Create Stunning LUTs in DaVinci Resolve: A Quick & Easy Tutorial

Updated at: 29/06/2025

Transform your footage with the power of LUTs! This quick and easy tutorial shows you how to create stunning, professional-grade Look Up Tables directly within DaVinci Resolve. No prior experience needed. We'll guide you through the process step-by-step, from selecting your base image to exporting your custom LUT, unlocking a world of creative color grading possibilities. Let's get started!

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Clip Selection

    • Select a variety of clips with diverse lighting and color palettes.
    Select a variety of clips with diverse lighting and color palettes.
    Clip Selection

  2. Color Space Setup

    • Work within the Rec. 709 color space for creative LUTs. If your footage is in a different color space, use a color space transform node (remember to label it 'delete' to avoid exporting it).
    Work within the Rec. 709 color space for creative LUTs. If your footage is in a different color space, use a color space transform node (remember to label it 'delete' to avoid exporting it).
    Color Space Setup

  3. Timeline Editing

    • Utilize the timeline to apply edits to all selected clips simultaneously. Avoid using masks, qualifiers, sharpening, or grain effects.
    Utilize the timeline to apply edits to all selected clips simultaneously. Avoid using masks, qualifiers, sharpening, or grain effects.
    Timeline Editing

  4. Curve Adjustments

    • Adjust curves to enhance contrast and saturation, making creative choices instead of technical corrections.
    Adjust curves to enhance contrast and saturation, making creative choices instead of technical corrections.
    Curve Adjustments

  5. Hue and Saturation Refinement

    • Fine-tune hues and saturation using the Hue vs Hue and Saturation nodes, making subtle adjustments that harmonize across your clips.
    Fine-tune hues and saturation using the Hue vs Hue and Saturation nodes, making subtle adjustments that harmonize across your clips.
    Hue and Saturation Refinement

  6. Shadow/Midtone/Highlight Adjustments

    • Refine shadows, midtones, and highlights, avoiding drastic contrast changes as it can vary widely across your clips. Use these edits to subtly enhance the overall look of your footage. Don't over-edit temperature and tint.
    Refine shadows, midtones, and highlights, avoiding drastic contrast changes as it can vary widely across your clips. Use these edits to subtly enhance the overall look of your footage. Don't over-edit temperature and tint.
    Shadow/Midtone/Highlight Adjustments

  7. Advanced Node Adjustments

    • Experiment with additional nodes (e.g., parallel nodes for hue adjustments or the spiderweb tool for more advanced hue swings) to add depth and complexity to your LUT.
    Experiment with additional nodes (e.g., parallel nodes for hue adjustments or the spiderweb tool for more advanced hue swings) to add depth and complexity to your LUT.
    Advanced Node Adjustments

  8. LUT Testing and Refinement

    • Test your LUT on various clips to ensure consistency and desired effect. Make final adjustments as needed.
    Test your LUT on various clips to ensure consistency and desired effect. Make final adjustments as needed.
    LUT Testing and Refinement

  9. LUT Export

    • Export your LUT as a 33-point cube (65-point is an option but creates larger files).
    Export your LUT as a 33-point cube (65-point is an option but creates larger files).
    LUT Export

  10. LUT Import and Final Adjustments

    • Import the exported LUT into DaVinci Resolve and apply it to your clips. You can further refine individual clips after applying the LUT.
    Import the exported LUT into DaVinci Resolve and apply it to your clips. You can further refine individual clips after applying the LUT.
    LUT Import and Final Adjustments
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Tips

  • Choose a variety of clips for a more versatile LUT.
  • Remember to delete any temporary nodes (labeled 'delete') before exporting the LUT.
  • Global edits (color, contrast, saturation) are more effective for LUT creation than image-specific edits.
  • 33-point cube export is usually sufficient for most projects.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Ignoring Your Footage's Characteristics

Reason: Applying a LUT universally to vastly different footage (e.g., bright sunny scenes and dark indoor scenes) without adjustment will result in an inconsistent and unnatural look.
Solution: Adjust the LUT's intensity and/or create separate LUTs optimized for different lighting conditions.

2. Over-Saturation and Over-Clipping

Reason: Excessively boosting saturation and highlights can lead to a garish, unrealistic, and overly-contrasty image with lost detail in the highlights and shadows.
Solution: Reduce the LUT's intensity or use adjustment layers to selectively fine-tune saturation and contrast.

FAQs

What is a LUT and why should I use them?
A LUT (Look Up Table) is a file that maps one set of colors to another. Think of it as a preset for your color grading. They save you time by instantly applying a specific color grade to your footage, allowing for consistent looks across multiple projects and quick experimentation with different styles.