If you’ve downloaded a LUT and have no idea how to get it into Premiere Pro, this guide walks you through exactly that. You’ll learn how to apply LUTs in Premiere Pro using the Lumetri Color panel — from importing your .cube file to adjusting opacity so the look actually works with your footage. No fluff, just the steps.
What You Need Before You Start
- Adobe Premiere Pro (CC 2019 or later recommended)
- A .cube LUT file — this is the standard format used by most professional LUT packs
- Footage that was shot in a flat or log color profile (S-Log2, S-Log3, C-Log3, V-Log, etc.) for best results
- The Lumetri Color panel open in your workspace
Quick note on log footage: If you’re shooting in a flat profile like S-Log3 or C-Log3, you may need a conversion LUT first to bring the image into a usable color space before applying a creative LUT on top. More on that in the common mistakes section.
Step 1: Open the Lumetri Color Panel
Go to Window → Lumetri Color to open the panel. If you’re in the Color workspace (top menu bar → Color), it’s already there on the right side. This is where all your color work happens in Premiere Pro — from basic corrections to LUT application.
Step 2: Select Your Clip on the Timeline
Click directly on the clip you want to grade in your timeline. Make sure it’s highlighted — Lumetri Color only affects the clip that’s currently selected (or wherever your playhead is parked, if you’re using clip-based effects). Working with adjustment layers is also an option and covered in Step 5.
Step 3: Navigate to the Creative Tab in Lumetri Color
In the Lumetri Color panel, you’ll see several sections: Basic Correction, Creative, Curves, Color Wheels, HSL Secondary, and Vignette. Click on Creative to expand it. This is where you apply a LUT as a creative look — separate from any input LUT you might apply under Basic Correction.
Input LUT vs Creative LUT: Under Basic Correction, there’s also a “Input LUT” dropdown. Use that for technical/conversion LUTs (like transforming log footage to Rec.709). Use the Creative tab for your stylistic LUT — the final look. Mixing these up is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
Step 4: Load Your .cube LUT File
In the Creative section, you’ll see a Look dropdown at the top. Click it and select Browse at the bottom of the list. Navigate to the folder where your .cube LUT file is saved and select it. The LUT loads immediately and you’ll see the result on your clip in the Program Monitor.
Premiere Pro supports .cube, .look, and .3dl formats. The vast majority of professional LUT packs — including everything in the Cine Source LUT library — come as .cube files, which is the industry standard.
Step 5: Adjust the Intensity
Directly below the Look dropdown, there’s an Intensity slider. This controls how strongly the LUT is applied — 100 is full strength, 0 means no effect. For most cinematic LUTs, you’ll end up somewhere between 60–85 depending on your exposure and the specific look. Don’t just leave it at 100 and call it done. Dial it back until it looks natural and integrated, not slapped on.
Step 6 (Optional): Apply LUTs via an Adjustment Layer
If you want to apply the same LUT to multiple clips at once — which is the smarter workflow for longer edits — use an adjustment layer:
- Go to File → New → Adjustment Layer
- Drop it onto a track above your footage clips in the timeline
- Select the adjustment layer
- Apply the LUT through Lumetri Color as described above
Any clip underneath the adjustment layer will receive the same grade. Stretch or trim the adjustment layer to control which clips it covers. This saves significant time on multi-clip sequences and keeps your workflow non-destructive.
Common Mistakes When Applying LUTs in Premiere Pro
Applying a creative LUT directly to log footage
This is the biggest one. If your footage is in S-Log3, C-Log3, or any other log format, a creative LUT is designed to work on footage that’s already in a standard color space (usually Rec.709). Putting a cinematic look LUT on raw log footage will give you washed-out, low-contrast results. You need to either use the Input LUT slot (Basic Correction tab) to convert first, or use a dedicated conversion LUT that handles the log-to-Rec.709 transform before your creative grade.
Ignoring exposure before applying the LUT
LUTs are designed for properly exposed footage. If your shot is underexposed by 1.5 stops, the LUT will look off — shadows will crush, highlights won’t respond the way they should. Fix your exposure in Basic Correction first, then apply the LUT.
Leaving Intensity at 100 without checking
100% LUT intensity is rarely the right call. Always check your scopes (Lumetri Scopes panel — Waveform and Parade views) to confirm your blacks aren’t crushed and your highlights aren’t clipping after the LUT is applied.
Using the wrong LUT for the wrong camera
A LUT built for Sony S-Log3 won’t look right on Canon C-Log3 footage. Camera-specific LUTs are calibrated for specific color science. Always match the LUT to your camera and color profile. Most professional LUT packs specify exactly which cameras and color profiles they’re designed for.
Stacking multiple LUTs without understanding signal flow
Premiere’s Lumetri Color panel can be stacked using multiple Lumetri instances (via the Effects panel). Each instance processes the image sequentially. If you add a second Lumetri effect, it reads the output of the first. This is powerful but can cause unexpected results if you’re not tracking what each instance is doing.
Working in DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut Pro Instead?
The workflow above is specific to Premiere Pro. If you’re working in a different NLE, the process is different. Check out the dedicated guides: how to apply LUTs in DaVinci Resolve and how to apply LUTs in Final Cut Pro.
It’s also worth knowing that DaVinci Resolve supports PowerGrades — a more powerful format that goes beyond what a LUT can do. If you’re considering switching workflows, the PowerGrades vs LUTs breakdown is a useful read.
Get a LUT That Actually Works With Your Camera
Generic LUTs often fall short because they’re not calibrated for your specific camera’s color science. The Cine Source LUT collection includes camera-matched packs built for Sony, Canon, Blackmagic, RED, and Panasonic cameras — designed to work with the exact log profiles those cameras produce. If you shoot log and want a starting point that’s properly color-managed, that’s where to look.
Veelgestelde vragen
How do I import a .cube LUT into Premiere Pro?
Open the Lumetri Color panel, click on the Creative tab, then click the Look dropdown and select Browse. Navigate to your .cube file on disk and select it. Premiere Pro will load it immediately — no separate import step needed. The LUT stays linked to its file location on your drive.
What is the difference between Input LUT and Creative LUT in Premiere Pro?
The Input LUT (found under Basic Correction) is for technical transforms — for example, converting S-Log3 footage to Rec.709. The Creative LUT (under the Creative tab) is for applying a stylistic look on top of that corrected image. Always handle the technical conversion first, then apply your creative grade. Applying a creative LUT to uncorrected log footage will produce flat, incorrect results.
Can I apply the same LUT to multiple clips at once in Premiere Pro?
Yes. Create an adjustment layer via File → New → Adjustment Layer, place it on a track above your clips in the timeline, and apply the LUT to that layer through Lumetri Color. Every clip sitting underneath the adjustment layer will receive the same grade. This is the standard workflow for grading multi-clip sequences efficiently.
Why does my LUT look washed out or wrong in Premiere Pro?
The most common cause is applying a creative LUT directly to log footage without a prior color space conversion. Log profiles like S-Log3 or C-Log3 are not in Rec.709, and most creative LUTs expect a Rec.709 input. Use the Input LUT slot to apply a conversion LUT first, or shoot in a standard profile if you prefer a simpler workflow. Incorrect exposure is the second most common cause — fix that in Basic Correction before the LUT.
What LUT format does Premiere Pro support?
Premiere Pro supports .cube, .look, and .3dl LUT formats. The .cube format is the industry standard and is compatible with virtually all professional NLEs and color grading tools, including DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro. Most professional LUT packs ship as .cube files.
