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Lightroom Presets
This is a short workflow description on how to install Presets for Lightroom Classic V 7.3 and Later.
Using Lightroom presets is the easy way how to edit and retouch images in Adobe Lightroom. Easy way because, in some cases, you are ready just by one click. In more typical situations is using preset a good start, and you need only to make a subtle fine-tuning afterward.
The reason is simple: each preset is produced and based on a particular original photo. So whenever you use the preset on your image, it won’t be the same, so you will need to make further adjustments.
Anyhow, presets are extremely helpful, and there is always a good reason to use it.
I use presets on complicated images, then I make adjustments in Lightroom and, if needed following up with Photoshop final touches.
You can find retouching workflow here and also here.
How to install Presets
- After downloading the preset or preset pack, locate it in your Download folder – it is a ZIP file.
- Unzip the file to your destination folder – extract all files from the ZIP file.
- Open Lightroom Classic on your PC or Mac.
- Navigate and click the Develop Module button – it is located on the top right of the screen.
- Now move the mouse to the left part of the screen and locate the drop-down bar named Presets.
- Click on “+” icon and select “Import presets” option.
- Locate unzipped file or folder on your disk
- Select all XMP files – each XMP file represents a different preset and click the Import button.
- Now you will see new preset / presets available in the Preset drop-down bar.
How to apply Presets to your images
Now you have installed the new presets and let’s have a look at how to use them. It is straightforward.
Navigate to Presets drop-down bar where you have all available presets. Presets are grouped in packs, and you can reveal the content of each pack by clicking the arrow on the left side of the bar.
Then just click on any preset, and it will be automatically applied to your image.
You can hover the mouse pointer over the preset, and you’ll get the preview of the preset directly on your image.
Final Adjustments
As we already mentioned, it is necessary to make final adjustments to your image after applying the preset.
Most common adjustments are the following:
- Exposure – by this slider, you can increase or decrease the amount of light in the image.
- Contrast – to increase the overall contrast of the photo
- Highlights – use this slider to increase or decrease the most exposed parts of the image. I use it to reduce or remove the clipping on the brightest parts of the image
- Shadows – this is the setting I use on almost every image. It is great to bring back the information on the dark parts of the photo.
- Texture and Clarity serve to increase the subtle or stronger sharpening and local contrast
- Vibrance and Saturation are to be used for increasing or decreasing color saturation. I prefer to use only the Vibrance for more subtle and natural results.
