Presets bundle dozens of slider settings into a single click. The right preset on the right image is one of the fastest ways to establish a look — then you fine-tune from there.
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Built-in Presets
Lightroom ships with professional preset groups covering color, B&W, creative looks, sharpening, and more — ready to use immediately.
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Third-Party Presets
.xmp preset packs from photographers and creators. Install via drag-and-drop or the Import dialog in seconds.
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The Discover Panel
Adobe's online preset library. Hundreds of free curated presets you can preview and add directly from inside Lightroom.
💡Presets are one-click bundles of slider settings. The right preset on the right image is one of the fastest ways to establish a look — then you fine-tune from there.
Foundation
What a Preset Is
A preset is a saved collection of Develop settings — any combination of sliders, panels, and adjustments stored as a single file (.xmp format). Applying a preset sets all those sliders at once.
What Gets Saved
Any slider you choose to include
Any panel or combination of panels
Stored as a plain-text .xmp file
One file = one click to apply Can cover one panel or all of them
Non-Destructive
Applying a preset doesn't lock you in
Modify any slider after applying
Remove or replace the preset any time
Original file is never touched Undo with Cmd/Ctrl+Z instantly
Key insight: A preset is just a list of slider values. When you apply it, Lightroom sets those sliders to those values. Nothing is "baked in" — every slider remains fully editable afterward.
Location
Where Presets Live
The Presets panel is on the LEFT side of the Develop module, below the Navigator. Click the triangle next to "Presets" to expand it.
1
Go to Develop module — Presets panel on the left
Below the Navigator panel. Groups appear as collapsible folders with a triangle toggle. Click any triangle to expand or collapse a group.
2
Hover over any preset name
The Navigator panel at the top left shows a live preview of what your image would look like with that preset applied. Nothing changes until you click.
3
Click to apply — move your mouse away to undo the preview
Clicking applies the preset. Moving the mouse off the preset name without clicking returns the Navigator to your current edit — no change made.
Navigator preview is free. You can hover over dozens of presets without applying any of them — use this to audition looks before committing.
Built-in Library
Built-in Preset Groups
Lightroom ships with several preset groups, each covering a different area of editing:
Lightroom Color
Subtle, natural color treatments. Good starting points for portraits and landscapes without heavy stylization.
Lightroom B&W
Black and white conversions with varying contrast, tonal emphasis, and contrast treatments.
Lightroom Creative
Stylized creative looks — fades, splits, filmic treatments. More opinionated than Color presets.
Lightroom Curve
Tone curve adjustments only — contrast, fades, S-curves. Apply on top of other edits.
Lightroom Effect
Vignettes and grain. Great for adding a finishing touch without a full preset application.
Lightroom Sharpening / NR
Detail panel presets only — sharpening and noise reduction by subject type (landscape, portrait, high ISO).
Working with Presets
Applying and Comparing Presets
Presets are designed to be auditioned quickly. Here's how to compare efficiently:
1
Click a preset to apply it
All included sliders are set instantly. The Develop panel updates to show the new values.
2
Press \ (backslash) for Before/After view
Toggles between the original image and the preset-applied version in the main view window. Press again to return to normal view.
3
Undo with Cmd/Ctrl+Z — or click History
Every preset application is recorded in the History panel. Step back through as many as you need. Try multiple presets rapidly — each is fully reversible.
History tip: The History panel records every preset application as a separate state. You can click back to "before any preset" instantly, even after applying five different ones.
Third-Party Presets
Installing Third-Party Presets
Most third-party presets come as .zip files containing one or more .xmp files. Two install methods:
Method 1 — Drag & Drop
1. Unzip the downloaded file
2. Open LR Presets panel in Develop
3. Drag the .xmp files directly onto any group folder in the panel
4. They appear immediately
Method 2 — Import Dialog
1. Unzip the downloaded file
2. Right-click any group in Presets panel
3. Choose Import Presets
4. Navigate to the .xmp files
5. Click Import
After installing: New presets appear in the Presets panel immediately — no restart required. They're organized into a new group or the group you targeted with the import.
Free from Adobe
The Discover Panel
The Discover panel (lightbulb icon at the top of the Presets panel) connects to Adobe's online preset library — hundreds of free curated presets from Adobe and partner creators.
1
Click the lightbulb icon at the top of the Presets panel
Opens the Discover panel. Requires an internet connection. Browse by style category — portrait, landscape, moody, vintage, and more.
2
Click any preset to preview it on your image
The main view updates with the preset applied. Browse freely — nothing is saved until you choose to add it.
3
Click Save to add it to your Presets panel permanently
The preset is downloaded and installed into your local Presets panel, organized by creator or style. Available offline from that point on.
Free and curated: Hundreds of professional presets available at no cost. A great way to expand your preset library without purchasing third-party packs.
Fine-Tuning Presets
The Preset Amount Slider
Since LR 2021, many presets show an Amount slider when applied. This lets you dial in the intensity of the preset without touching individual sliders.
How the Amount Slider Works
0 = no preset (original settings)
100 = full preset as designed
Above 100 = amplified effect Drag to blend preset intensity
Practical Use
Strong preset? Set Amount to 50–70
Subtle preset? Push Amount to 120–150
Use as a blend instead of adjusting individual sliders Much faster than manual fine-tuning
Not all presets support Amount. Only presets specifically designed to work with the Amount slider will show it. Older presets and some third-party presets may not have this feature.
Import Workflow
Applying Presets During Import
You don't have to wait until you're in Develop to apply a preset. The Import dialog lets you apply a preset to every imported image automatically.
1
Open the Import dialog (File > Import or Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+I)
The full import interface opens with source on the left, settings on the right.
2
Find Apply During Import on the right panel
This panel has a Develop Settings dropdown. It defaults to "None."
3
Select your preset from the dropdown — then Import
Every image in the batch gets that preset applied as it's imported. You arrive in the Library with a consistent base on every shot.
Best use: A "base correction" preset that sets lens corrections, your preferred color profile, and a basic noise reduction starting point. Applied at import, it saves time on every image.
Organization
Organizing the Presets Panel
As your preset library grows, organization becomes essential. Lightroom gives you full control over the panel layout:
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Create custom groups
Right-click in the Presets panel → New Group. Name it anything — e.g., "My Color Grades" or "Portrait Workflow."
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Drag presets between groups
Move any preset to a different group by dragging. Rename groups by double-clicking the group name.
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Delete presets you'll never use
Right-click any preset → Delete. Removes it from the panel (but doesn't delete the .xmp file from your disk unless you do so manually).
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Star-rate favorites
Right-click → Set Rating (1–5 stars). Then filter the Presets panel to show only your highest-rated presets for a quick-access curated list.
Your Turn
Challenge + Recap
3-Part Challenge:
Browse the built-in groups and apply 5 different presets to the same image. Use Before/After (\) to compare each one to your original.
Open the Discover panel and install one free preset. Apply it to an image and adjust the Amount slider.
Set up a test import: apply a preset from the Apply During Import dropdown and import at least 3 images to see the batch result.
Presets Are Non-Destructive
Apply, modify, remove — original is never touched. Every slider stays editable.
Navigator Live Preview
Hover over any preset to preview it in the Navigator — no commitment until you click.
Built-in Groups
Color, B&W, Creative, Curve, Effect, Sharpening/NR — each covers a specific editing area.
Install via Drag or Import
Third-party .xmp presets install in seconds via drag-and-drop or the right-click Import menu.
Discover Panel
Hundreds of free presets from Adobe and partners. Preview and save directly from inside LR.
Amount Slider
Blend preset intensity 0–100+ without touching individual sliders. Only on supporting presets.
Up Next
LR 39 — Presets: Creating Your Own
Save your signature look as a preset. Partial presets, stacking, and building a preset library that matches your style.