Color grading is one of the most powerful ways to transform ordinary footage into something that looks cinematic and professional. LUTs — Look-Up Tables — are the fastest tool in a video editor's color workflow. In just one click, a LUT can apply a complete, consistent color grade across your entire footage. This guide covers what LUTs are, how to use them in the most popular editing software, and our top 5 free LUTs every video editor should have in 2026.
What is a LUT?
A LUT (Look-Up Table) is a mathematical file that maps one set of color values to another. When you apply a LUT to your footage, every pixel's color is transformed according to the LUT's formula — the result is a complete color grade applied instantly and consistently to every frame of your clip.
LUTs come in two main categories. Technical LUTs convert footage between color spaces — for example, converting Log footage from a camera into standard Rec.709 for delivery. Creative LUTs apply artistic looks such as film emulation, teal-and-orange Hollywood grades, or vintage faded styles.
For most video editors, Creative LUTs are what you will use most in your everyday workflow to quickly establish a visual mood for your project.
How to Apply LUTs in Adobe Premiere Pro
Open your project in Premiere Pro. Select the clip you want to grade in the timeline.
Open the Lumetri Color panel from the Window menu (Window → Lumetri Color).
Under the Basic Correction tab, click the Browse button next to "Input LUT". Navigate to your downloaded .cube LUT file and select it. The grade is applied immediately.
Alternatively, go to the Creative tab and browse under the "Look" section to apply the LUT as a stylistic layer on top of your base correction.
After applying a LUT, lower the Intensity slider to around 60–80% instead of leaving it at 100%. This blends the grade with your original footage for a more balanced and natural result. Very few professional colorists use LUTs at full strength.
How to Apply LUTs in DaVinci Resolve
In the Color page, right-click on your clip's node in the Node editor. Select LUTs from the context menu, then browse to and select your .cube file. The LUT is applied to that node instantly.
Copy your .cube files into DaVinci Resolve's LUT folder (found in Preferences → Open LUT Folder). After restarting, your LUTs appear in the LUT browser panel permanently for easy drag-and-drop access on any project.
How to Apply LUTs in After Effects
In After Effects, go to Effect → Color Correction → Apply Color LUT. Apply this effect to your footage layer, then click the folder icon to browse and select your .cube LUT file.
Our Top 5 Free LUTs for Cinematic Looks
Cinematic Teal & Orange
The most iconic Hollywood color grade. Pushes skin tones toward warm amber and shifts shadows toward deep teal. This grade is used in virtually every major action film and blockbuster. It works beautifully on outdoor footage and portraits, immediately giving your video a cinematic, professional look. Best used at 60–75% intensity.
Film Emulation LUT
Mimics the look of classic 35mm film with slightly lifted shadows, desaturated greens, and a subtle warm cast. This LUT removes the "digital" harshness from modern footage and gives it an organic, analogue warmth. Excellent for travel videos, documentary content, and any footage where you want a timeless, human feel rather than a stylized look.
Moody Dark LUT
Crushes the blacks, desaturates midtones, and introduces a slight cool tint in the shadows. The result is a brooding, dramatic, cinematic look that works exceptionally well for music videos, short films, and any content with a serious or emotional tone. This is one of the most popular LUT styles in current YouTube and social media content.
Bright & Airy LUT
Lifts the shadows so they never go fully black, boosts highlights, and gives a clean fresh feel to the entire image. Colors become slightly cooler and cleaner. This style is hugely popular in lifestyle, fashion, and vlog content. It creates an open, approachable look that audiences associate with authenticity and high production value.
Vintage Fade LUT
Adds a retro, faded look reminiscent of old photographs. Colors become slightly muted, contrast is reduced, and a subtle warm color cast is introduced throughout. This LUT is perfect for nostalgia-themed content, aesthetic videos, and any project where you want to evoke a sense of memory or the past.
Tips for Getting the Most from LUTs
- Always do a basic exposure correction first — Make sure your whites are not blown out and your blacks have some detail before applying the LUT. LUTs assume your footage is reasonably well-exposed.
- Use adjustment layers — In Premiere Pro and After Effects, apply your LUT to an adjustment layer rather than directly to your footage. This way you can easily toggle it on/off and adjust the opacity for all clips at once.
- Match your LUT to your content mood — A Bright & Airy LUT on a dark dramatic scene will look strange. Always match the emotional tone of the LUT to the tone of your content.
- Stack multiple LUTs carefully — You can apply a technical LUT first (for color space conversion) and then a creative LUT on top, but be careful not to oversaturate or blow out highlights when stacking.
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