Unlock Cinematic Color: Your Easy Guide to Importing & Applying LUTs in DaVinci Resolve

How to Import and Apply LUTs in DaVinci Resolve (2025)

If you’re wondering how to import and apply LUTs in DaVinci Resolve and get cinematic results fast, this step-by-step guide covers everything: importing to the user LUT folder, project-specific installs, applying LUTs on the Color page, adjusting LUT intensity, and using a Color Space Transform (CST) so your look behaves correctly. Along the way we’ll compare presets vs manual grading, share pro tips from real shoots, and point you to Adobe’s excellent color resources for theory and scope reading.

Want a quick head start? Try a reliable, well-organized LUT bundle and then fine-tune in nodes. Try our best-seller—Buy 3, Get 9 FREE—then refine your look in Resolve’s wheels and curves: Cinematic LUTs Pack. You can also browse the broader library here: LUTs Collection.

What is a LUT (and why it matters in your workflow)

A LUT (Look-Up Table) remaps colors and tones using a mathematical transform. In practice, it’s a fast way to apply a consistent style or convert log footage into a viewing/output space. LUTs can be creative (styling) or technical (transforming between color spaces). Adobe’s overview of Looks and LUTs is a great primer on how LUTs function conceptually across editors.

Why use LUTs in DaVinci Resolve

Speed & consistency: Apply a look across many clips in seconds.
Creative starting points: Explore looks you can later dial in with wheels, curves, qualifiers, and windows.
Client alignment: Show quick style directions, then iterate.

Field note: I tested a soft “film contrast + teal-amber” LUT on a wedding shoot. It nailed 80% of the look instantly; two extra nodes for white balance and skintone cleanup finished the grade in minutes.

Before you install: footage type, color management, and LUT intent

Know what your footage is (LogC, S-Log3, BMD Film, HLG, Rec.709) and what your LUT expects. Many creative LUTs are designed for Rec.709 images; many technical LUTs expect log. If the spaces don’t match, add a CST node to convert first, then apply the look. Adobe’s Color Management FAQ explains how LUTs are authored for specific color spaces and why matching them matters. For color palette choices, try Adobe Color’s harmony tools when designing consistent brand tones and accents.

Method 1 — Install LUTs to the User LUT folder (recommended)

This method keeps your library tidy and available to all projects.

Find the LUT folder:
- Windows: C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\LUT\
- macOS: /Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/LUT/
- Linux: ~/.local/share/DaVinciResolve/LUT/ (install paths can vary by distro)
Organize subfolders: e.g., “Creative — Film”, “Technical — LogTo709”, “Camera — BMD/ARRI/Sony”.
Copy LUT files: .cube is most common; .dat and .irt are also supported.
Restart Resolve: Resolve scans LUTs at launch; a restart is required.

Pro tip: Keep a “_TEST” subfolder for trials so your production library stays clean.

Method 2 — Add LUTs per project (great for temporary tests)

Open the Color page and show the LUT Browser (cube icon on the left panel).
Use the … menu to Open LUT Folder (jumps to the user LUT path) or Refresh LUTs.
Drop a LUT into the folder and refresh or restart.

When to use: client-provided LUTs, one-off looks, or shoot-specific testing.

Apply a LUT on the Color page

Select a node and open the LUT Browser.
Navigate to your folder (User/System) and click a LUT to apply it to the selected node.
Evaluate with scopes and viewer. Keep an eye on skin and highlight rolloff.

Pro tip: Place technical transforms early in the tree (Input CST or log-to-709 LUT), then creative look nodes later. Use a final “trim” node for safe output tweaks.

Adjust LUT intensity for a professional finish

LUTs at 100% can be heavy. Reduce strength for realism:

Select the LUT node.
Use the node’s Key Output Gain (Mix) slider to blend the effect.
Alternatively, split the LUT into a dedicated node and keyframe the key output gain for shots that evolve (e.g., sunset).

Build a reliable node tree

Node 01 — Input/CST: Convert camera log (e.g., BMD Film, ARRI LogC, S-Log3) to the working/viewing space.
Node 02 — Balance: White balance, exposure, contrast using primary wheels and curves.
Node 03 — Creative LUT: Your look LUT at a blended mix (e.g., 0.3–0.6).
Node 04 — Skin isolation (optional): Qualifier + subtle hue/sat tweaks.
Node 05 — Output trim: Soft clip, legalize levels, final saturation check.

Use video scopes to verify levels and hue/sat distribution; Adobe’s Lumetri Scopes guide remains one of the clearest introductions to Waveform, Parade, and Vectorscope reading.

2025 considerations: color management and compatibility

Footage & LUT space: Always match the LUT’s intended input space. Use a CST node when needed.
Project color settings: Double-check project color management and timeline gamma so preview and output match expectations. For foundational concepts, see Adobe’s overview of color management.
LUT formats: Prefer .cube for portability.
Subtlety sells: Blend looks; avoid hue clipping and over-saturation.

Neutral reference: For background on standardized color pipelines beyond any specific app, see the International Color Consortium’s introduction to ICC profiles.

Presets vs manual grading (which should you use?)

Presets/LUTs: Speed, consistency, great starting points, easy client previews.
Manual grading: Ultimate control, tailored corrections, precise brand/palette matching.

Verdict: Use LUTs to get 70–90% there, then finish with manual nodes. For teams, lock a base look LUT to align dailies and edits, then finish with shot-level corrections.

Step-by-step: a fast “from log to delivery” workflow

Prep & organize: Sync sound, add scene/shot metadata, create smart bins by camera/lighting.
CST first: Convert each camera’s log to your working space (often Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 for SDR deliverables).
Balance pass: Neutral WB, correct exposure, keep skintones natural.
Apply creative LUT: Blend to taste; avoid crushing blacks or clipping highlights.
Shot-level trims: Skintone qualifiers, windowed highlights, local contrast.
Output sanity check: Scopes + reference monitor; QC for flicker and hue shifts over cuts.

Troubleshooting common LUT problems

“My LUT doesn’t show up”: Confirm correct folder and restart Resolve; refresh the LUT browser.
“The image looks wrong”: Mismatch between footage space and LUT expectation—insert a CST or use a technical transform first.
“It’s too strong”: Lower the node’s key output gain; add a trim node with gentle contrast instead.

Try these resources next

Practical buying guide (optional, based on your project)

Cinematic LUTs Pack for story-driven contrast and filmic color.
Drone LUTs to stabilize skies/greens while keeping skin natural.
LUTs Collection to explore looks by genre (wedding, travel, street).
How to Install Presets & LUTs for step-by-step install support.

FAQ

Where should I put LUT files on Windows or macOS?

Use the DaVinci Resolve user LUT folder (see paths above). Organize by “Technical” vs “Creative,” then restart Resolve so it scans new files.

How do I reduce a LUT’s strength without losing its vibe?

Lower the node’s key output gain (Mix) to 0.3–0.6, then add a final trim node for subtle contrast/saturation.

My footage is log but the LUT expects Rec.709. What now?

Add a CST node before the LUT to convert from your camera log (e.g., BMD Film, S-Log3, LogC) into Rec.709 (or your target space), then apply the look LUT.

Are LUTs a final grade?

Usually not. Treat them as a fast baseline; finish with shot-level adjustments for polish and consistency.

Why do my scopes matter if the image looks good?

Scopes expose clipping, color casts, and oversaturation you might miss by eye, helping you deliver consistent results across shots and screens.

Written by Asanka — creator of AAAPresets (10,000+ customers).