Short answer: For a cinematic look, the fastest way to a consistent set is one look applied across the whole shoot: COLD START, SANDSTORM and HAVANA are the GradeColor packs built for it. Each ships .xmp presets for desktop Lightroom, mobile .dng profiles for the free Lightroom Mobile app and a matching .cube video LUT.
“Cinematic” isn’t one color — it’s intention: controlled contrast, a deliberate palette, and highlights that glow like film rather than blowing out. The fastest way to get there is a preset built for a specific look, delivered in one click on both photo AND video.
Every GradeColor look ships in three formats, so the same film grade covers your stills and your footage:
- .xmp — Lightroom & Camera Raw (desktop)
- .dng — Lightroom Mobile (works in the free app)
- .cube — video LUT for Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut & Photoshop
What makes a preset feel “cinematic”
Protected skin tones, a color palette that leans one way (teal shadows / warm highlights, or burnt amber), soft film-like highlight roll-off (halation), and a matching video LUT so your Reels and photos share one signature. Each look below nails a different cinematic mood.
The best cinematic & film looks
COLD START — cinematic teal & orange
The definitive film-still palette: cool shadows, warm protected skin. The classic “movie frame” look for travel, street and portraits. See COLD START →
SANDSTORM — burnt orange with film halation
Scorched orange, deep dramatic shadows and soft glowing highlights — big, cinematic and moody. See SANDSTORM →
HAVANA — warm retro film
Brass, sunlight and soft matte shadows — an old-film, golden-hour mood for portraits and warm stories. See HAVANA →
DAKAR — desert Kodak film
Amber, sand and turquoise shadows with a Kodak-film character — cinematic warmth for travel and adventure. See DAKAR →
One film look across photo and video
Each pack’s matching .cube LUT means your Lightroom edits and your video share the exact same cinematic grade — no more feed that looks like four different colorists.
How to install
Desktop Lightroom, the free Lightroom Mobile app and every major video editor are covered: How to install Lightroom presets & LUTs.
FAQ
Which pack should I start with for a cinematic look?
Start with COLD START — it is the look we build around a cinematic look first — and keep SANDSTORM as the alternative when you want a different mood. Both include .xmp presets, mobile .dng profiles and a matching .cube video LUT, so you are not locked into one editor.
Will my photos and my video share the same color?
Yes. Each pack ships a matching .cube LUT alongside the presets, so the grade you apply in Lightroom is the same one you drop on the timeline in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or Final Cut. One signature across stills and footage.
Can I still adjust the photo after applying a preset?
Yes. A preset is a starting point, not a filter: every slider stays editable, so you can pull exposure, white balance or the strength of the grade per shot. Copy the adjusted settings across the rest of the set to keep everything consistent.
Try it free, then get the full range
Start with the free CHROMA Starter to feel the looks, then pick your favorite. Want every cinematic mood in one kit? The 6-pack bundle is the best value for photo-and-video creators.
