Buying guide · 4 min read
LUT vs PowerGrade: which one should you buy?
Both give you a look. The difference is how much of the grade you can still reach afterwards, and which software you edit in.
The short version
| LUT (.cube) | PowerGrade (.drx) | |
|---|---|---|
| Works in | Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, CapCut, cameras and monitors | DaVinci Resolve only |
| What it is | One fixed colour transform | A node tree where every step is editable |
| Control | Strength, plus whatever you do before and after it | Each node on its own: exposure, skin, grain, glow |
| Texture | None. A LUT cannot hold grain, glow or halation | Yes, as nodes |
| Speed | One click | A minute to set up per camera |
| On set | Loads into cameras and monitors for preview | No |
Pick the LUT if
- You edit in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or CapCut.
- You want the look on the camera or phone screen while you shoot.
- You turn projects around fast and the look is the last step.
Pick the PowerGrade if
- You grade in DaVinci Resolve.
- You want to fix skin without changing the rest of the frame.
- You want film texture: grain, glow, halation.
- You want to learn. Opening a finished node tree and switching nodes on and off teaches more than any tutorial.
Pick both if
You preview with the LUT on set and finish in Resolve with the PowerGrade, or you work across several editors. The CINELOCO Bundle and the Color Master Bundle pair the two for less than buying them separately.
Common questions
Does a PowerGrade work in Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro?
No. PowerGrades are DaVinci Resolve node trees. In other editors, use the LUT version of the look.
Is a PowerGrade just a LUT with extra steps?
No. A LUT bakes one transform. A PowerGrade keeps balance, transform, look, skin and texture on separate nodes, so each can be changed or switched off.