LUTs vs PowerGrades: What's the Difference and When to Use Each?

When it comes to color grading, especially in DaVinci Resolve, two tools often come up: LUTs and PowerGrades. At first glance, they might seem interchangeable, but they actually serve different purposes in your workflow. Understanding the difference will help you make better creative decisions and get the most out of your footage, whether you're shooting on an iPhone in Apple Log or a cinema camera.

 

What Are LUTs?

LUTs (Look-Up Tables) are mathematical instructions that remap the colors in your image. Think of them as pre-made adjustments that instantly apply a particular color transformation to your footage.

• Common uses:
  • Converting log footage (like Apple Log) to Rec.709 for editing
  • Applying a specific cinematic look quickly
  • Standardizing footage from multiple cameras
• Strengths:
  • Fast, lightweight, and easy to apply
  • Compatible across multiple editing platforms (Resolve, Premiere, Final Cut, etc.)
  • Great for creators who want quick, consistent results
• Limitations:
  • LUTs are not adaptive; they apply the same transformation regardless of your clip’s exposure or color balance
  • They can clip highlights or crush shadows if not used carefully

What Are PowerGrades?

PowerGrades are DaVinci Resolve’s advanced presets that store not just a single look, but an entire node tree. This means a PowerGrade can include multiple corrections, masks, curves, and even film emulation techniques.

• Common uses:
  • Building complex cinematic looks
  • Creating reusable grading templates
  • Fine-tuning skin tones, contrast, and texture separately
• Strengths:
  • Fully customizable and adaptive
  • Preserves your node workflow — you can tweak every step
  • Can include advanced techniques like halation, grain, or selective color isolation
• Limitations:
  • Only works inside DaVinci Resolve
  • Slightly more advanced to use than a drag-and-drop LUT

LUTs vs PowerGrades: The Key Differences

Feature	LUTs	PowerGrades
Platform Compatibility	Cross-platform	DaVinci Resolve only
Customization	Limited	Fully editable
Complexity	Simple	Advanced
Ideal For	Quick looks, conversions	Cinematic grades, reusable workflows

When to Use LUTs

Use LUTs when you need:

• Speed: Fast turnarounds for social media content
• Cross-platform workflows: Moving between Resolve, Premiere, and Final Cut
• Base conversions: Quickly transforming Apple Log into Rec.709

They’re perfect for beginners or creators who want reliable, no-fuss results.

When to Use PowerGrades

Choose PowerGrades when you need:

• Maximum control: Every node is editable for fine-tuning
• Complex looks: Film emulation, subtle skin tone adjustments, texture work
• Consistency across projects: Build a library of reusable grades

They’re ideal for colorists, filmmakers, and content creators aiming for a polished, professional cinematic look.

Final Thoughts

Both LUTs and PowerGrades have their place in your workflow. Think of LUTs as your quick, universal tools and PowerGrades as your advanced, customizable blueprints.

At Absoluts, we create both:

• LUT Packs designed for iPhone Apple Log shooters who want fast cinematic looks.
• PowerGrades for DaVinci Resolve users who want complete creative flexibility.

👉 Browse our Absoluts LUTs and PowerGrades to find the right tools for your next project.