Quick answer: To install a LUT in DaVinci Resolve, open Project Settings → Color Management → Open LUT Folder, copy your .cube files there, click Update Lists, and the LUTs appear in the Color page. Below is the full workflow — plus how to control intensity, grade log footage and fix the classic “my LUT looks washed out” problem.
Where is the LUT folder in DaVinci Resolve?
- Any OS, the easy way: Project Settings (gear icon) → Color Management → Open LUT Folder. Resolve opens the exact folder it reads.
- macOS:
/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/LUT/ - Windows:
C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\LUT\
Create a subfolder (e.g. CHROMA) so your creative LUTs stay separate from the built-in ones. After copying, right-click inside the LUT browser and hit Update Lists — no restart needed.
Three ways to apply a LUT
- On a node (recommended): in the Color page, right-click a node → LUTs → pick your LUT. Keeping the LUT on its own node lets you grade before and after it.
- Drag & drop: drag the LUT from the LUT browser straight onto a clip’s thumbnail.
- Whole timeline: Project Settings → Color Management → Output LUT — applies to everything, handy for one-look projects.
How to control LUT intensity
Resolve has no “intensity slider” like Premiere, but the node system gives you something better: select the LUT node and lower its Key Output Gain (Key palette) from 1.0 to, say, 0.7 — that’s a 70% LUT. This keeps skin tones natural while preserving the look.
Shooting log? Convert first
A creative LUT expects normal (Rec.709) footage. If your clip is flat log (S-Log3, D-Log, C-Log…), first convert it: add a node with a technical conversion LUT for your camera, or use Color Space Transform, then apply the creative LUT on the next node. Skipping this step is the #1 reason a LUT looks grey and washed out.
Fixing common LUT problems
- LUT doesn’t show up — you copied it while the LUT browser was open: right-click → Update Lists.
- Looks washed out — log footage without conversion (see above).
- Too strong — lower Key Output Gain on the LUT node.
- Banding in skies — grade in a higher bit depth: Project Settings → set timeline color science to DaVinci YRGB and render at 10-bit.
Cinematic .cube LUTs made for Resolve
Every CHROMA pack ships a hand-built 17-point .cube LUT tested in DaVinci Resolve, plus the matching Lightroom preset so photos and video share one look:
- NORDIC TEAL (CHR-01) — cinematic teal-and-orange.
- CINE HALATION (CHR-03) — film glow with soft highlight roll-off, built for Rec.709.
- NIGHT MARKET (CHR-04) — neon nights without the green shift.
- The full CHROMA bundle — all six LUT + preset pairs.
Related guides: what a .cube LUT is and LUT vs preset — which one you need.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install LUTs in DaVinci Resolve?
Open Project Settings → Color Management → Open LUT Folder, copy your .cube files there, then right-click the LUT list and choose Update Lists.
Can I adjust LUT strength in Resolve?
Yes — apply the LUT on its own node and lower the node’s Key Output Gain (e.g. 0.7 = 70% intensity).
Why does my LUT look washed out in Resolve?
Your footage is probably log. Convert it to Rec.709 with a Color Space Transform or a camera conversion LUT first, then apply the creative LUT.
Does the free version of DaVinci Resolve support LUTs?
Yes. The free version fully supports importing and applying .cube LUTs — no Studio license needed.
