Image to LUT (.cube) — How to Use in Adobe Apps
A quick, visual guide to import and apply .cube LUTs in Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects.
What is a .CUBE LUT?
A Look-Up Table (LUT) maps input colors to output colors. The .cube format is widely supported and perfect for giving footage or photos a consistent “look” in one step. ToolFly’s LUT Preset Maker exports 33³ 3D LUTs compatible with Adobe apps.
Recommended
| Format | .cube (3D LUT) |
|---|---|
| Size | 33 × 33 × 33 (works great in Adobe) |
| Bit Depth | Normalized 0..1 floating RGB values |
Pro tip: Apply LUTs on an adjustment layer so you can switch/stack looks without touching original pixels.
Photoshop — Apply a .cube LUT to a Photo Still Images
- Open your image in Photoshop (Ctrl+O / Cmd+O on macOS).
- Go to Layer ▸ New Adjustment Layer ▸ Color Lookup… and click OK.
- In the Properties panel, open the 3DLUT File dropdown and choose Load 3D LUT….
- Browse to your
.cubefile and click Open. Adjust the layer Opacity or blend mode (e.g., Soft Light) to taste.
If the LUT looks too strong, drop the Color Lookup layer’s opacity to 20–60% or place it above a Curves layer to re-balance contrast.
Premiere Pro — Apply a .cube LUT to Video Lumetri Color
- Select a clip on the timeline. Open the Lumetri Color panel (Window ▸ Lumetri Color).
- In Basic Correction, click the Input LUT dropdown ▸ Browse…, then pick your
.cube. - Fine-tune exposure/temperature under Basic Correction and/or use Creative (Intensity, Faded Film, Vibrance) to tweak the result.
- Want it on multiple clips? Add an Adjustment Layer (Project panel ▸ New Item ▸ Adjustment Layer), place above clips, then apply the LUT on that layer.
You can also import LUTs to Premiere’s presets folder for quick access. On Windows:
Documents\Adobe\Common\LUTs\Creative · On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/LUTs/CreativeAfter Effects — Apply a .cube LUT to Comps Apply Color LUT
- Select your layer (or create an Adjustment Layer first: Layer ▸ New ▸ Adjustment Layer).
- Go to Effect ▸ Utility ▸ Apply Color LUT… and choose your
.cube. - Tweak strength by lowering the adjustment layer’s Opacity or mixing with Curves/Hue/Saturation effects.
- For multiple shots, keep the LUT on the top adjustment layer to affect the whole comp.
If you don’t see Apply Color LUT, ensure you’re not in the Layer panel—select the comp timeline layer and try again.
Troubleshooting & Tips
- Colors look clipped or extreme? Lower LUT strength (opacity/intensity) and balance with Curves first.
- LUT not showing in Premiere dropdown? Use Browse… or place the file in your Common/LUTs folders (see tip above), then restart Premiere.
- Different results across apps? Make sure the project and footage are in the expected color space (Rec.709 for most SDR workflows). Disable display color management if necessary.
- Wrong LUT size? Most Adobe tools support 17³, 33³ (recommended), and 65³
.cubeLUTs. If a 65³ LUT is slow, convert to 33³. - Batch apply in Premiere? Use an Adjustment Layer with Lumetri + Input LUT over the timeline section you want.
Need to create your own LUT from a reference image? Use ToolFly – LUT Preset Maker to generate a .cube and apply it with the steps above.