Free LUTs

Free LUTs for
YouTube Videos & Shorts.

One channel, one look: the grade that makes your long-form uploads feel cinematic is the same grade that makes your Shorts recognizable in the feed. All 12 .cube LUTs in the free pack work in both timelines — Premiere Pro, Resolve, Final Cut, or CapCut.

Get the Free 12-LUT Pack

Or grab three right now — no email: Classic Teal & Orange · Moody Dark · Vintage Chrome

Guide

Which looks perform on YouTube.

  1. Pick a signature grade for long-form
    VEL_Classic_Teal_Orange or VEL_Film_Print_01 at 60–80% intensity reads as production value across a full upload; VEL_Skin_Tone_Shaper keeps talking-head sections natural.
  2. Carry the same LUT into Shorts
    Use the identical .cube file in your vertical timeline — visual recognition in the Shorts feed is what converts browsers into subscribers.
  3. Push slightly harder for the Shorts feed
    Shorts autoplays next to flat phone footage, so a graded image stands out instantly. Run the LUT a touch stronger there than in long-form — what reads bold on a phone reads normal on a TV.
  4. Export clean
    YouTube’s compression is gentler than TikTok’s, but vertical video still gets re-encoded. 1080×1920 at high bitrate keeps gradients smooth.

Export settings for YouTube and Shorts

YouTube rewards resolution: upload 4K (2160×3840 vertical for Shorts) when your source allows, even if viewers watch at 1080p — higher-resolution uploads get better codec treatment, which means your grade’s gradients survive cleaner.

For standard uploads, H.264 at high bitrate (or HEVC for 4K) at your shooting frame rate is all you need. YouTube’s compression is the gentlest of the platforms, but vertical video still gets re-encoded — clean sources win.

Keep long-form and Shorts in the same color pipeline: same LUT, same SDR Rec.709 delivery. The fastest way to make a channel feel inconsistent is an HDR main video next to an SDR Short wearing the same thumbnail style.

Quick picks

Where this works best.

Cinematic videos and B-roll

VEL_Classic_Teal_Orange or VEL_Film_Print_01 — the long-form looks, carried into vertical.

Talking-head videos and Shorts

VEL_Skin_Tone_Shaper — clean, natural, reads as effort without shouting.

Moody hooks

YT_Moody_Dark — for dramatic openings that stop the scroll.

FAQ

YouTube LUT questions.

What are the best free LUTs for YouTube videos?

From this free pack: VEL_Classic_Teal_Orange and VEL_Film_Print_01 for cinematic videos and B-roll, VEL_Skin_Tone_Shaper for talking-head content, and YT_Moody_Dark for intros, hooks, and night footage. The same .cube files work for long-form uploads and Shorts. All 12 are free.

Should Shorts use the same color grade as my main videos?

Ideally yes — a consistent grade across long-form and Shorts builds visual recognition in the feed, which helps convert Shorts viewers into channel subscribers. Use the same .cube file in both timelines.

Do these LUTs work in monetized Shorts?

Yes — all 12 LUTs are free for commercial use including monetized YouTube content, with no attribution required.

Can I grade Shorts on my phone?

Yes — import any .cube file from the pack into CapCut mobile (Adjust → LUT), grade, export 1080×1920, and upload to YouTube.

Free Download

12 free LUTs.
Every look covered.

Professional .cube files. Free, no credit card.

Download the Free Pack