Convert-cube-to-xmp

Color lookup tables (LUTs) in .cube format are commonly used in video and image editing; Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom use .xmp and profile-based formats instead. This post explains why you might convert a .cube to .xmp, the two main approaches, step-by-step instructions for each, and troubleshooting tips.

Use this if you have Photoshop and want to bake a LUT into an ACR profile.

Steps:

With the LUT applied, export a Camera Raw/Lightroom profile:

Alternatively, use third-party scripts/plugins (e.g., ProfileConverters or 3rd-party LUT-to-DCP plugins) to bake into .xmp/.dcp.

Install the produced profile into CameraRaw/Lightroom as in Method A.

This route is more hands-on and may require trial-and-error to retain hue/saturation/contrast fidelity.

The .cube format is the industry standard for sharing color grading data. It is human-readable ASCII text. convert-cube-to-xmp


  "cubeName": "SalesCube",
  "dimensions": ["Time", "Product", "Region"],
  "measures": ["SalesAmount", "Quantity"],
  "timeRange":  "start": "2024-01-01", "end": "2024-12-31"

If you have 50 CUBE files to convert, manual import/export in Photoshop is tedious. Use dedicated software.

Popular Tools:

Workflow using Lattice (Example):