Why I Use Dehancer to Make My Videos Look Cinematic

I’ve been making videos for over a decade—starting with music gigs and underground street performances, and now filming everything from rice fields in Vietnam to chaotic tuk tuk rides in Thailand. And through it all, one thing has never changed: I’ve always chased that filmic, cinematic look.

Let’s be honest, a lot of digital footage just looks… digital. Too clean. Too clinical. Especially when you're shooting on mirrorless cameras or phones—it can feel like something's missing. That’s where Dehancer comes in.

📽 What Is Dehancer?

Dehancer is a film emulation plugin that recreates the look and feel of real analog film stocks. It works inside apps like DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro, and they’ve recently added support for Photoshop and Lightroom too.

But it’s more than just a LUT or a filter—it simulates all the little imperfections that make film beautiful: the grain, halation, bloom, color cast, even the film compression and print characteristics. You can push it hard for a dreamy 16mm vibe, or dial it back for subtle Kodak Portra tones.

🎬 My Setup

Right now I shoot with a Sony A7CII, filming in S-Log3 for maximum flexibility in post. I grade my videos in DaVinci Resolve, and Dehancer has become a permanent part of my workflow. It's helped me unify my look across all the different travel projects I shoot—whether I'm filming a foggy morning in Hanoi or golden hour in Bali (yes, even Bali has good lighting if you get up early enough).

💡 Why It Matters

If you're making travel videos, short films, or even just cinematic vlogs—having a strong visual identity matters. Your color grade is part of your voice. Anyone can shoot in 4K now, but very few take the time to give their footage that emotional depth and texture that film provides.

Dehancer does that. It’s the closest I’ve come to making digital feel analog—without hauling around a Super 8 camera or spending hours tweaking nodes.

💸 Get 10% Off with My Code

If you’re curious to try it, Dehancer has given me a 10% discount code you can use:

Use code: CARLTRAVELS at checkout

Get Dehancer here

I’m not pushing gear I don’t use—this is literally in every one of my edits now. And yes, I do earn a small commission if you sign up through my link. It helps support the channel, the late-night edits, and maybe even my next noodle soup.

🧪 Still Not Sure?

Try the free trial first. No watermark. No risk. Just open up your footage and see what happens when you drop a little Kodak Gold or Cinestill 800T on it. You’ll know pretty quickly if it’s for you.

🔧 Final Tips

• If you’re using DaVinci Resolve, make sure your color management is set correctly—Dehancer plays really well with S-Log, Canon Log, and Blackmagic Film.
• Don’t go overboard with the grain or halation—start subtle, build from there.
• Use the print film emulations at the end of your grade—they add the final magic.

Got questions? DM me on Instagram or leave a comment on YouTube. Always happy to share my workflow.

Stay cinematic,
– Carl