Guide

How to apply a LUT in Shotcut.

Updated November 6, 2026

In Shotcut, you typically load a free-standing .cube with a LUT or 3D LUT filter on the clip: open Filters, add the LUT filter, and browse to the unzipped file. Exact filter labels shift by Shotcut version, so search Filters for LUT rather than hunting for a menu that only exists in Resolve or Premiere.

Before you start

• Use Shotcut desktop (Windows, macOS, or Linux builds that include video Filters).
• Unzip the download so Shotcut sees a real .cube file (not a .zip).
• If the footage is log, convert to Rec.709 first, or reserve a technical LUT only for that conversion. See Log vs Rec.709.
• Prefer 33-point cubes for everyday social and YouTube work; keep a 65-point copy if soft gradients matter.

Step 1: Import and select the clip

1. Import your media into Shotcut and place the clip on the timeline.
2. Click the clip so Filters applies to the right item (not an audio-only track).
3. If you are grading several clips the same way, finish one first, confirm the look, then copy the filter to the others.

Step 2: Add the LUT filter and load the .cube

1. Open the Filters panel and click +.
2. Search for LUT or 3D LUT and add the filter your build shows.
3. Browse to the unzipped .cube and confirm the viewer updates.
4. If nothing changes, the file may still be zipped, have the wrong extension, amount may be at 0, or the filter may be muted / on the wrong clip. Format notes: What is a .cube file?

Step 3: Amount, order, and Rec.709

• Use amount/opacity so mixed lighting and skin stay natural (often start around 60–80% and nudge from there).
• Keep exposure and white balance sensible before the creative LUT; do not stack two heavy creative looks.
• Order of operations that usually stays honest: technical log→Rec.709 (if needed) first, then the creative Filmsilk look, then light secondary polish—not the reverse.
• Mute the LUT filter to A/B a bright exterior, a dark interior, and a face close-up before you export.

Role of each tool: LUT vs color grade.

Step 4: Export a short test

• Export a few seconds at your delivery resolution and check on a second screen if you have one.
• Watch for crushed blacks, neon skin, and titles or graphics that pick up the look too hard; pull amount back before fighting with secondaries.
• Save the project so the loaded LUT path stays with the filter.

Preview any .cube on your own still in the free LUT previewer (nothing uploads). Blender steps: How to apply a LUT in Blender. CapCut steps: How to apply a LUT in CapCut. Resolve steps: How to apply a LUT in DaVinci Resolve. General notes: How to use a LUT.

FAQ

Does Shotcut support .cube LUTs?

Yes. Shotcut (the free, open-source video editor) can apply free-standing .cube looks through a LUT / 3D LUT filter on a clip. Exact filter names move slightly between Shotcut releases—search Filters for LUT or 3D LUT rather than inventing a Resolve node graph or Premiere Lumetri panel inside Shotcut.

Where is the LUT filter?

Select the clip on the timeline, open Filters, click the + button, and search for LUT or 3D LUT. Add the filter, then browse to the unzipped .cube. If the filter is missing, update Shotcut or confirm you selected a video clip (not an audio-only track).

Should I apply a creative LUT on log footage?

No. Convert log to Rec.709 first (or use a technical conversion LUT only for that step), then apply a creative Rec.709 look. Filmsilk looks expect Rec.709 input.

Why does nothing change after I load the file?

The file may still be inside a .zip, may not end in .cube, the filter may be muted / amount at 0, or the filter may sit on the wrong clip. Unzip, confirm the extension, raise amount/opacity, unmute, and re-browse from the filter.

Where Filmsilk fits

Filmsilk ships standard 3D .cube looks for Rec.709 that load wherever your editor accepts .cube—including Shotcut's LUT / 3D LUT filter, Blender when a LUT control is available, CapCut, Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut, After Effects, HitFilm, VEGAS Pro, Filmora, Photoshop, and Avid Media Composer after Color Management install. Try every look on your own frame before you buy. The Collection is $29 one-time; Filmsilk Complete is $39 with Studio export.