How to Color Grade in Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners (With FREE LUT)

Introduction

This tutorial is designed for beginners looking to enhance their video editing skills in Adobe Premiere Pro through color grading. Utilizing a free LUT (Look-Up Table) provided within the software, you'll learn how to improve the visual appeal of your videos effectively. Color grading is essential for establishing mood, enhancing storytelling, and achieving a professional look.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Project

• Open Adobe Premiere Pro and create a new project.
• Import your video footage by dragging it into the project panel.
• Create a new sequence by right-clicking on your video clip in the project panel and selecting "New Sequence from Clip."

Step 2: Accessing the Color Workspace

• Navigate to the top menu and click on "Window."
• Select "Workspaces" and then choose "Color." This will open the Lumetri Color panel, which is essential for color grading.

Step 3: Applying a Free LUT

• In the Lumetri Color panel, locate the "Basic Correction" section.
• Find the "Input LUT" option.
• Click on "Browse" to navigate to the folder where the free LUT is stored, or select one from the provided LUTs in Premiere Pro.
• Apply the LUT to your clip by selecting it. This will instantly change the look of your footage.

Step 4: Adjusting Color Settings

• After applying the LUT, adjust the following settings to refine the look:
  • Exposure: Adjust the brightness of your clip.
  • Contrast: Increase or decrease the difference between dark and light areas.
  • Highlights and Shadows: Fine-tune the brightest and darkest parts of your image.
  • Saturation: Adjust the intensity of colors in your video.

Step 5: Fine-Tuning with Other Tools

• Explore additional options under the Lumetri Color panel:
  • Color Wheels: Use these for more precise control over shadows, midtones, and highlights.
  • Curves: Adjust the color channels for more advanced color correction.
  • HSL Secondary: Isolate specific colors to manipulate them independently.

Step 6: Previewing Your Edits

• Use the playback controls to preview your edits in the program monitor.
• Make any necessary adjustments based on how the color grading looks in motion.

Step 7: Exporting Your Video

• Once satisfied with your color grading, go to "File" in the top menu.
• Select "Export" and then "Media."
• Choose your desired export settings and click "Export" to save your finished video.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you've learned how to color grade in Adobe Premiere Pro using a free LUT, enhancing the overall quality of your videos. By following these steps, you can create visually appealing content that stands out. For further enhancement, consider experimenting with different LUTs and color grading techniques. Happy editing!