If your videos never quite have that polished, cinematic feel, LUTs might be the missing piece. Using LUTs in video editing is one of the fastest ways to give footage a consistent colour look, whether you are making travel clips around Singapore, a vlog, or client work. A LUT, or Look Up Table, is basically a preset that remaps the colours and tones in your video. Think of it as a filter with a purpose. This guide explains what LUTs are, when to use them, and how to apply them without turning your footage into a mess.
What a LUT Actually Does
A LUT takes the colours already in your clip and shifts them to new values. Some LUTs simply convert flat, washed-out footage into normal-looking colour. Others add a strong creative style, like teal shadows and warm skin tones, or a moody film-inspired look.
There are two broad types worth knowing:
- Technical or conversion LUTs. These turn footage shot in a flat or log profile back into a natural, correct starting point. They are a step, not a final look.
- Creative or look LUTs. These add mood and style on top of properly balanced footage.
The order matters. You generally correct your footage first, then apply a creative LUT. Skipping the correction step is why so many beginner videos look off. If you are new to grading in general, our guide on how to colour grade your videos sets a helpful foundation.
When Using LUTs in Video Editing Makes Sense
LUTs shine when you want speed and consistency. If you have a batch of clips from the same shoot, a LUT gives them all a matching look in seconds rather than grading each one by hand. They are also great for finding a starting direction when you are unsure what mood you want.
That said, LUTs are not magic. They assume your footage was exposed and white balanced reasonably well. If a clip is too dark, too bright, or has a strong colour cast, the LUT will exaggerate those problems. Fix exposure and white balance first. Getting your white balance right in camera saves a lot of pain later, especially under Singapore’s mix of daylight, fluorescent, and warm indoor lighting.
How to Apply a LUT Step by Step
Most video editing software supports LUTs, usually through a colour or effects panel. The exact menu names vary, so check your program’s own help pages, but the general workflow is the same:
- Balance the shot first. Adjust exposure, contrast, and white balance so the clip looks natural and neutral.
- Add the LUT. Load it into the LUT slot or apply it as an effect on your clip or adjustment layer.
- Dial back the strength. Most editors let you reduce the LUT’s intensity or opacity. A LUT at full strength is often too much. Pulling it back to somewhere between 40 and 70 percent frequently looks more natural.
- Fine tune after. Tweak saturation, skin tones, and highlights so faces still look healthy and realistic.
Applying the LUT on an adjustment layer above your clips lets you control the look across a whole sequence at once, which keeps everything consistent.
Keeping Skin Tones Natural
The quickest giveaway of a heavy-handed LUT is strange skin. Under our tropical light, skin can already pick up warm or greenish tints, and a strong LUT can push it further. After applying a look, check faces closely. If skin looks too orange, too red, or sickly, lower the LUT strength or gently correct the skin tones separately. Natural skin almost always looks more professional than an extreme colour grade.
Matching Clips Across a Project
A single LUT helps clips feel related, but shots from different times of day or locations may still not match perfectly. You may need small corrections on individual clips even after the LUT is applied. Our guide on how to colour match clips in video walks through balancing shots so a sequence flows smoothly.
Building or Choosing LUTs
You can find free and paid LUT packs online, and you can also build your own by grading one clip nicely and exporting the look as a LUT. Making your own means the style is truly yours and suits your typical footage. If you buy or download LUTs, respect the creator’s licence terms, especially for commercial projects. Free does not always mean free for business use, so read the terms.
Remember that results vary depending on your camera, your lighting, and how the footage was shot. A LUT that looks stunning on one creator’s clips may need adjusting to work on yours. Treat every LUT as a starting point rather than a one-click finish.
Practice Makes the Look
Using LUTs in video editing is a skill you build by experimenting. Try a few looks on the same clip, compare them, and notice what each one does to shadows, skin, and mood. Over time you will develop a feel for how much to apply and when to hold back. Start simple, keep your corrections clean, and let LUTs speed up your workflow rather than replace good habits. With a bit of practice, your Singapore footage will carry a consistent, confident look that feels genuinely yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same LUT on footage from different cameras? You can, but the result will usually differ, because each camera records colour and contrast in its own way. Balance each clip first, then apply the LUT and adjust. Conversion LUTs are designed for a specific camera or profile, so match them to the right footage.
Do I need to shoot in log to use LUTs? No. Creative LUTs can be applied to normal footage, though the effect may look heavy or clip highlights and shadows. Log footage gives more room to grade, but needs a conversion LUT or manual correction first. For beginners, standard footage and a gentle LUT is a fine start.
Will LUTs work on phone footage? Yes, but phone footage is often already processed with contrast and sharpening, so strong LUTs can look harsh. Reduce the intensity, correct exposure and white balance first, and consider shooting in a flatter profile if your phone offers one. Test on a short clip before applying it to everything.
Why does my LUT look different after I export the video? The mismatch usually comes from colour space settings, a different playback device or an export setting that does not match your project. Check your editor’s colour management, view the exported file on more than one screen and consult your software’s guide if the difference is large.
Should I rely on LUTs or learn to grade colour manually? Use both. LUTs save time and give a consistent look, but manual grading teaches you why a clip looks the way it does and lets you fix problems a LUT cannot. Start with LUTs as a base, then learn to adjust exposure, contrast and colour yourself.
Further reading: DaVinci Resolve for Beginners: A Free Pro Video Editor