How to create LUT-Style color grading in Adobe Illustrator

Color grading is usually associated with photography and video editing, but what if you want that same LUT-style color grading in Adobe Illustrator, directly on your vector artwork or embedded images?

This question was asked by one of our Slack community members:

I'm making a security screen and struggling to get to get more of a LUT look. Is there a way to do that with Duotone?

It was answered quickly by one of the community members. The Astute Graphics Slack Community is a great "Hub of Help" for anything Adobe Illustrator related. You can join and be part of the conversation using this link: https://bit.ly/ag-slack

Is there a way to add a LUT look in Illustrator?

Most designers assume that Illustrator can’t grade visuals the way Photoshop or Premiere can. Astute Graphics’ Phantasm can create film-style color transformations right inside Illustrator, on both images and vector artwork.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Phantasm Tritone and Curves to achieve rich, LUT-inspired color tones without ever leaving Illustrator.

This tutorial is perfect for anyone who wants cinematic vector art, stylized illustration palettes, CCTV effect or unified color direction.

Phantasm works on:

• Vector objects

• Groups

• Entire illustrations

• Embedded images

• Linked images (if you expand)

This makes it ideal for professional workflows where you combine vector shapes, textures, gradients, and photos in one file.

If you don’t have access to Phantasm, you can start a free trial for 7 days (no card details required). 

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In this tutorial we are using the Phantasm features as Live Effects, which means they are non-destructive and can be turned on/off after they’ve been applied. If you want to apply these features as Filters, or understand the difference between the two, you can find out more on the documentation website: Phantasm Live Effects Vs. Filters - What's the difference?

Add Phantasm Duotone for LUT-inspired looks

Once you have Phantasm installed inside Adobe Illustrator. You can find the Phantasm panel under Window > Astute Graphics > Phantasm.

Click the Phantasm Duotone Live Effect Button, this will open a new dialog. This is where you can add more than one color, from duotone, to tritone, and quadtrone effects.

We will be using a tritone effect in this example. Tritone replaces shadows, midtones, and highlights with the chosen colors, delivering a hyper-controlled mood palette.

How to use Tritone for LUT-style grading:

a. Cinematic warm shadows + cool highlights

• Shadows: deep teal

• Midtones: neutral warm gray

• Highlights: warm cream or peach

b. Retro film look

• Shadows: muted maroon

• Mids: dusty orange

• Highlights: pale yellow

c. Horror / Thriller LUT

• Shadows: green

• Midtones: cold gray

• Highlights: blue-white

d. Noir / Monochrome / CCTV LUT

• Shadows: ultramarine

• Midtones: desaturated navy

• Highlights: light gray

You can find out all about this live effect with the Phantasm Duotone documentation: https://docs.astutegraphics.com/phantasm/duotone

Apply Phantasm Curves

You can find the Phantasm Curves Live Effect also on the Phantasm panel (Window > Astute Graphics > Phantasm).

Create an S-Curve for film-like contrast:

• Pull down shadows slightly

• Lift highlights

• Keep midtones stable

This creates a cinematic, punchy contrast profile.

You can find out all about this live effect with the Phantasm Curves documentation: https://docs.astutegraphics.com/phantasm/curves

Now that both effects have been applied to the embedded image, the Phantasm panel displays a small Cross next to each effect. You can either click the button again to reopen the effect dialog to make further changes, or click the Cross to delete the effect. You can also use the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) to view and edit the live effects.

Why use Phantasm from Astute Graphics?

This workflow brings professional-level color control to the vector world:

• No raster export required

• No jumping between software

• Fully editable vectors remain intact

• Consistent cinematic style across an entire brand or illustration series

• Embedded photos and vectors can share the same palette
  
  

If you’ve ever wished Illustrator had a native way to apply LUTs, film-style tones, or dramatic color grading, Astute Graphics Phantasm is the answer.

Using Curves for tonal shaping and Tritone for mood and palette, you can transform flat vector artwork into cinematic, emotionally rich visuals, without leaving your Illustrator workflow.

This combination effectively brings LUT-style color grading into Adobe Illustrator, opening entirely new creative possibilities for illustrators, digital artists, and graphic designers.

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