How To Install Luts in Davinci Resolve

If you’re looking to enhance your video editing skills and want to learn how to install LUTs in DaVinci Resolve, you’re in the right place. Using LUTs in DaVinci Resolve might seem like an advanced editing technique if you don’t have experience, but they’re essential components for color correction and grading processes.

And there’s good news — installing and using them doesn’t require a degree in computer science. We've put together a step-by-step process that demystifies installing DaVinci Resolve LUTs to help you capture the exact look you want for each video you edit.

4 Easy Steps To Install LUTs in DaVinci Resolve

LUT stands for Lookup Table, which is a type of color filter used to alter the colors in an image. LUTs are preset files containing algorithms that can consistently and predictably make color adjustments. Video editors and filmmakers often use LUTs for color grading — remapping the colors of raw footage to fit a specific feeling or mood. Here’s a closer look at DaVinci Resolve film LUTs and how to install and use them.

1. Open Project Settings and Locate the LUT Folder

First, you’ll need to open an existing DaVinci Resolve project. Once you’ve done that, look for the Project Settings button, which looks like a gear in the lower right corner. You can also find it in the File drop-down menu. Once you’ve opened Project Settings, go to the Color Management panel.

Here, you’ll find a Lookup Tables section with a button that reads Open LUT Folder. Click that, and the folder should open. If that doesn’t work, you can navigate to it manually:

• Macs: Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/LUT/ 
• Windows PC: C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\LUT

2. Remember To Refresh the LUT List

The next step is to transfer your new LUTs into the designated DaVinci LUT folder. LUTs for DaVinci Resolve are sometimes called cube files because the standard LUT file extension is .cube. You can copy and paste your LUTs into this folder or drag and drop them, whichever is easier.

After the files have been moved or copied, switch back to DaVinci Resolve and open the Color Page by clicking the Color tab button in the bottom menu. Click on the LUTs tab in the toolbar at the top left, then right-click anywhere within the LUT Browser and select 

Refresh. This will refresh the LUT list, which lets DaVinci Resolve recognize the new additions.

3. Add a Serial Node on Your Clip and Apply Your LUT

Now comes the fun part — using your new LUTs in DaVinci Resolve. Open the Color tab in your editing workspace and enable the Nodes overlay if it’s not already visible. In the Nodes panel, right-click, select Add Node, then Add Serial. This new node will be able to access the LUT color settings you’ve just added.

To apply your LUT, right-click on the node and navigate through the 3D LUT drop-down menu until you locate the LUT you want to use. You can also get there through the LUT Browser in the toolbar at the top left of your screen. Click on it, and you’ll immediately see color adjustments on your clip that correspond to the LUT you’ve applied.

4. Learn To Adjust the LUT Intensity

Adjusting the LUT’s intensity is the key to getting the exact color grading you’re looking for. After applying the LUT, make sure the node you’re editing is selected. Navigate to the Key tab and look for a Gain parameter setting.

This will allow you to control the intensity of the LUT you’re using. Sliding the knob to the left reduces the LUT’s effect while moving it to the right will intensify it.

Create the Perfect Color Aesthetics for Your Videos

DaVinci Resolve film LUTs will help you enhance or influence the mood of your raw format videos with distinct color grades. With LUTs in DaVinci Resolve, you can control the mood and narrative of your visual work, helping you transform standard footage into your unique artistic vision. Once you’ve installed and used them for the first time, they’ll quickly become a regular part of your video editing process.