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GUIDE · DAVINCI RESOLVE

PowerGrade vs LUT: what's the difference, and which to pick?

A LUT and a PowerGrade both give you a look. The difference is what you can adjust afterwards.

PowerGrade vs LUT: what's the difference, and which to pick?
LUT (.cube)PowerGrade (.drx)
SoftwareAny (Resolve, Premiere, Final Cut, CapCut…)DaVinci Resolve only
What you getA fixed color tableThe full, adjustable node tree
Adapting to a shotStrength onlyEvery node: exposure, skin, look, grain…
Best forSpeed, editing in several appsLearning and controlling your grade

When to choose a LUT

You edit in Premiere, Final Cut or CapCut, or you want a consistent look in one click across many shots. The steps: CapCut, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve.

When to choose a PowerGrade

You work in DaVinci Resolve and want to understand what's going on: a PowerGrade opens up, every setting is named, and you adapt the look to each shot instead of crushing it.

The Creator PowerGrade: 6 looks as a node tree, with the tutorial.See the PowerGrade

Read next

Cinematic Pack: 6 cinematic LUTs + 50 sound effects6 cinematic .cube LUTs for DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and CapCut…Creator PowerGrade: 6 cinematic looks for DaVinci Resolve6 .drx PowerGrades for DaVinci Resolve, delivered as a named node tree (CST, exposure…How to add a LUT in CapCut (desktop and phone)Import a .cube LUT into CapCut on desktop, apply it to your clip, set the intensity. And…How to add a LUT in Premiere Pro (Lumetri Color)Where to put a .cube LUT in Premiere Pro: Creative › Look for style, Input LUT to convert…