The short answer
A .cube file is a 3D colour lookup table in the open industry-standard format. Register one in your camera's LUT Library and the LUMIX bakes that look into every JPEG and video clip as you shoot, leaving the RAW untouched. To load, the file must be a 33-point or smaller .cube, sitting in the root folder of your card, named with alphanumeric characters only.
What the camera actually requires
Most "my LUT will not load" reports come down to the file, not the camera. Panasonic's operating instructions set out four hard requirements, and a file that breaks any of them simply will not appear in the library.
| Requirement | What Panasonic specifies |
|---|---|
| Format | .cube or .vlt. For .cube, 2-point to 33-point 3D LUTs are supported. |
| Location | The root directory of the card, meaning the first folder you see when the card opens on a computer. Not inside a subfolder. |
| Characters | Alphanumeric characters only. |
| Name length | On a FAT32 card (SD and SDHC, up to 32GB): 8 characters or fewer, excluding the extension. On an exFAT card (SDXC and CFexpress): up to 255 characters including the extension. |
| Range | Panasonic recommends full-range LUT files. A file with a different range property may not display or record correctly. |
The 8-character limit applies to FAT32 cards, which means any SD or SDHC card up to 32GB. A file called my-favourite-look.cube will load fine from a 64GB SDXC card and silently fail from a 32GB SDHC card in the same body. If a LUT refuses to appear, rename it to something short and plain such as LOOK01 and try again before assuming the file is broken.
Why 33-point is the ceiling
A .cube describes a colour transform as a grid. A 33-point file samples that grid 33 times per axis, which is enough for smooth skies and clean skin roll-off. Editing software often ships 65-point tables for finishing work, and those are excellent in Resolve or Lightroom, but the camera will not register them. If you have a 65-point file you want in-camera, resample it down to 33-point first.
This is also why .cube beats the older format. A .vlt file is limited to 17 points and only works on Panasonic hardware, so it carries less colour detail and locks you out of standard editing software. If you get a choice, take the .cube.
Where to get .cube files for a LUMIX
Free
Start with Panasonic's own LUMIX Lab app. It ships a large library of creator LUTs at no cost and transfers them to the camera over Wi-Fi, so you never touch a card. It is genuinely good and it is the right place to learn what you like. We also give away a free Kodak Gold look if you want to test the workflow with a film emulation.
Paid
Paid looks are worth it when you want a specific film stock rendered accurately and consistently across a whole set, rather than a grab bag. Every LumiLUTs look is delivered as a 33-point .cube, so the same file you shoot with in-camera also grades your footage in Resolve, Premiere, Final Cut and Lightroom. Not sure which suits you, try the LUT Finder.
Getting the file onto the camera
Two routes, both about a minute. Wirelessly through the LUMIX Lab app, or by copying the .cube to the root of your card and loading it from the LUT Library menu. Full step-by-step for both is in the install guide, and if something goes wrong the troubleshooting guide works through the five usual causes in order.
Seven film looks, all 33-point .cube
Browse the looksLUMIX .cube file FAQ
What is a .cube file on a LUMIX?
A .cube file is a 3D colour lookup table in the open industry-standard format. On a LUMIX with Real Time LUT, you register the .cube in the camera's LUT Library and the camera bakes that colour look into every JPEG and video clip as you shoot. The RAW file is saved untouched.
Why will my .cube file not load on my LUMIX?
The most common causes are file naming and location. Panasonic requires the file to sit in the root directory of the card, to use alphanumeric characters only, and on a FAT32 SD or SDHC card the name must be 8 characters or fewer excluding the extension. A .cube above 33-point will also be rejected, since LUMIX bodies support 2-point to 33-point 3D LUTs.
What size .cube does a LUMIX support?
Panasonic states that .cube format LUT files are compatible with 2-point to 33-point 3D LUTs. A 33-point file is the maximum and gives the smoothest gradients. Larger tables such as 65-point are common in editing software but will not register in the camera.
How many .cube files can a LUMIX hold?
Up to 39 LUT files can be registered in the LUT Library. On the S9 four slots are used by default by Vlog_709 and three sample LUTs, so you have the rest for your own looks.
Where can I get .cube files for a LUMIX?
The free LUMIX Lab app from Panasonic ships a large library of creator LUTs at no cost. Paid curated film-emulation looks are also available, including the LumiLUTs set, which is delivered as 33-point .cube files that load in-camera and also work in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut and Lightroom.