Create Custom Looks Fast with LookBank – DCTL for DaVinci Resolve
Introducing LookBank – A Versatile Look-Development Tool for DaVinci Resolve
A crucial part of building the visual identity of any project is look-development. This stage of the colour pipeline is where the creative fingerprint of your project is really defined—enhancing everything captured in production and shaping it into a cohesive aesthetic in post.
A well-crafted look doesn’t just make an image prettier—it transforms the entire vibe of a production, imbuing every frame with intent, tone, and personality.
Why I Built LookBank
To make the process of look-development more accessible and creatively rewarding, I’ve spent the past six months deep-diving into colour science, tool design, and the maths that underpin truly great grading tools. My aim was to build something powerful under the hood—but simple and intuitive to use—so that anyone, regardless of experience level, could shape a strong and stylistic grade without the usual technical overhead.
LookBank is the result of that effort: a DCTL built to make the process of grading faster, more fun, and more focused.
What It Does
LookBank is built around four main modules:
Contrast
Split
Palette
Modifier
Each module comes with 10 preset options, and each has its own strength slider. You can mix and match these combinations to create your own look—whether subtle or bold. The tool includes:
Contrast curves with filmic density, soft roll-offs, or bleach bypass punch
Split-tone presets for modern teal-and-orange or vintage cool casts
Colour palettes that boost colour contrast and density
Modifiers that shape the saturation curve in two distinct ways
With 10 presets per module across four modules, that gives you 10,000 possible combinations—plenty of creative ground to cover without feeling overwhelmed.
Real-World Use
I originally designed LookBank with editors, content creators, and indie filmmakers in mind—people who often handle every part of the process, including the grade. But I’ve found myself using it more and more in my own professional work.
Recently, while grading a short film, I started by stacking several of my standalone tools—contrast, split, palette, bleach, etc.—but I struggled to lock in the right vibe. So I reset everything, dropped in LookBank, and within minutes had something that just worked.
That look featured a cool split in the highlights and a saturation contrast boost from the modifier module—together, they immediately gave the project the vintage, filmic feel I’d been chasing. Ironically, it was the limited nature of LookBank’s combinations that made it so useful. When you're working with breakout tools that allow 0.001 precision and 10+ sliders across several tools, the options reach into the quintillions. With LookBank, you get 10,000 strong possible combinations—but in a far more manageable and accesible format.
Try It Out
Above, you’ll find a video walkthrough that demos how LookBank works—showing off the presets, giving example grades, and offering tips for best practices.
If you’re curious, I encourage you to check it out. There’s also a free demo version available via my Ko-Fi page. It’s fully functional with no expiration, just a watermark. You can test it on your own shots, explore different combinations, and see how quickly you land on something that clicks—maybe even something you wouldn’t have arrived at by nudging sliders manually.
And if you do try the demo or purchase the tool, I’d love to hear how you get on with it. I’m continuing to develop and expand the tools available in my store, and your feedback directly shapes where those improvements go next.
Thanks for reading!
