUT grid online) and save it to a convenient location on your computer, like your Desktop.

Step 2: Capture a Screenshot of Your Webcam

  1. Set up your lighting exactly how you intend to stream or record.
  2. In OBS Studio, right-click your webcam preview and select Screenshot (Source).
  3. Save this screenshot to your computer. You will use it as a visual reference for color correction.

Step 3: Color Correct in an Image Editor

You will need an image editing software that supports adjustment layers, such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Photopea (free online editor). 1. Open your webcam screenshot in the image editor. 2. Import the original.png neutral LUT template and place it on a separate layer on top of your screenshot. Keep it in a corner where it does not block your face. 3. Add adjustment layers (such as Curves, Levels, or Color Balance) to correct the white balance of your screenshot. Focus on making skin tones look natural and neutralizing any yellow, blue, or green color casts. 4. Ensure these adjustment layers are placed at the very top of your layers list so they apply to both your webcam screenshot and the small LUT template image. 5. Once the screenshot looks color-accurate, crop the image so that only the small LUT template grid is selected. 6. Export this cropped image as a PNG file. Name it something recognizable, like webcam_white_balance_lut.png. Make sure you do not compress the image, as LUTs require exact pixel colors.

Step 4: Apply the Custom LUT in OBS Studio

  1. Return to OBS Studio.
  2. Right-click your webcam source and select Filters.
  3. Select the Apply LUT filter you created in Step 1 (or add a new one by clicking the + icon).
  4. Click Browse and select your newly created custom PNG LUT file.
  5. Use the Amount slider to adjust the intensity of the color correction. Setting it to 1.00 applies the filter fully, but you can lower it if the effect is too strong.
  6. Click Close. Your webcam will now display corrected white balance and accurate colors in real-time.