How to Create and Use Lightroom Classic Presets

Ed Wilson (Guest Author)

Lightroom Classic presets are invaluable tools that can significantly enhance a photographer’s workflow. They enable you to apply a consistent aesthetic to your images with a single click, streamlining batch editing without compromising quality.

Whether you’re an intermediate or professional photographer, maintaining a signature style while expediting your editing process is essential. In this guide, we’ll explore how to create custom Lightroom presets, utilize them effectively, and delve into advanced AI photo editing in Lightroom through SmartPresets.

Why Presets Matter for Professionals

Lightroom Classic presets are essentially collections of saved editing settings. Instead of manually replicating the same adjustments for each image, you can apply your custom look instantly. This approach not only accelerates your workflow but also ensures uniformity across a shoot or your entire portfolio—crucial for establishing a recognizable aesthetic.

Consider the demanding schedule of a wedding photographer: hundreds of images require a cohesive style to narrate a unified story. Presets provide a head start, potentially achieving 30% of the desired final look, allowing you to fine-tune aspects like exposure, white balance, cropping, or localized adjustments. They empower you to work more efficiently while preserving your creative vision.

Pro Tip: View presets as foundational starting points. Even the most meticulously crafted preset may require adjustments to accommodate variations in lighting, composition, or subject matter. Apply your critical eye to refine each image as necessary.

Creating Custom Lightroom Classic Presets: A Step-by-Step Guide

Developing your own presets in Lightroom Classic is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to create a preset that embodies your unique editing style and can be reused across various projects.

Edit a Photo to Perfection
Begin with a representative image that exemplifies the style you aim to achieve. In the Develop module, make adjustments to exposure, contrast, color grading, tone curve, sharpening, noise reduction, and other settings until you’re satisfied with the overall appearance.
Open the Create Preset Dialog
Access the preset creation tool by clicking the “+” button in the left-side Presets panel and selecting “Create Preset…”. This action opens the New Develop Preset dialog, where you’ll configure your preset settings.
Choose Settings and Name Your Preset
In the dialog, you’ll find checkboxes for various adjustment categories (Basic Tone, Color Grading, Detail, etc.).
1. Name Your Preset: Assign a descriptive name, such as “Soft Warm Portrait” or “Moody B&W Signature.”
2. Select a Preset Group: Organize presets into folders for easy access.
3. Choose Which Settings to Include:
  1. Consider excluding settings like White Balance or Exposure that may need individual tweaking per photo.
  2. Include creative adjustments—tone curves, HSL tweaks, split toning, and sharpening—that define your style.

After making your selections, click “Create” to save the preset. It will appear in your chosen group within the Presets panel.

Apply Your New Preset to Other Photos
To utilize your new preset, select another photo (or multiple photos in batch mode) and click on your preset in the Presets panel. Lightroom will instantly apply your saved adjustments.

For multiple images (in Grid or Filmstrip view), the preset will apply to all selected photos—ideal for batch editing.
After applying the preset, review each image. Minor adjustments, such as slight exposure changes or shadow enhancements, may be necessary to perfect the edit.

Refine and Update Your Preset
As you continue to use your preset, you might find that small tweaks are needed. Apply the preset to an image, make the necessary adjustments, then right-click the preset’s name and select “Update with Current Settings.” Confirm which settings to update, and your preset will incorporate your latest refinements.
Congratulations—you’ve successfully created a custom Lightroom Classic preset! In the following sections, we’ll provide tips on using presets effectively and integrating them into your workflow.

Pro Tips for Using Presets Effectively

Creating presets is just the beginning. Utilizing them proficiently involves knowing when and how to apply them for optimal results.

Use Presets as Starting Points: Presets offer a head start, but always assess the outcome on each photo. Zoom in and fine-tune details such as exposure or selective adjustments to ensure every image stands out.

Organize Your Presets: As your collection expands, keep them organized into logical groups—such as Portrait Presets, Landscape Presets, Black & White, Matte Looks, etc. Utilize clear naming conventions to quickly locate the appropriate preset when needed.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Understand that a preset designed for a sunny outdoor portrait might not suit a nighttime cityscape. Maintain variations for different lighting conditions or genres, and don’t hesitate to switch presets if the base settings don’t align with your starting point.

Batch Editing with Care: While presets excel at batch editing, always review the edited batch. Some images may require individual adjustments to address differences in lighting or color that a one-click preset cannot resolve.

Manually Adjust Preset Intensity: Although Lightroom Classic lacks a built-in “preset strength” slider, you can manually adjust the intensity of applied settings. If a preset introduces excessive contrast or saturation, modify those sliders after applying the preset.

Create a Favorites Collection: Identify your most frequently used presets—the ones that best represent your signature style—and store them in an easily accessible folder. This practice reinforces your branding and expedites your editing process.

Developing Your Signature Editing Style with Presets

One of the significant advantages of utilizing presets is their role in cultivating and reinforcing your unique editing style. They serve as foundational elements for a consistent aesthetic that clients and audiences can easily recognize.

Identify Your Recurring Adjustments: Pay attention to the edits you consistently apply. Whether it’s adding warmth, adjusting shadows for a matte effect, or enhancing clarity for a more defined appearance, these habitual adjustments can form the basis of your signature preset.

Ensure Consistency Across Projects: : Applying the same preset or a cohesive set of presets to an entire project—such as a wedding or commercial shoot—ensures a unified visual narrative. Consistency in editing helps convey a coherent story, whether presented in a portfolio, album, or client showcase.

Evolve Your Presets as Your Style Matures: As your artistic vision develops, don’t hesitate to modify your presets or create new ones that better align with your current style. Think of presets as dynamic tools, continually refined to match your evolving creative direction.

Remember , the objective isn’t to make every photo look identical but to weave a recognizable thread through your edits. Custom presets enable you to maintain your distinctive style efficiently.

Sharing and Importing Presets

A notable benefit of presets is their portability, allowing you to share them with peers, transition seamlessly between devices, or even market them as part of a preset collection.

Exporting a Preset: Share or Back Up Your Presets:

In the Develop module, locate the preset you wish to export in the Presets panel.

Right-click on the preset and choose “Export…”.

Lightroom will prompt you to save an .xmp file (or .lrtemplate for older versions). Name the file and save it to your desired location.

This file can now be shared with others or used as a backup.

Importing Presets: Incorporate Presets into Your Workflow:

In the Presets panel, click the “+” icon and select “Import Presets…”.

Navigate to the .xmp (or .lrtemplate) file(s) on your device.

Click “Import,” and your presets will appear, typically organized by the creator’s name or set.

Organizing and Managing Your Preset Library

Maintain an Organized Collection:

Categorize Presets: Group your presets by theme or project type (e.g., “Studio Portraits,” “Outdoor Sessions,” “Black & White,” “Vintage Looks”).

Use Descriptive Naming Conventions: Names like “01_Portrait_BrightSkin” or “02_Landscape_MutedTones” can help you quickly identify the desired preset.

Archive Unused Presets: Regularly review and archive presets that are no longer in use to keep your workspace streamlined.

Sharing your presets not only enhances your reputation within the photography community but can also serve as an additional revenue stream if you choose to sell them.

From Static to Smart: An Introduction to AI-Powered Presets

Traditional presets apply uniform adjustments to every photo, regardless of individual differences in lighting or subject matter. Consequently, even the most carefully crafted static preset may require further tweaking for certain images. This is where AI-powered, or “SmartPresets,” come into play.

AI-powered presets are designed to adapt to each image’s unique characteristics. Instead of applying fixed adjustments, these intelligent presets analyze the specific attributes of your photo and implement context-aware edits. For instance, if an image is underexposed, the preset might increase the exposure more significantly than it would for a well-lit photo. Some AI presets can even detect subjects, such as faces, to apply more nuanced adjustments to skin tones.

This advancement makes presets more efficient and personalized.

Neurapix SmartPresets: Your Style, Amplified by AI

A prominent example of AI-powered presets is Neurapix SmartPresets. Here’s what sets them apart:

Learning from Your Edits:
Neurapix’s AI analyzes a selection of images you’ve edited to understand your unique style. By examining how you adjust parameters like exposure, contrast, color, and more, the AI learns your preferences. With as few as 20 sample edits, it can begin to replicate your editing style.
Intelligent Adaptation:
The AI applies adjustments contextually to each image.
For example, a dark, backlit scene might receive a more substantial exposure boost, while a brightly lit scene might require only minor tweaks.

This ensures your edits remain consistent with your style while being tailored to the specific needs of each photo.

Consistency at Scale:
For photographers managing large volumes of images—such as those covering weddings or events—SmartPresets can drastically reduce editing time. While traditional presets might save you approximately 30% of your editing workload, SmartPresets can automate up to 90% of the process.
Of course, you retain the final say on any adjustments, but the AI handles the bulk of repetitive tasks.
Seamless Integration:
Neurapix SmartPresets function as a plugin within Lightroom Classic, integrating smoothly into your existing workflow. Once you’ve trained the AI and set up your SmartPreset, it operates like any other preset, applying intelligent edits behind the scenes.

In essence, SmartPresets offer the speed and uniformity of traditional presets, enhanced by adaptive intelligence. They don’t replace your creative input but allow you to focus on refining the final touches rather than performing repetitive adjustments.

Conclusion & Next Steps: Embrace Presets to Level Up Your Workflow

Lightroom Classic presets are powerful tools that can transform your photo editing process. By creating and applying your own presets, you not only save time but also maintain a consistent aesthetic that reflects your unique style. Follow these steps to make the most of presets:

Craft Your Custom Presets:

Start with a well-edited “master” image.

Use the Create Preset dialog to save your preferred adjustments.

Save your preferred adjustments as a preset.

Refine the preset as needed.

Use Presets Wisely:

Treat presets as starting points, not final solutions.

Organize them into logical groups and maintain a favorites set.

Always review batch edits to address individual photo variations.

Develop Your Signature Style:

Let your presets reflect the adjustments you make repeatedly.

Keep projects consistent and update presets as your style evolves.

Share & Import:

Export your presets to share with peers or back up your work.

Import presets from trusted sources to expand your editing toolkit.

Keep your library organized for quick access during busy editing sessions.

Explore AI-Powered Editing:

Consider trying AI-driven tools like Neurapix SmartPresets.

Experience automated, context-aware adjustments that perfectly reflect your style.

Ready to edit like a pro? Start by creating your own Lightroom Classic preset today. Experiment with your presets on a new batch of photos and experience how they streamline your workflow while enhancing your signature style.

As you grow more comfortable with the basics, stay curious about innovations like AI-powered presets to stay at the forefront of digital editing.
Happy editing—and here’s to elevating your photography to the next level!