LUTs for Video: What They Are and How to Use Them (Easy Guide)

Have you heard about LUTs and wondered if they’re the magic wand to make your videos instantly “cinematic”? LUTs can be powerful tools—but it’s crucial to understand what they are and how to use them correctly!

In the world of video post-production, the term “LUT” (pronounced “lut”) comes up constantly. Many people think of them as fancy Instagram filters or presets that instantly transform the color of your videos with a single click. While that’s partially true, LUTs (Look-Up Tables) are much more than just filters. Understanding how they work will help you use them more effectively—and avoid common mistakes.

At EdicionVideoPro, we use LUTs in our professional workflow, but always with a clear purpose. Once you’ve laid the foundation with basic color correction, it’s the perfect time to explore how LUTs can help give your footage a specific style. But beware—they are not a replacement for good initial correction.

What Is a LUT, Really?

Think of a LUT as a color transformation table. It’s a file that tells your editing software: “If a pixel has this input color (Red X, Green Y, Blue Z), change it to this new output color (Red X’, Green Y’, Blue Z’).” Essentially, it remaps the color values of your image based on a predefined table.

Think of it like a very precise color recipe:

• Input: The original colors of your video.
• LUT (the recipe): The instructions for how to transform each color.
• Output: The new colors of your video, with the “look” applied.

There are two main categories of LUTs:

1. Technical LUTs (Conversion/Utility)

These aren’t for “making your video look pretty”—they serve technical purposes:

• Color Space/Gamma Conversion: Essential when filming in “Log” formats (like S-Log, C-Log, V-Log). Log footage looks flat and desaturated. A technical LUT converts it to a standard color space (like Rec.709 for web and TV) so you can start grading with a normalized image.
• Monitor Calibration: Some LUTs are used to ensure your monitor displays accurate colors (a more advanced use).
• Film Simulation: Preview how your digital video would look if it were printed to a specific film stock.

2. Creative LUTs (Style/Look)

These are the ones most people are looking for! They’re designed to apply a specific visual style or “look” to your video—after it’s already been color corrected.

• Emulate Famous Films: “Teal & Orange look”, “Matrix look”, etc.
• Create Moods: Warm tones for nostalgia, cool tones for tension, desaturated for documentary vibes…
• Ensure Visual Consistency: Using the same creative LUT across different clips (properly corrected) helps unify your project’s aesthetic.

How and When to Use Creative LUTs: The Right Workflow

Here’s where many people go wrong. A creative LUT is NOT meant to fix a poorly shot or poorly corrected image. Applying a style LUT on a clip with bad white balance or poor exposure only exaggerates those flaws.

The ideal workflow we follow at EdicionVideoPro is:

1. Primary Color Correction (ALWAYS FIRST!):

• Neutralize white balance.
• Adjust exposure and contrast for full tonal range.
• Normalize saturation.
• Match shots (make all clips look consistent).
• Goal: A clean, balanced, neutral image.

2. Apply Creative LUT (Optional):

• Once your image is well-corrected, you can apply a creative LUT as a starting point for a look.
• Most editing software (DaVinci Resolve excels here, but Premiere Pro, FCP, etc., also support LUTs) lets you load and apply LUTs.

3. Adjust LUT Intensity:

• Super important! Rarely does a LUT look perfect at 100% intensity.
• Most programs let you reduce the opacity or “strength” of the LUT. Start at 100% and dial it back until it looks natural.

4. Secondary Correction (After the LUT):

• After applying a LUT, you may need to fine-tune the image—tweak exposure, adjust specific hues, etc.—so the final look fits perfectly.

Pro Tip from EdicionVideoPro: Many professionals create their own LUTs from their favorite grades to quickly apply consistent looks to other projects. That’s a more advanced step—but for now, focus on good correction and subtle LUT usage!

Pros and Cons of Using Creative LUTs

Pros 👍

• Quick Starting Point for a Style
• Helps Maintain a Consistent Look
• Inspires New Color Ideas
• Saves Time (when used correctly)

Cons 👎

• Won’t Fix Bad Footage: A LUT won’t save an underexposed or badly balanced image—it’ll make it worse.
• Can Destroy Information: Used too strongly or on uncorrected footage, they can crush blacks, blow out highlights, or cause color artifacts.
• Generic Results: If everyone uses the same popular LUTs, videos start to look the same.
• False Sense of Completion: Easy to apply a LUT and think you’re done—skipping necessary corrections and fine-tuning.

Where to Find LUTs

• Built-In with Your Software: Most editing programs include some basic technical and creative LUTs.
• LUT Packs (Free & Paid): Tons of creators and companies offer themed LUT packs (cinematic, vintage, drone-specific, etc.). Try:
  • Colorist Factory, IWLTBAP, Gamut, etc. (usually paid, professional quality)
  • Many YouTubers and creators offer free LUTs (variable quality—test before using).
• Create Your Own: Advanced tools like DaVinci Resolve let you export your own color grades as LUTs.

EdicionVideoPro Tip: Before buying an expensive LUT pack, make sure you understand how to use them and that your color correction workflow is solid. A great LUT over a bad correction is still a bad result.

Fatal Mistakes to Avoid with LUTs (Please Don’t Do These!)

• Applying Creative LUTs BEFORE Primary Correction: #1 mistake. You’ll destroy your image.
• Using Technical LUTs as Creative LUTs: Log-to-Rec.709 LUTs are for normalization, not final looks. The result may look “okay” but lack artistic intention.
• Leaving the LUT at 100% Intensity: Usually too much. Always adjust.
• Not Understanding What the LUT Does: Don’t apply LUTs blindly—analyze how they affect shadows, highlights, and tones.
• Thinking a LUT Fixes Everything: It’s a tool, not a magic solution.

Want a Cinematic Look but LUTs Aren’t Working for You?

Real professional grading goes far beyond slapping on a preset. At EdicionVideoPro, we offer fully customized correction and grading for every project, ensuring a unique, high-end look. We can help you create the perfect mood and tone for your video.

LUTs FAQ

Are LUTs the same as Lightroom presets for video?
Conceptually, yes—they apply predefined color adjustments. But LUTs are a more technical and versatile standard used in the video industry, while presets are usually software-specific.

Do I need LUTs to do proper grading?
Not at all. You can fully grade manually using your software’s color tools (curves, color wheels, HSL selectors, etc.). Creative LUTs can be a starting point or inspiration tool—but manual control gives you maximum flexibility.

Do LUTs work the same on all footage?
Nope! LUTs are designed to work best on footage that’s already well-balanced and corrected. The same LUT can look drastically different on overexposed vs. underexposed shots, or warm vs. cool balance. That’s why correction is essential first.

LUTs: Great Tools, Not Magic Wands

LUTs—especially creative ones—can be a quick and effective way to give your videos a visual style, as long as you use them within a workflow that prioritizes solid color correction first. Know what type of LUT you’re using, apply it after correcting, and always tweak the intensity.

Don’t see LUTs as a shortcut to a “professional look”—see them as one more tool in your post-production toolbox. The real magic of color lies in understanding the fundamentals, correcting with precision, and then grading with creativity.

And as always, if the world of color feels overwhelming or you want a truly distinctive, professional finish, the team at EdicionVideoPro is here to help. Let’s talk color!