How to Use LUTs in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and CapCut

You do not need DaVinci Resolve to use LUTs. Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and CapCut all load standard .cube files. Here is exactly how to apply a LUT in each one, plus the settings that stop your footage looking wrong.

Before you start

• Unzip your LUT pack somewhere you will keep it (for example a “LUTs” folder in Documents).
• Pick the right version: Rec709 for standard footage, S-Log3 / V-Log / C-Log3 for footage shot in those log profiles. Not sure? Read log vs Rec709 LUTs.
• Fix exposure and white balance first – a LUT exaggerates whatever is already in the clip.

Adobe Premiere Pro

1. Open the Color workspace (Window > Workspaces > Color), which shows the Lumetri Color panel.
2. Select your clip in the timeline.
3. For a Rec709 look: open the Creative section, click the Look drop-down, choose Browse… and select the .cube file. Use the Intensity slider to adjust the strength.
4. For a log LUT on log footage: open Basic Correction, click Input LUT, choose Browse… and pick the matching S-Log3, V-Log or C-Log3 file.

Tip: to use the same look across many clips, apply it to an Adjustment Layer (File > New > Adjustment Layer) placed above them.

Important for log footage: recent versions of Premiere Pro can automatically convert log footage to Rec709. If you are using one of our log LUTs, turn this off for that clip, otherwise the footage gets converted twice and looks harsh. You can change this in the clip’s colour settings (right-click the clip > Modify > Color, or the Lumetri Settings tab, depending on your version). Alternatively, leave Premiere’s conversion on and use our Rec709 LUT instead.

Final Cut Pro

1. Open the Effects browser and go to Color.
2. Drag the Custom LUT effect onto your clip.
3. In the Inspector, click the LUT menu and choose Choose Custom LUT…, then select a .cube file (or a whole folder to add them all).
4. Set Input and Output to match the LUT – for our Rec709 LUTs this is Rec. 709.
5. Lower the effect’s Mix to soften the look.

Important for log footage: Final Cut Pro often applies a camera LUT to log clips automatically. If you use one of our log LUTs, select the clip, open the Info inspector and set Camera LUT to None. Or keep Final Cut’s conversion and use the Rec709 version of the look instead.

Tip: to grade many clips at once, add the Custom LUT to an adjustment layer or copy and paste attributes (Edit > Paste Attributes).

CapCut (desktop)

1. Select your clip and open the Adjustment tab on the right.
2. Find LUT and click Import (or the upload icon), then choose your .cube file.
3. Select the imported LUT and use the Intensity slider to set the strength.
4. To use it across the whole edit, add an Adjustment layer above your clips and apply the LUT there.

CapCut works best with the Rec709 versions, as most CapCut footage comes from phones and standard camera profiles.

Common problems

“The look is far too strong”

Lower the intensity or mix to 60–80%, and check you are not using a log LUT on normal footage.

“My footage looks washed out after the LUT”

You are probably using a Rec709 LUT on log footage that has not been converted. Use the matching log version instead.

“Skin tones look off”

Correct the white balance before the LUT, then reduce the LUT strength.

Ready-made LUTs for every editor

Every LUT Land pack comes as standard .cube files that work in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, CapCut and DaVinci Resolve, in Rec709, S-Log3, V-Log and C-Log3. Browse the LUT packs, pick any 3, or get them all with the All 6 LUT Packs bundle. Using Resolve? See how to use LUTs in DaVinci Resolve.