How Colour Grading and LUTs Build Brand Recognition
When you think of your favourite creators or brands online, you probably recognise them within seconds, sometimes without even seeing a logo. Why?
Because branding isn’t just what you say, it’s how you look and feel. That’s where colour grading and LUTs (Look-Up Tables) can be used.
What is colour grading?
Colour grading is the process of enhancing the look of your video through controlled adjustments to exposure, contrast, white balance, shadows, highlights, and most importantly colour tones.
It’s about crafting a visual style that evokes a feeling and reinforces identity.
A gritty, desaturated look might signal toughness, realism, or drama.
Warm, sunlit tones can communicate friendliness, nostalgia, or authenticity.
A clean, minimal grade with sharp whites and true blacks screams professionalism.
When your video looks like your brand, people begin to associate that look with you and you start becoming instantly recognisable.
What are LUTs?
An LUT is a preset colour grading file you can apply to your footage to give it a specific look instantly. Think of it as a professional grade Instagram filter but built for editors, cinematographers, and brands who care about consistency.
Using a LUT:
Saves time when editing
Keeps your content on-brand
Ensures consistency across social media platforms
Zeryth creates custom LUTs tailored to your brand's colours, mood, and audience. That means no matter who edits your content, or how many videos you produce, your visual identity remains consistent.
Why visual consistency matters for branding
Recognition
The more consistent your videos look, the faster people associate that “look” with your brand. Visuals become a cue like your logo or jingle.
Trust & professionalism
A cohesive colour palette creates the impression of polish, intention, and quality. It signals to your audience that you're worth their time.
Algorithm friendly
Believe it or not, consistent style can increase retention. When people know what to expect visually, they’re less likely to scroll away.
Platform flexibility
Whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn your colour graded footage will stand out in a sea of unedited, noisy visuals.
How to start colour grading simply
Pick a brand mood
Do you want your content to feel warm and inviting? Cinematic and dramatic? Cool and minimal? Decide on the vibe first.
Choose a colour palette
Try building a palette with 2–3 dominant tones and 1–2 accent colours. You can base this off your website, logo, or even your product packaging.
Use LUTs
Use a pre-built LUT that matches your desired style or get a custom one made (I do this for clients). Apply it to your content for a fast, unified look.
Tweak when needed
Use colour grading as a guide, not a cage. Sometimes you’ll need to make small adjustments depending on lighting or camera setup and that’s okay.
Want to stand out with a signature look?
Zeryth helps brands go from scattered and inconsistent to instantly recognisable just by building a tailored LUT and implementing basic grading workflows.
If you’re interested in sharpening your brand identity through colour, I offer:
Custom brand LUTs
LUT application for edited content
Brand video audits and visual alignment
Let your audience recognize your brand before a single word is said.
Free video style audit
Not sure where to start?
Send me one of your existing videos and I’ll give you a free review with suggestions on how to improve your visual branding using colour.
Book a free call with the red button on the right.
Let’s make your content look as good as it sounds.
