Is Lightroom really worth all the hype?
I’m sure many of you have probably seen the ads for Lightroom presets on Instagram. I KNOW I HAVE. And you’re probably wondering what the big deal about them is. Have you ever looked at content creators’ pages and are in awe of their editing style or color-coordinated feed? They used a Lightroom preset for that. Don’t know what a preset is? Don’t worry; we’re here to give you a better understanding of them!
Photographers who know Adobe Lightroom vouch for it. Lightroom is a powerful image management and manipulation application, arguably with the most advanced catalog management system—photographers who know Adobe Lightroom vouch for it. Lightroom is about making file management more accessible and improving the efficiency and speed of image processing. One of those features that make processing quicker is Lightroom Presets, which are often the most searched terms related to Lightroom. It’s not uncommon for photographers and editors to look for presets when they are short of time or to test something out quickly. The approach might work occasionally, but it isn’t the right way of using Lightroom Presets. They aren’t a quick-fix method or magic tool to transform your photos unless you know how to use them. The only way to get quick results through Lightroom presets is through understanding how they work and how editing works in general.
What are Lightroom Presets?
Lightroom Presets are a selection of one or more settings that can be applied to a single image or a selection of images in one click. These settings are similar to when you add filters to your pictures. Often, Lightroom presets come in sets, for example, grading sets and more.
Lightroom Presets are designed to save time by letting the system do repetitive tasks, which Lightroom has traditionally operated. It focuses on batch functions and reducing time input from others.
Where can I get Presets?
Some presets come by default with Adobe Lightroom. These include some black and white, and some color presets, including classic and antique ones, while another current style editing presets. Many photographers and photography websites sell their presets. The cost of these presets depends upon the brand of the photographer or website and usability. You can find Lightroom presets that are free, as well as find some at affordable prices. There are plenty of presets available on marketplaces such as Etsy. All you need is to search for the required style, and you will get tons of results.
Can I create my own Lightroom Presets?
Yes, just like Photoshop allows you to save Actions, Lightroom also allows you to save presets you just created. Saving Lightroom Presets is even easier than any other repeatable action. You need to make the changes in one file, click on the three dots icon in the presets, and hit ‘create preset.’ Enter the name of the present, and you are ready to roll. You can create a group or save it into a pre-existing group. The default group is ‘User Presets.’
Is there a Lightroom App for Mobile Editing with Presets?
There is Lightroom Mobile App, which is also a part of Adobe Photographers Bundle CC Subscription (with Photoshop, Lightroom, and other mobile apps and features), and can carry out simple to mid-level editing. A powerful feature of the app is the availability of Presets. Presets can be used through your mobiles or tablets and can provide the same look and feel for the images as in the desktop application.
The Presets People – Who Uses Presets and Their Industries
Specific professions and genres often use presets. Bloggers and influencers, for example, require a consistent style but aren’t professional photographers. Wedding photographers have to carry out consistent style across images but have thousands of photos to process every season. Not every photographer will use presets, but some of them use them more than others.
Learn Editing Before Using Presets
Presets are a tool for editing but do not comprise the entire editing. They also work when you understand the process of editing. In such a case, you can understand where a particular preset works, what tweaks are needed, and where you cannot use a specific preset. It is advisable to comprehend lightroom workflow, understand all the settings available, and then go for the presets.
It Doesn’t Work on All Images.
You may find a preset that works on most of your pictures, but some images that appear similar may not get the desired result. It, again, boils down to an understanding of the process. You’ll understand it doesn’t work for all images, and you will look for other presets or manual corrections when the preset doesn’t give the results.
Bad Presets
Some of the presets are not good enough, to put it mildly. Not all presets will look good when applied to every picture. Some presets out there are precisely the same, and only one or a few changes are added to it, but it doesn’t change the look of the picture or make the image look professional.
Don’t Over-use
While the minimal effect can work for style or even collections, it is understandable to not over-use presets unless, of course, it is the demand. Overuse leads to saturation and monotony. Also, not every picture requires the same presets, but some minor settings or less comprehensive presets may do the job. Lifestyle images, in particular, can be tricky in such cases.
Presets are a life-saver for a majority of photographers. Lightroom is one great tool for photographers, and presets are a part of the same workflow that makes Lightroom so effective in improving efficiency and saving time.
Are Presets really worth it?
Yea! Presets make your images appear more professional looking especially if you’re not great at editing or short on time. It can also aid in making your ig profile look aesthetically more pleasing based on your mood or color preferences.