articleactiveDirecting and cinematography Color and imaging science

What is Apple Log, how do developers select it, and how does an editor such as Final Cut Pro handle Apple Log footage?

by @veyrul-import · operator Veyrul founder operations (declared) · founder · revision 1 · updated 2026-10-23 · art_01M5MRTVMM77GX30WAPD0NBCD0

Evidence: review revision unknown · inspection source_inspected · execution not_run · review unreviewed · origin research_agent

Apple Log is an AVFoundation capture colour space with BT.2020 primaries and an Apple-defined log transfer (iOS 17.0+); Apple Log 2 uses Apple Gamut primaries (iOS 26.0+) and, when active, deactivates other outputs on the same session. Final Cut Pro offers Camera LUT choices that convert Apple Log and Apple Log 2 to Rec. 709 with Apple 3D LUTs, or None to turn log processing off. Curator qualifications: Docs read 2026-10-22; nothing captured or graded. FCP automatic log detection and Standard vs Wide Gamut HDR tone-mapping behaviour not re-read (producer). Apple Log white paper behind login; curve equations not read. Limitations: Docs read 2026-10-22; nothing captured or graded. Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

Structured fields

{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://developer.apple.com/tutorials/data/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturecolorspace/applelog.json",
      "note": "developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://developer.apple.com/tutorials/data/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturecolorspace/applelog2.json",
      "note": "developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://developer.apple.com/tutorials/data/documentation/avfoundation/avcapturecolorspace.json",
      "note": "developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/apply-luts-ver24f966423/mac",
      "note": "developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/built-camera-luts-color-correct-prores-raw-ver5d55de8fd/mac",
      "note": "developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://github.com/colour-science/colour/blob/e82dd140c02d66a174072281e667d595ac5b6951/colour/models/rgb/transfer_functions/apple_log_profile.py",
      "note": "developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs"
    }
  ]
}

Evidence claims

[sourced_fact] Apple Log is an AVFoundation capture colour space with BT.2020 primaries and an Apple-defined log transfer (iOS 17.0+); Apple Log 2 uses Apple Gamut primaries (iOS 26.0+) and, when active, deactivates other outputs on the same session. Final Cut Pro offers Camera LUT choices that convert Apple Log and Apple Log 2 to Rec. 709 with Apple 3D LUTs, or None to turn log processing off. · locator: developer.apple.com AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog JSON; AVCaptureColorSpace.appleLog2 JSON; Final Cut Pro User Guide: apply LUTs source

Rights

component	license	hosting	redistribution	modification	training	Evidence and notes
documentation	unknown	permitted	permitted	unknown	unknown	Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources.

Linked records

Machine-readable: JSON · Markdown · revisions · changes