How to Use LUT Color Grading Filters
Learn how to use LUT (Look-Up Table) color grading filters to give your images and videos a professional cinematic look. This guide covers accessing the filter panel, browsing presets, adjusting intensity, and applying filters across all your media.
What's in this article
What are LUT Filters?
LUT (Look-Up Table) filters are professional color grading presets commonly used in film and video production. They transform the colors in your images and videos to achieve specific visual styles — from warm vintage tones to cool cinematic looks. Slate includes 16 built-in LUT presets so you can achieve professional color grading without any external tools.
Managing LUT Filters
Stock LUTs Library
In the Brand Assets section, a new Stock category surfaces 16 built-in filters automatically — no setup needed. When you access the LUTs section, you'll see presets immediately. Additional filters can be uploaded by dragging files directly into the panel or using the + button, the same pattern used for other asset types. Newly uploaded LUTs will be landed in Brand section.
Edit Brand LUTs
After uploading a LUT, open it to customize: change the preview image, edit the name, add search terms for discoverability, and set a default intensity (0–100%). The intensity value set here is saved and carried through to the creation studio when the filter is applied.
Hide & Pin LUTs
Each filter can be hidden individually without deleting it — a feature unique to the Filters asset type. Filters can also be pinned to ensure they appear first in the creation studio panel. Built-in (default) filters are protected: they cannot be deleted or renamed, only hidden or have their intensity adjusted.
How to Apply LUT Filters
Step 1: Select any image or video on your canvas, then click LUTs
Step 2: The LUTs panel opens on the right side of your workspace showing all 16 filter presets as thumbnail previews.
Step 3: Click any preset to instantly apply the color grade to your selected media. The preview updates in real-time.
Step 4: Use the intensity slider below the presets to fine-tune the filter strength from 0% (no effect) to 100% (full color grade).
Tip: Start with the intensity around 50-70% for a natural look that still adds visual polish.
Applying Filters to All Media
To apply the same filter and intensity to every image and video in your project:
Open the LUTs panel on any media item
Select your desired preset and intensity
Toggle Apply to all at the bottom of the panel
This ensures a consistent visual style across your entire composition — ideal for social media carousels, brand campaigns, and multi-asset projects.
Note: When items have different LUTs applied, the panel shows a mixed state indicator. Toggling "Apply to all" will override all items with the currently selected filter.
Uploading Your Own LUTs
Uploading Your Own LUTs
Slate accepts two types of files for color grading in the BrandHub: .cube files and LUT PNG files (a specific image format provided by Slate). Choose the method below that best fits your workflow.
Method 1: Buy Pre-Made LUTs (Easiest)
Best for: Users who don't need to convert an existing Adobe preset and just want a ready-to-use color grade. Produces a .cube file.
Purchase a standard
.cubefile from a LUT vendor (e.g., LUTify, FilterGrade, etc.).Upload the
.cubefile directly to the Slate Brand Hub.
Method 2: The Slate Identity PNG (Free, Works Anywhere)
Best for: Users who want a free method and are comfortable exporting PNGs. Produces a LUT PNG.
Steps:
Download the Slate identity LUT PNG (64x4096)
Open this image in your preferred editor (Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.)
Crucial Step: If using an XMP/XML preset, disable all spatial effects before applying it (vignette, grain, sharpening, dehaze, clarity, blur, masking, lens corrections). These effects will corrupt the LUT output.
Apply your color preset/adjustments to the image
Export the result as PNG with the following settings:
Image size: Large / Original (do not resize or downsample)
Color space: sRGB
No compression
Upload the exported PNG to the Slate BrandHub
Important: Spatial effects applied to the identity image will produce a corrupted LUT. Always strip them from the preset before applying.
Method 3: The Lightroom Plugin (Paid(~$10), Fastest for Lightroom Users)
Best for: Users with a large library of Lightroom presets who want a fast, automated conversion.
Steps:
Install the Export LUT Plugin by John Ellis in Lightroom (File > Plug-in Manager > Add)
Navigate to File > Plug-in Extras > Export LUT
Select the XMP preset(s) you want to convert (or the develop settings of selected photos)
Choose the destination folder
The plugin generates
.cubefilesUpload the
.cubefile to the Slate BrandHub
Method 4: Photoshop Adjustment Layers (Free, Built-In)
Best for: Users who build their color grades directly in Photoshop using Adjustment Layers. Produces a .cube file.
Note: This method does not work with .xmp files. It only works if the look is built from scratch using Photoshop Adjustment Layers.
Steps:
Open any image in Photoshop
Apply your color grading using Adjustment Layers (Curves, Hue/Saturation, Color Balance, etc.)
Go to File > Export > Color Lookup Tables
Choose
.cubeas the output formatSave the file
Upload the
.cubefile to Slate BrandHub
Reference: Adobe Help: Export Color Lookup Tables
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I build my own custom LUT files?
A: Not yet. Currently, 16 built-in presets are available and you can upload additional pre-made LUTs under the Brand section.
Q: Do filters work on both images and videos?
A: Yes, LUT filters can be applied to both images and videos. They are not available for audio elements.
Q: Can I undo a filter after applying it?
A: Yes, all filter operations support full undo/redo. Use Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo.
Q: Does "Apply to all" affect future items I add?
A: No, it only applies to items currently on the canvas. New items added after will not have the filter applied automatically.
Q: Can I apply a LUT filter in the mobile app?
A: Yes you can!