LUT Cube Apply Node

LUT Cube Apply takes two inputs:

• Foreground = an image cube (from the LUT Cube Creator), possibly modified by color correction nodes.
• Background = the footage to grade.

Fusion analyzes the color transform encoded in the FG (compared with the neutral reference cube) and applies it to the BG. Result: the BG gets exactly the grade you applied to the cube.

• Effects Library: Tools > LUT > LUT Cube Apply
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > LUT > LUT Cube Apply

File LUT

Reads a LUT from a file on disk. Portable (the file can be shared). Workflow: LUT file → File LUT node.

LUT Cube Apply

Applies a LUT encoded in the stream itself. No intermediate file, everything stays in the comp. Workflow: Creator → grading → Apply.

Rule of thumb: external sharing / reuse → File LUT (file). Quick internal grading without exporting → Cube Apply.

• Input / Background (orange) - the 2D image that receives the LUT. The footage to grade.
• Reference Image / Foreground (green) - connect the output of the LUT Cube Creator (or a node that modifies that output). It carries the color transform.
• Effect Mask (blue) - optional. Limits the effect to an area.

Full workflow:
LUT Cube Creator → Color Corrector (custom grade) → LUT Cube Apply FG
                                                          ↑
MediaIn (footage to grade) ───────────────────────────────┘ (BG)
                                                          ↓
                                                      MediaOut

Quickly grading several shots with the same look:
LUT Cube Creator → Color Corrector → Cube Apply (on shot 1) → Merge
                                           ↓
                                    Cube Apply (on shot 2) → Merge
                                           ↓
                                    etc.

The node has few parameters - it essentially performs the interpolation inside the cube.

Blend

Mix between the original footage (BG) and the result with the LUT applied. 0 = pure original, 1 = full LUT. Use it to dial in the strength of the look.

Pre / Post Gamma (in some builds)

Gamma adjustments before/after the application. Useful to adapt to different color spaces.

Settings Tab

Common controls shared with the other LUT nodes (Pre-Divide, Output Range, etc.).

• Quick internal grading with no file - no need to export then re-import a LUT. Everything stays fluid within the graph.
• Applying a look to several shots - a single Cube Creator + Color Corrector = the reference. Connect several Cube Apply nodes to different shots = all graded identically. Change the CC and they all update.
• Testing looks iteratively - adjust the color correction live and see the effect instantly on the footage through Cube Apply. Faster than exporting then re-importing.
• Baking a complex CC chain - if you have 10 correction nodes in a row (slow), Creator + the whole chain + Apply condenses everything into a single cube interpolation (fast).
• Localized look with Effect Mask - apply a LUT only to an area (face, sky) through a connected mask.
• Color matching between shots - grade a reference shot, extract the look via Cube Apply to match the other shots.

• Input order is crucial - footage to grade = BG (input 1, orange). Cube Creator (with grading) = FG (input 2, green). Swap them = wrong result.
• Blend to dial it in - look too strong? Blend 0.7 instead of 1 = a subtler look. Better than lowering every grading parameter.
• Cube Apply = faster than a long CC chain - interpolating inside a 33³ cube is very fast, even with many corrections on it. Useful to optimize heavy comps.
• 65³ precision for aggressive grades - if the grade is subtle (gradients, HDR), a 33³ cube can introduce banding. Switch to 65³ in the Creator.
• For export / sharing: Analyzer - if you want to share the look with another app, use the Analyzer to generate a portable .cube file. Apply on its own stays confined to Fusion.
• Identical to File LUT with the right file - if you want, you can use the Analyzer then File LUT for the same result. Apply skips that step.