How to Install Lightroom Presets (2021 Update)
These days, everyone is using Adobe Lightroom to create stunning photos for social media updates as well as for making beautiful artistic images. This is thanks to powerful editing tools built into the software that gives users incredible control over the look of an image. The problem is, it can take a while to learn how to fine tune a photo to get exactly the results you want.
That’s where presets come in. Lightroom presets are one of the quickest ways to modify and adjust your photos without needing to spend hours making adjustments. You can save time by allowing us to do all the heavy lifting while you focus on your art. All you have to do is apply the presets to your photos.
This article will breakdown how to install Lightroom presets and how to apply them, as well as answer some frequently asked questions about the process. If you are easily intimidated by installing software, don’t worry, the process is pretty simple. But you can check out our FAQs to get comfortable before you get started.
This guide applies to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 7.3 and later. If you are still using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 7.2 or earlier, click here.
Preset Installation Guide for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 7.3 and Later
- Download archive. When you purchase presets from Cinegrading, they will be available in a ZIP archive that you must first download. This archive contains all your preset files.
- Extract files. Once you download the archive, you need to extract the files into a folder of your choice. Remember where the files extracted to so you can find them later.
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Launch Lightroom. If you don’t already have Lightroom installed, go download that first. If you have an older version, be sure to update to the latest release. Once you have Lightroom updated, installed, and open, go to the next step.
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Open Develop module. Navigate to the Develop module, which is located toward the right side of the top toolbar. Click on it.
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Add presets. On the left side of the screen, you will see a panel labelled “Presets.” On the right side of the Presets panel, you will see a + sign. Click on it.
- Import files. A file browser window will open. Navigate to the files you extracted in step 1, then select Import.
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Import complete. Your presets will now be listed in the Presets panel.
How to Apply Presets
Using presets for Lightroom is incredibly easy once they are installed. Using the photo browser, simply open a photo you want to edit, then click on the preset you want to apply. It doesn’t get much easier.
And don’t worry, your original image will be unaffected by any changes you make to it inside Lightroom. So, try all the presets and adjustments you want to find the perfect look. If you want to start over, you can simply close the photo and open it again.
***Note on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 7.2 and Earlier
Cinegrading no longer supports versions 7.2 and earlier of Adobe Lightroom Classic. The problem is that version 7.2 and earlier doesn’t support XMP profiles, which is the file format Cinegrading uses for our presets.
So, to get the most out of our presets, we strongly recommend you upgrade Lightroom to the newest version. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of the new XMP profile integration as well as continue using our legacy +Cine presets.
Presets for Lightroom FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about how to install Lightroom presets. If you have other questions that aren’t listed here, feel free to contact us and we’ll get back to you with an answer as soon as we can.
What Is Adobe Lightroom?
As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Lightroom is a software designed for image manipulation and organization. The software provides users with a full suite of photo editing tools as well as the ability to import, organize, and tag photos, among other features.
Lightroom has numerous features to help you get the most from your photos and to really make them stand out. For this reason, Lightroom has become a favorite tool for adjusting and modifying images to be posted on social media.
How Is Lightroom Different From Photoshop?
The main difference between Photoshop and Lightroom is that Lightroom is non-destructive editing software, meaning all edits are completed on copies of original photos while leaving the originals unchanged.
Lightroom is also optimized for mobile devices so you can seamlessly shift between desktop and mobile versions of the software. This is helpful for content creators who work on several devices simultaneously.
What Are Lightroom Presets?
Presets for Lightroom are specific configurations of edit and adjustment settings. When applied, presets automatically adjust user photos to achieve a unique look or style. It’s a quick way to achieve the look you want without needing to spend hours adjusting settings.
Fortunately, the market for Lightroom presets is taking off so there are solutions out there for pretty much any look you could possibly want. The downside is that there are a lot of low-quality products out there so be sure to go with a proven company and check some examples before you buy.
What Is an XMP (.xmp) file?
Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) files are special Adobe files that carry metadata information about a photo. They are a common file type used for modern Lightroom presets, including those made by Cinegrading.
What Is a ZIP (.zip) archive?
A ZIP archive is a special file type that compresses large files into a smaller package, which makes them easier to transfer and download. A single ZIP archive can contain many folders and files at a significantly reduced file size.
How Do I Extract Files From a Zip Archive?
On Windows, right click on the ZIP archive and select “extract all.” The files will be extracted into a duplicate folder where they are ready to be installed.
On Mac OS, just double click the ZIP archive. The files will be automatically extracted into the same directory the ZIP archive is located. You can then proceed to installation.
Cinegrading Lightroom Presets
Now that you know how to install Lightroom presets, you may be interested in adding some presets to your image editing toolbox. If so, feel free to check out our +Cine Lightroom Presets. We have a wide variety of presets available including film look, teal & orange, cinematic, and many others.
We spent countless hours researching and developing the most authentic presets to give your images the most cutting-edge look and style. You could waste your time trying to achieve these results yourself, or you can just leave the technical stuff to the experts and put your time where it matters most: creating stunning images.
Final Word
As photographers and filmmakers, we often would rather focus on our art than constantly being bogged down with technical issues. At Cinegrading, we try to make dealing with the technical side of your passion just a little easier.
We hope you found this How to Install Lightroom Presets helpful. If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to contact our support at info@cinegrading.com.