Creating Adobe Lightroom Presets

Creating Presets for Adobe Lightroom need not be as hard as many people think it is. In this tutorial Christina from Christina Nichole Photogrpahy shows us how to do it.

Successful photographers have a particular style of post processing for their images. This “style” is a signature that defines their product from other photographers. However, this doesn’t mean that they spend hours upon hours figuring out how to unify every single image. What gives?

Many pros have transitioned from using PhotoShop for every single image, to “preset editing” in Lightroom and using Photoshop for select editing. In fact, Lightroom is equipped with handling “Presets” that can save you an abundance of time and energy during your editing.

With little more than a click of your mouse you can both use and create these presets.

1. Choose an edited photo you love.
2. Go to Lightroom’s Develop Module
3. Check out the panel on the left hand side. At the top of the navigator you will find the Presets option. Lightroom comes with a set of presets for you to start with.
4. Find the “+” sign. Click this.
5. A box will pop up, directing you to checkmark all the settings you want to include in your preset. Check mark all if you are not sure what you want. You can make a new preset later if you want a variation.
6. Name the preset [btw, it helps to name the preset by something that will help you remember what it is. For instance, use, “high contrast color” rather than, “awesome.”]
7. Scroll down and you will find the option for “User Presets”. This is the category where you will find your newly created preset.
8. Select another photo. Choose the preset in your user preset list and viola! Your photo is set! [Note: you may need to adjust the preset based on the photo’s original exposure, color, etc.]

Bonus: Don’t know which preset to use on your photo? Preview the way your preset looks the photo by simply moving your mouse over the preset in the upper left hand corner of the develop module. This way you can speed through your presets and select the best one for your photo.