wkflw_ARRI_Software_ACTlogo

ARRI Color Tool (ACT)

The editor for ARRI Look File-2.

ARRI Color Tool is a free utility for creating the new ARRI Look File 2 for ALEXA LF, ALEXA SXT, ALEXA 65, ALEXA Mini, and AMIRA cameras. You can use the ARRI Color Tool to create a completely new look or modify an existing look based on Log C Apple ProRes clips or Log C *.dpx grabs from all ARRI cameras.

Some third-party post processing tools do not support ALF2 looks natively. ACT allows one to export 3D LUTs in order to be compatible with these tools. ACT is available for Mac OS X and Windows x64.

This software does not support ALEXA 35, please refer to our combined ARRI Reference Tool (ART) for viewing, rendering, look file creation, or metadata extraction with ALEXA 35.


New features of ACT 1.8

  • Added support of all new ALEXA Mini LF MXF/ProRes recording formats:
    • ALEXA Mini LF Open Gate: 4.5K MXF/ProRes
    • ALEXA Mini LF 2.39:1: 4.5K MXF/ProRes
    • ALEXA Mini LF 16:9: UHD, 2K and HD MXF/ProRes

Please have a look at our ACT Release Notes for important information or changes.

Please note:

ARRI Look Creator and ARRI Look File 1 has been replaced by the ARRI Color Tool and the ARRI Look File 2 in our camera line-up since AMIRA, ALEXA Mini and ALEXA SXT.


The ARRI Look File 1 applied in the ALEXA camera enables DPs to view images on set that convey their full creative intentions. A look file can be previewed on monitors or recorded into the image; either way all the metadata that define the look travel embedded in the media into postproduction.

Look files are different from look-up tables (LUTs or 3D LUTs), which can change one color space to another, for example from Log C to Video. The ARRI Look File 1 is a purely creative tool, used within the ALEXA Classic and ALEXA XT camera itself. It might be created by the colorist or by the DP, but in either case they encourage greater and earlier interaction between production and post, and allow monitors on the set to give a good idea of what the final look for each scene might be.

The ARRI Look Creator is a MAC OS X application that enables you to create look files for ALEXA/ALEXA XT through an easy-to-use interface. It is based on film lab thinking, with printer light settings; you can download a quick guide along with the tool to get you started.

In the Look Creator, look file creation is based on a Log C DPX picture grab taken from an ALEXA Classic or ALEXA XT camera; creating looks based on ARRIRAW clips is possible in the ARRIRAW Converter.

ARRI Look File 1 conversion:
If you need to convert an ARRI Look File 1 *.xml to a 3D-LUT please use the ARRI Color Tool. ALEXA Classic up to ALEXA XT do NOT support ARRI Look File 2. Instead they use its predecessor ARRI Look File 1. To create ALF-1 look you need our very legacy ARRI Look Creator.

For questions or help, please contact our workflow department via digitalworkflow@arri.de