Getting the Best Results

Everything you need to know to install, understand and get the most from your presets.

A consistent look across different scenes

My presets help bring colour, contrast and atmosphere to your photography while giving you room to adapt the look.

Each photograph has different lighting and colours, so a few adjustments may be needed to achieve the result you want.

Making each edit your own

Treat each preset as a starting point. Refine exposure, white balance and other settings to suit your image.

Some photographs need very little adjustment; others need more. Both are a normal part of editing.

Before you apply a preset

  1. Import your photograph into Lightroom.

  2. Correct any major exposure issues.

  3. Apply your chosen preset.

  4. Fine-tune exposure and white balance.

Start with the original RAW file where possible for greater editing flexibility.

Why doesn’t my image look exactly like yours?

The same preset can look different depending on:

  • Camera model and profile.

  • Exposure and white balance.

  • Lighting, weather and time of day.

  • Whether the image is RAW or JPEG.

The examples show the overall style. Use small adjustments to make that look work with your photograph.

Choosing a camera profile

Profiles influence colour and contrast. If a preset applies a profile, start with that setting. Otherwise, compare the available profiles to find one that suits your image.

Using presets on portraits

Pay attention to skin tones after applying a preset. Adjust white balance first, then refine individual colours in the Color Mixer if needed.

A subtler preset may be better suited to your portrait.

Common adjustments

My image looks too dark.

Increase Exposure slightly. Use Shadows to lift darker areas if needed.

My image looks too bright.

Reduce Exposure. Lower Highlights if bright areas need further adjustment.

My image looks too warm or too cool.

Adjust Temperature. Use Tint to correct a green or pink cast.

The colours look different from the examples.

Check exposure, white balance and the camera profile. Your original lighting and colours will influence the result.

The preset looks too strong.

Refine contrast, vibrance or saturation. You can change any setting, or try another preset that better suits the photograph.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. You can use these presets with images from any camera supported by Lightroom.

    Colour varies between cameras and profiles, so you may need to adjust exposure and white balance after applying a preset.

  • No. They’re designed as a creative starting point. Some images need very little adjustment, while others benefit from fine-tuning exposure and white balance.

  • These presets work with JPEGs. For greater control over exposure, white balance and colour, I recommend editing RAW files where possible.

  • No. Once installed, they’ll be available in your Presets panel for future edits. Keep a backup of your files in case you need to reinstall them or set up Lightroom on another device.

  • Yes. These presets are made for Adobe Lightroom and include:

    • XMP files for Lightroom and Lightroom Classic on desktop.

    • DNG files for Lightroom Mobile.

    Lightroom is not included with your purchase. You’ll need to download it separately from Adobe, and a subscription may be required depending on the features you use.

Installation Guide

Follow the steps for your version of Lightroom.

Lightroom Mobile — DNG files

  1. Download and unzip your preset folder.

  2. Save the DNG files to your phone or tablet.

  3. Open Lightroom Mobile and import them using Add Photos.

  4. Open a DNG image, then open the options menu and select Create Preset.

  5. Name the preset and choose a group to save it in.

  6. Repeat for each DNG image.

To use a saved preset, open your photograph and select it from the Presets panel.

Lightroom Desktop — XMP files

  1. Download and unzip your preset folder.

  2. Open Lightroom and select File → Import Profiles & Presets.

  3. Select the XMP files and click Import.

Your collection will appear in the Presets panel.

Lightroom Classic — XMP files

  1. Download and unzip your preset folder.

  2. Open Lightroom Classic and go to the Develop module.

  3. Click + in the Presets panel and select Import Presets.

  4. Select the XMP files and confirm the import.

Your collection will appear in the Presets panel.

Using XMP files on mobile

In supported versions of Lightroom Mobile, open a photograph, go to Presets, open the options menu and select Import Presets. Choose your downloaded XMP files.

Alternatively, import them into the cloud-based Lightroom desktop app. With the same Adobe account and an active subscription, your presets can sync to Lightroom Mobile.

Lightroom Classic does not directly sync presets to mobile.

Menu names and positions may vary between devices and app versions.