Adobe Lightroom presets are extremely handy tools for creating unique and stunning images with literally a few clicks. In this article I’m going to take you on a video tutorial of how to use Lightroom presets including:
- How to import lightroom presets
- How to apply a preset
- How to modify your image after applying a preset
- How to create lightroom presets
- Lastly how to export and share your presets with others
What are Lightroom Presets anyway?
Simply put, Lightroom Develop Presets consist of a copy of some of the settings available inside Adobe Lightroom, already applied in a certain way, to create a certain affect on your image. For example, some of the things presets can do:
- Add punch to your image for more drama
- Create an edge vignette to darken the edges of your image and draw the viewers eye in to the center of the image
- Convert your image to black and white
- Apply a retro look like 70s style color film
- Create a faded out or vintage look for your image
- Darken or add drama to the sky
- Make a faux “HDR” look to maintain detail in a contrasty image
There are many other kinds of presets possible in Lightroom, but to keep it simpler we’ll focus on Develop Presets only today. Just know that you can also create presets for your adjustment brush, graduated filter, export presets and more. They are all designed to save you time when doing repetitive tasks so if you find yourself saying “I do this thing a lot” consider making it into a preset. Here’s an example of what you can do with presets with ONE CLICK.
How to use Lightroom Presets
The best way for me to show you how to use presets is to do just that, so please watch this Lightroom tutorial, then continue reading below the video to see some of the preset applied on my images.
Example of some looks you can apply with Lightroom Presets
How do I get some of these presets?
There are many ways to find Lightroom presets including using Google and finding some for free. If you do a search you’ll find about 1.7 million hits for “free lightroom presets”. Are they all good? Hard to say, some yes, some not so much. You have to just wade through them and find the ones you like, so it can be time consuming.
Another option is to purchase some to get started. Once again there are many options, in many different prices ranges and variety packs.
I’ve recently begun creating my own and releasing them for purchase. My Lightroom presets are listed here.
Lightroom for Photographers: The Complete Course – If you want to learn everything there is to know about Lightroom, I encourage you to check out my brand new Lightroom course for 2022, Lightroom for Photographers.
It’s designed for complete beginners, but seasoned Lightroom users are finding substantial value as well and it’s getting rave reviews from other photographers just like you.
Our online courses also include Luminar Neo, Photoshop and Portrait Fundamentals.
ACTION PLAN
So how are you going to use this information? Will you go find some presets or make some of your own? Do you have some favourite you use already? Please share in the comments section if you use Presets or if this is new to you, and show us some images you’ve creating with the assistance of one or more Lightroom Presets.
- A previous article I wrote about how to set up your Lightroom preferences
- If you are currently not using Adobe Lightroom, you might want to read this to see why I’m so hyped about it and why I recommend it – Top 10 Reasons Lightroom Rocks
Cheers
