In this video, I’m going to show beginner photographers how to use LUTs, also known as Lookup Tables, to create cinematic photo edits with confidence, restraint, and intention. Instead of piling on effects or endlessly adjusting sliders, you’ll learn how LUTs work as precise colour grading tools that remap colour and tone relationships to create consistent, film-inspired looks. We’ll cover what LUTs actually are, how they differ from filters and presets, and why they’re so widely used in cinematic colour grading for movies and photography. I’ll walk you through using the built-in LUTs already available in Photoshop and Luminar Neo, showing you how to apply them non-destructively, control their strength, adjust blend modes, and mask them for natural skin tones and believable results. This tutorial focuses on developing good colour judgment rather than buying more presets, helping you understand when a LUT enhances the mood of an image and when it’s gone too far, so your edits support the story you’re telling instead of overpowering it.
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