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# Apply a 3D LUT for color
- URL: https://ffmpeguru.com/apply-a-3d-lut-for-color/
- Published: 2026-08-26T09:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-13T17:59:40.000Z
- Author: FFmpeguru
- Tags: ffmpeg

A 3D LUT is a file that maps every RGB color to another RGB color via a three-dimensional lookup table. Colorists use them to apply a specific look (filmic, vintage, brand color) to a flat source. FFmpeg can apply a .cube file directly, so the same LUT used in DaVinci or Premiere can be applied during an encode.

## The command

```
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf "lut3d=film.cube" -c:v libx264 -crf 20 out.mp4
```

## What it does

The \`lut3d\` filter reads the .cube file at startup and applies the per-pixel mapping. The output is a video with the LUT applied; the source frames are not modified on disk. The filter is fast — a 33x33x33 LUT (typical) adds a small fraction of the encode cost. Multiple LUTs can be chained with \`lut3d=a.cube,lut3d=b.cube\` for a compound look.

## Requirements

A valid .cube file (text format, 17x17x17 to 65x65x65 cube size is typical). The filter is in libavfilter, with \`luts\` support. CPU-only, single-pass. The LUT must match the input color space — an sRGB LUT on a Rec.709 source is correct; a Rec.2020 LUT on an sRGB source will produce wrong colors.

## Things to avoid

- Applying a LUT designed for a different gamma. LUTs are usually tagged in the file name or header; an \`sRGB\` LUT on a \`linear\` source will look washed out.
- Re-encoding the audio. The LUT is a video filter, but the audio is unaffected; use \`-c:a copy\` to keep the soundtrack untouched.
- Combining a LUT with a global color filter. The second filter sees the first filter's output as its input, which can compound the look in unexpected ways.
- Forgetting to bake the LUT into the file. The command above writes the LUT into the encoded video. If you want the source to remain neutral, do the LUT as a separate pass.