How to Save a Preset in Lightroom

(Last updated on October 4th, 2023)

Short Summary

In this article, you will learn how to save a preset in lightroom, which is a predefined setting that you can apply to your photos to edit them faster and better. The main steps are:

• Open the photo that you want to edit and save as a preset in lightroom’s develop module
• Edit the photo using lightroom’s tools and settings to achieve your desired effect and style
• Save the edited photo as a preset in lightroom’s presets panel by naming it and selecting which settings to include
• Apply the saved preset to other photos by clicking on it in the presets panel or syncing it to multiple images at once
• Share your preset with others by exporting it as a file and importing it from another source or using the preset manager

If you want to learn more about these steps and how to create, apply, and share your presets in lightroom, read on.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how professional photographers create stunning photos with just a few clicks? The secret is presets. Presets are predefined settings that you can apply to your photos in lightroom, a popular photo editing software. Presets can help you save time, create consistency, and achieve amazing effects with ease.

In this article, you will learn how to save a preset in lightroom, so you can edit your photos like a pro. You will also learn how to create, apply, and share your presets with others. By the end of this article, you will be able to transform your photos with just one click.

What You Need

To save a preset in lightroom, you will need the following:

• A computer or mobile device with lightroom installed
• A photo that you want to edit and save as a preset
• A basic knowledge of lightroom’s editing tools and settings

If you don’t have lightroom yet, you can download it from the official website or from the app store of your device. You can also sign up for a free trial or a subscription plan that suits your needs.

How to Save a Preset in Lightroom

To save a preset in lightroom, you will need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the photo that you want to edit and save as a preset in lightroom

The first step is to import and open the photo that you want to edit and save as a preset in lightroom. You can do this by clicking on the File menu and selecting Import Photos and Video. Then, browse your computer or device and select the photo that you want to import. You can also drag and drop the photo into the lightroom window.

Once you have imported the photo, you can open it in the develop module by clicking on the Develop tab at the top right corner of the screen. This is where you will edit your photo and create your preset.

Step 2: Edit the photo using lightroom’s tools and settings

The second step is to edit the photo using lightroom’s tools and settings. You can find these on the right panel of the develop module. There are many tools and settings that you can use to adjust the exposure, contrast, color, tone, sharpness, noise, etc. of your photo. You can also use the tone curve, color mixer, split toning, and other tools to enhance your photo.

For example, if you want to create a warm and vintage look for your photo, you can try these settings:

• Basic: Increase the Temperature to 6500 K, decrease the Contrast to -20, increase the Shadows to 40, decrease the Whites to -30, and increase the Blacks to 20.
• Tone Curve: Drag the bottom left point up slightly and drag the top right point down slightly to create an S-shaped curve.
• Color Mixer: Increase the Hue of orange to 40, decrease the Saturation of orange to -20, increase the Luminance of orange to 20. Do the same for yellow and red.
• Split Toning: Set the Highlights Hue to 50 and the Highlights Saturation to 10. Set the Shadows Hue to 40 and the Shadows Saturation to 15.
• Detail: Increase the Sharpening Amount to 40 and decrease the Noise Reduction Luminance to 10.

Of course, these are just some examples of how you can edit your photo. You can experiment with different tools and settings until you are happy with your photo. You can also use the Before/After button at the bottom left corner of the screen to compare your edited photo with your original photo.

Step 3: Save the edited photo as a preset in lightroom

The third step is to save the edited photo as a preset in lightroom. You can do this by accessing the presets panel on the left side of the develop module. Here, you will see a list of presets that are already available in lightroom. You can also create your own presets by clicking on the plus icon at the top right corner of the panel.

This will open a new window where you can name your preset and choose a folder or group to store it. You can also select which settings you want to include in your preset. For example, if you only want to save your color adjustments, you can uncheck all other boxes except for Color Mixer, Split Toning, and White Balance.

Once you have named and selected your preset settings, click on Create to save your preset. You will see your preset appear in the presets panel under the folder or group that you have chosen.

Step 4: Apply the saved preset to other photos

The fourth step is to apply the saved preset to other photos. You can do this by selecting the photo that you want to edit and clicking on your preset in the presets panel. You will see your photo change according to the settings of your preset.

You can also tweak or modify your preset if needed for different photos. For example, if you want to adjust the exposure or contrast of your photo, you can use the basic settings or the tone curve to do so. You can also use the local adjustments, such as brushes, gradients, and spot removal, to fine-tune your photo.

You can apply the same preset to multiple photos at once by using the sync or auto sync feature. We will explain how to do this in the next section.

How to Apply Lightroom Presets to Several Images at Once

If you want to apply a preset to several images at once, you can use the sync or auto sync feature in lightroom. This can help you save time and create consistency across your photos.

To use the sync feature, you need to select multiple images in lightroom’s library or filmstrip. You can do this by holding down the Ctrl key (or Command key on Mac) and clicking on the images that you want to select. You can also use the Shift key to select a range of images.

Then, you need to sync the settings of the active image (the one with a white border) to the selected images. You can do this by clicking on the Sync button at the bottom right corner of the screen. This will open a new window where you can choose which settings you want to sync and which ones you want to exclude. For example, if you only want to sync your preset, you can uncheck all other boxes except for Process Version and Settings.

Once you have selected your sync settings, click on Synchronize to apply them to your selected images. You will see your images change according to the settings of your active image.

To use the auto sync feature, you need to enable it by clicking on the switch icon next to the sync button. This will turn the sync button into an auto sync button. Then, you need to select multiple images in lightroom’s library or filmstrip as before.

The difference is that when you enable auto sync, any changes that you make to your active image will be automatically applied to your selected images. You don’t need to click on any button or window. For example, if you apply a preset to your active image, it will be automatically applied to your selected images as well.

You can disable auto sync by clicking on the switch icon again. This will turn the auto sync button back into a sync button.

Some tips and tricks for applying presets to several images are:

• Use auto sync when you want to make quick and consistent changes across your images.
• Use sync when you want more control and flexibility over which settings you want to apply or exclude.
• Check for consistency across your images by using the compare view or survey view in lightroom’s library module.
• Undo any changes that you don’t like by using the history panel or the undo button in lightroom’s develop module.

Related Links

• Lightroom Focus Stacking
• Lightroom Keyboard Shortcuts
• Best Export Settings for Lightroom

How to Share a Preset in Lightroom

If you want to share a preset in lightroom with others, you can do so by exporting it as a file and importing it from another source. You can also use the preset manager to manage your presets and create custom groups.

To export a preset as a file, you need to right-click on your preset in the presets panel and select Export. This will open a new window where you can choose where to save your preset file on your computer. The file extension will be .xmp by default.

To import a preset from another source, such as an email attachment, a website download, or a USB drive, you need to copy or move the preset file into one of these folders on your computer:

• Windows: C:\Users[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings
• Mac: /Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings

Then, you need to restart lightroom and find your imported preset in the presets panel under User Presets.

To use the preset manager, you need to click on the plus icon in the presets panel and select Manage Presets. This will open a new window where you can see all your presets and groups. You can also create new groups, rename or delete existing ones, or drag and drop presets into different groups.

To share your presets with others, you need to send them your preset files or provide them with a link to download them. You can also upload your presets to online platforms, such as blogs, forums, or social media, where other lightroom users can find and use them. However, before you share your presets, make sure that you have the permission of the original creator if you are not the one who made them. You should also respect their rights and give them credit for their work.

Some tips and tricks for sharing presets are:

• Create a backup of your presets before you export or import them, in case something goes wrong or you lose them.
• Add a watermark or a signature to your photos when you share them online, to protect your work and prevent others from stealing it.
• Use descriptive and catchy names for your presets, so that others can easily find and recognize them.
• Include some information about your presets, such as what they do, how they work, and what settings they include.
• Provide some examples of how your presets look on different photos, so that others can see their effects and potential.

Conclusion

In this article, you have learned how to save a preset in lightroom, as well as how to create, apply, and share your presets with others. Presets are powerful tools that can help you edit your photos faster and better in lightroom. They can also help you express your creativity and style through your photos.

We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. We encourage you to experiment with different presets and create your own ones. You can also share your results and feedback with us in the comments section below or contact us directly.

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