Achieve Unlimited Professional LUTs Color Grading Looks

What is LUT for color grading, and how does it work

LUTs, also known as Look-Up Tables, are preset settings that help adjust the colors and tones in your videos. They work by taking the colors in your footage and changing them to reflect a specific style or mood. Color grading with LUTs makes it quicker and easier to achieve a professional look. Filmmakers and content creators find LUTs popular because they save time and enhance visual storytelling.

Types of LUT

LUTs can be categorized by their format or function, with the two major types based on format being 1D LUTs and 3D LUTs. Below is a clear breakdown to help you understand how each type enhances color grading.

By function

• Technical LUTs: These LUTs correct footage to a standardized color space, helping convert LOG or RAW footage into a natural-looking image. They ensure accurate color reproduction before creative grading begins.
• Creative LUTs: Designed to stylize footage, these LUTs apply mood-driven looks such as warm tones, teal-orange, vintage, or cinematic aesthetics. They help editors achieve a consistent creative vibe quickly.
• Monitor LUTs: These LUTs allow filmmakers to preview how footage will look after color grading while still shooting. They provide an accurate on-set display even when recording in LOG or flat profiles.
• Calibration LUTs: Used to correct display inconsistencies, they help calibrate monitors for accuracy in tone, contrast, and color. This ensures that what you see during editing reflects true final output.
• Viewing LUTs: These LUTs simulate how the final video will appear on different screens, platforms, or broadcast outputs. They help creators ensure consistency across devices.
• Cinematic LUTs: Developed to emulate the aesthetic of professional films, these LUTs add dramatic contrast, refined color harmony, and film-like tones. They help give digital footage a polished, movie-grade finish.

By format

• 1D LUTs: These LUTs adjust only one dimension at a time—such as red, green, or blue—making them ideal for simple contrast or brightness corrections. They are lightweight but limited in creative flexibility.
• 3D LUTs: These LUTs map colors across a three-dimensional color space, allowing complex adjustments involving hue, saturation, and luminance. They offer highly precise, cinematic color grading control.
• CDL LUTs: Color Decision Lists (CDLs) store basic color grading instructions, such as slope, offset, and power. They are widely used in professional workflows for consistent color adjustments across devices and editing platforms.

How filmmakers use LUTs

Filmmakers use LUTs to enhance their storytelling by adjusting the visual style of their projects. By using different types of LUTs during the color grading process, they can create specific moods, highlight important elements, and ensure consistency across scenes. Here are some ways filmmakers utilize LUTs:

• Establishing mood

Filmmakers choose LUTs that align with the emotional tone of their scenes. For example, a dark, moody LUT might be used for a suspenseful thriller, while a bright and vibrant LUT can enhance a joyful or romantic scene.

• Creating a signature style

Many filmmakers develop a unique visual style by consistently using specific LUTs across their projects. This helps brand their work and provides a recognizable aesthetic that audiences can associate with their films.

• Matching different footage

When combining clips from various sources, filmmakers use LUTs to ensure consistent colors and tones. This helps maintain a seamless look throughout the video, even if the footage was shot under different lighting conditions.

• Emulating film stock

To achieve the classic look of traditional movies, filmmakers often apply film emulation LUTs. This adds grain and specific color characteristics that mimic popular film stocks, providing a nostalgic feel to their digital footage.

• Speeding up the editing process

Using LUTs enables filmmakers to quickly achieve a desired look without spending hours on manual adjustments. By applying a LUT, they can make significant color corrections in just a few clicks, streamlining the post-production workflow.

How to apply dynamic LUTs to videos: CapCut desktop

CapCut desktop video editor is a user-friendly tool for beginners and experienced editors. It enables you to effortlessly create and edit videos with various features, including the ability to apply dynamic LUTs for color grading. With an easy-to-use interface, CapCut makes enhancing your footage and achieving professional-looking results simple.

Add LUTs to a video with the CapCut desktop video editor

To add LUTs to a video using the CapCut desktop video editor, first download the software. To do so, click the "Download" button and instantly download the installer. Once downloaded, open the program and add LUTs to enhance your videos easily.

STEP 1
1. Import the video

Open CapCut on your desktop, click "Create project" from the main interface. Then click "Import" to upload your video. Drag the file to the timeline to begin editing.

STEP 2
1. Add and edit custom LUTs

Go to the "Adjustment" tab on the left panel. Select "LUT".

Click "Import" to upload your custom LUTs in CUBE or 3DL file formats from your device.

Apply the LUT to your video.

Refine the look further using: HSL controls, color wheel, and color adjustment tools.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Once your color grading is complete, click "Export" to save the video in your desired format and resolution. Share your professionally graded video across any platform, like YouTube or TikTok.

Key features

Here are the key features of the CapCut desktop video editor that enhance your video editing experience:

• Instant LUT application: Quickly apply LUTs to the videos, enabling immediate color grading and visual style enhancement without complex adjustments.
• Custom LUT import: Allows users to import their own LUT files, providing the flexibility to achieve professional film editing tailored to specific projects.
• Adjustable LUT intensity: Easily modify the intensity of applied LUTs with the slider, ensuring that the effect complements the footage perfectly.
• Color correction: Fine-tune brightness, contrast, saturation, highlights, and shadows to achieve the desired mood and balance across your footage.
• Customizable filters and effects: Provides a variety of filters and effects that can be adjusted to fit the user's vision. This versatility allows for creative expression and unique storytelling.
• 8K quality exports: Export videos in stunning 8K resolution, ensuring your content looks sharp and high-quality across all platforms.

5 sources to download LUTs for color grading

Finding the right LUTs for color grading can enhance your video projects by providing a professional touch. With various online resources, filmmakers can easily access various LUTs according to their needs. Here are the top 5 sources to download LUTs for color grading:

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1. Motion Array

Motion Array is a platform for professionals, providing templates, plugins, and high-quality LUTs for video projects. Users can easily find free color-grading LUTs that fit their needs, whether a vibrant look or a darker tone. The site is updated regularly with fresh content, helping filmmakers stay up-to-date with color grading choices. Additionally, Motion Array offers detailed previews and download options, making it simple to integrate LUTs directly into your workflow without extra adjustments, which is ideal for both beginners and experienced editors.

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1. RocketStock

RocketStock focuses on providing a carefully chosen collection of cinematic color-grading LUTs for professional use. Each LUT pack is created to enhance specific styles and moods, making it easy for filmmakers to find the perfect look for their projects. With instant download options and clear previews, RocketStock simplifies the process of applying impressive looks to your footage. Moreover, RocketStock often includes tutorials and example videos that show how to best apply the LUTs, enabling creators to achieve consistent and professional results in less time.

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1. Color Grading Central

The free Color Grading Central LUTs enable users to apply the latest and stunning effects to their videos. It focuses entirely on LUTs and color grading education. The platform offers both free and premium LUTs for different styles and looks. In addition to LUT downloads, users can access tutorials to improve their color grading skills and achieve professional results. Beyond just downloading LUTs, Color Grading Central provides a supportive community and expert guidance, making it an excellent resource for those who want to deepen their understanding of color theory and cinematic techniques.

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1. Shutterstock

Shutterstock has a large stock media collection that provides free color-grading LUTs for filmmakers. It has a wide variety of LUTs to improve video quality, making it a valuable resource for creators looking to enhance their projects without spending much money. Users can easily search for the right LUT due to the platform's user-friendly search function. Furthermore, Shutterstock integrates LUT previews directly within its media library, allowing users to see real-time results on sample footage and quickly select the best LUTs for their style, saving both time and effort during post-production.

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1. Envato

Envato is a popular marketplace offering various creative assets, including color-grading LUTs. It provides LUTs for different styles and themes, which makes it easier for filmmakers to find what they need. Moreover, you can share insights and ideas in its community-driven environment. Envato is great for people who want to connect with other creatives for inspiration and collaboration. In addition, Envato often bundles LUTs with related assets like video templates and transitions, giving creators a complete toolkit to elevate their projects and maintain a consistent visual style across multiple videos.

In conclusion, using color-grading LUTs is the best way to enhance the visual appeal of your videos dramatically. With different types of LUTs, you can achieve various looks and moods that fit your storytelling style. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced editor, understanding how to apply and adjust LUTs can elevate your projects significantly.

For an easy and effective way to use LUTs, consider the CapCut desktop video editor. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, CapCut makes it simple to apply dynamic LUTs and create stunning videos effortlessly.

FAQs

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1. Where can I download LUTs for color grading?

You can download LUTs for color grading from various online resources like Motion Array, RocketStock, and Color Grading Central. Many sites offer both free and premium LUTs to cater to various needs. Always check for compatibility with your editing software. For easy application of LUTs, try using the CapCut desktop video editor, which supports various LUT formats seamlessly.

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1. What are the main components of LUT?

A LUT (Look-Up Table) is essentially a color mapping tool that adjusts the appearance of your video or image. Its main components include:

• Input values: Original RGB color values from your footage.
• Output values: Adjusted RGB values that produce the desired color grading.
• Interpolation method: Determines how the LUT transitions between colors.
• File format: Can be 1D, 3D, or CDL, depending on precision and use.

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1. What is the best LUT for color grading?

The "best" LUT depends on your project style, mood, and platform. A LUT should enhance your visuals without compromising natural tones. Key points to consider:

• Cinematic LUTs: Perfect for creating film-like aesthetics.
• Technical LUTs: Ideal for correcting color accuracy and exposure.
• Creative LUTs: Adds stylized color effects for a unique visual tone.
• Monitor LUTs & Calibration LUTs: Essential for consistent colors across screens.

For more articles on video color grading, check out the following:

Color Wheel Theory | Make Your Designs Pop in Minutes

Color Grading and Color Correction in Premiere Pro

What is Cinematic Color Grading? A Beginner's Guide