How to Add LUTs in Adobe Lightroom - SUPER EASY!
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Today I’ll be showing you how to easily add LUTs (Look-Up Tables) into Adobe Lightroom Classic. This feature is super handy, especially for those of you who enjoy color grading and want to apply your video LUTs to still images as well. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Ensure You Have the Latest Version of Lightroom
First things first—make sure you're using the latest version of Adobe Lightroom Classic. This feature for adding LUTs is available starting in version 12.0.1, so ensure your software is up to date. You can check this in your Lightroom settings to make sure you have the latest version installed.
Step 2: Open Your Image in Adobe Camera Raw
Once you’re in Lightroom Classic, go ahead and open your image in Adobe Camera Raw. If you’re not in Camera Raw yet, you can do this by simply clicking on your image and selecting the Edit icon.
Next, you’ll need to bring up your Presets panel by clicking the sticky note icon on the right-hand side. Hold the Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) key on your keyboard and click on the sticky note again. This opens up a different window where we’ll be able to work with LUTs.
Step 3: Add the LUT
Now that you’re in the Create New Preset window, you’ll need to set it up for the LUT you want to add.
Name the LUT: Name your LUT so you can easily identify it later. In my case, I’m adding a LUT called MS Orange and Teal.
Select the LUT Format: Instead of choosing "Create Preset," look for the Lookup Table option. Make sure the box for Color Lookup Table is checked.
Load Your LUT: Click the Load button and navigate to where your LUT is saved on your computer. Select it, and it will be loaded into Lightroom.
Set Your Profile: In the space below, leave the default settings like sRGB Gamut and Clip Sample 16, which will work for most cases. You can also create a new group for your LUTs if you want to stay organized.
Once you’ve done this, click OK to save it.
Step 4: Apply the LUT in Camera Raw
Once the LUT is saved, go to the Edit tab at the top of Camera Raw. Under the Profile section, click Browse, and you’ll now see the LUT you just added. If you’ve named it something specific, like “MS Orange and Teal,” it should be easy to find.
Simply click on your LUT, and you’ll see the profile applied to your image. Lightroom also gives you an intensity slider so you can adjust how strong or subtle you want the LUT to be.
Step 5: Bring LUT into Lightroom Classic
Now that your LUT is ready in Camera Raw, it’s time to bring it into Lightroom Classic:
Browse for the LUT: In Lightroom Classic, go to the Profile section in the Develop Module and click Browse. Your LUT should now show up in the list of available profiles.
Adjust Intensity: Click on your LUT, and just like in Camera Raw, you can adjust the intensity of the LUT using the slider.
Step 6: Make Further Adjustments
LUTs give a great starting point for color grading, but remember, every photo is different! You may need to make some further tweaks to get the look just right. For example, adjust the blacks, shadows, contrast, and clarity to match the vibe of your photo and your personal taste.
Step 7: Save as a Preset (Optional)
If you love the look you've created based on your LUT, you can save it as a preset in Lightroom for easy use later:
Go to the Presets panel and click the + icon to create a new preset.
Choose the settings you want to save, and name your preset (e.g., Test LUT).
Now, when you’re editing other photos, you can apply your preset with just a click!
Step 8: Adding LUTs in Adobe Photoshop
If you want to use the same LUTs in Photoshop, it’s simple! Open your image in Photoshop, go to Adjustments, and select Color Lookup. From here, you can browse and load your LUT just like you did in Lightroom and Camera Raw.
Once the LUT is applied, you can adjust its opacity to fine-tune the intensity.
Final Thoughts
And that’s it! Now you know how to add LUTs to your images in Adobe Lightroom Classic and tweak them to get the perfect color grading. It’s a super easy process, and it can save you tons of time when editing photos that need that extra pop. If you want to use my MS Orange and Teal LUT, I’ll leave a link below for you to grab it!
I hope you found this tutorial helpful! I’ll see you in the next one!
Happy editing! ✌️
