How to Fade Develop Presets in Lightroom – Pro Editing Tips
Many photographers apply Lightroom presets and end up with images that feel too strong or unnatural. Colors can look harsh, details get lost, and the photo loses its subtlety. This can be frustrating, especially when you want a consistent, polished look across your work.
The good news is that fading develop presets solves this problem. By adjusting the intensity, you can soften effects and regain control over your edits.
In this guide, you will learn step-by-step how to develop presets in Lightroom Classic. From using the built-in Amount slider to working with the Opal plugin, these tips help you create natural, professional results every time.
Why Fade Presets in Lightroom?
Sometimes a preset can make a photo look too strong. Colors may feel too bright, or contrast may be too harsh. Fading a preset helps you soften the effect. It gives you more control over the final look.
Fading also helps your edits look natural. Instead of an obvious preset, the photo keeps its original tone. This can make skin look smoother, skies calmer, and details more balanced.
You can adjust the fade using Lightroom’s sliders. Each adjustment changes the strength of the preset without losing your original edits. This makes it easier to match your style across all photos.
Fading presets also saves time. Instead of tweaking every setting manually, you can apply a preset lightly and get a polished result quickly.
It is a simple step that can make your photos look cleaner and more professional.
Four advantages of using Develop Presets in Lightroom Classic
Developing Presets can save you a lot of time on repetitive edits. Instead of adjusting exposure, contrast, or color for each photo individually, you can apply a preset and achieve a consistent look in seconds. For example, you might create a preset for bright, airy portraits and use it on an entire batch with just one click.
Presets also help maintain a consistent style across your work. This is especially useful when editing a wedding, an event, or a photo series. Each image keeps the same tone, color balance, and mood, giving your collection a polished, professional feel.
Another advantage is the ability to experiment without risk. You can make virtual copies of a photo and apply different presets to each one. This allows you to test multiple styles quickly without affecting the original image. For instance, you could try a vintage preset, a black-and-white preset, and a high-contrast preset side by side to see which fits best.
Finally, using presets can simplify learning and improve your workflow. By looking at the settings in a preset, you can see how sliders for exposure, contrast, and color interact. This helps you understand editing techniques while making your process faster and more efficient.
Where to Buy Lightroom Classic Develop Presets
Lightroom Classic comes with many built-in develop presets. You can find them in the Develop panel. They cover basics like color correction, black and white, and creative looks. These are a good starting point for your edits.
You can also buy presets from other photographers or online stores. Paid presets often offer unique styles or themes. Many sites sell them individually or in bundles.
Free presets are another option. Some photographers share them on their websites or social media. These can be a good way to test different styles without spending money.
If you want a quick option, you can check our SuperBlack presets. They are designed for black and white photos and work well with most Lightroom setups.
A Develop Preset that needs to be faded
Presets are meant to save time, but they don’t always fit every photo. Sometimes a preset can feel too strong. Colors pop too much, shadows get crushed, or highlights look harsh. It’s easy to assume the preset is wrong, but often it’s just too intense for that image.
Take the CN01 preset, for example. It’s popular because it gives a bold, cinematic look. Skin tones turn warm, and the overall mood feels rich. On some photos, though, it can be overwhelming. The reds can be too deep, and the contrast can hide details in shadows.
Fading the preset solves this problem. Instead of applying it at full strength, lowering it by 30 to 50 percent can make a big difference. The image keeps the style of CN01, but it looks natural. Details remain visible, and colors don’t feel artificial.
Using this approach helps maintain control over your edits. Presets should guide the look, not dictate it. A little adjustment can turn a harsh effect into a subtle enhancement, making the photo feel intentional rather than forced.
How to Fade Develop Presets with the Amount Slider
Adobe Lightroom recently introduced an update that gives photographers more control over their edits. One of the most useful additions is the Amount slider in the Develop module. This feature allows you to adjust the intensity of any preset you apply.
When you apply a preset, it often changes multiple settings at once, such as exposure, contrast, color balance, and tone curves. Before the Amount slider, applying a preset meant accepting all changes at full strength or manually adjusting each setting afterward. Now, the Amount slider lets you fade the preset to a level that fits your photo perfectly.
The slider works on a scale from 0 to 100. Setting it to 100 applies the preset fully, just like before. Moving it down reduces the effect proportionally. For example, if you apply a warm color preset and lower the slider to 50, the warmth is softened, giving a subtler look. This makes it easier to create a mood that feels natural rather than forced.
In my own workflow, I often use the Amount slider with landscape presets. I like applying a bright, golden-hour preset to a photo, but sometimes the highlights get too strong. Reducing the Amount slider to around 60 keeps the warm tones while preventing the image from looking over-edited. It saves time and keeps edits consistent across a series of photos.
The slider works not only with Lightroom Classic but also in Lightroom CC and Lightroom Mobile. This means you can maintain consistent edits on desktop or mobile, adjusting preset strength depending on the device and lighting conditions.
One interesting note is that the Amount slider respects updates to presets. If a preset creator releases a new version, the slider still allows you to control intensity. It also works with custom presets you create, giving you flexibility and encouraging experimentation without fear of losing your original look.
The Amount slider is a small addition that makes a big difference. It lets you stay creative while keeping control over your edits. By fading presets rather than applying them fully, you can fine-tune every photo to match your vision.
How to Make a Develop Preset That Works with the Amount Slider
Open Lightroom and edit a photo. Adjust the settings you want to save. Click Create Preset.
In the preset dialog, check the Support Amount Slider box. This step is critical. If you skip it, the Amount slider will not work.
Name your preset and click Create. Your preset now responds to the Amount slider.
How to Update Old Develop Presets to Work with the Amount Slider
If you’ve tried using an older Develop preset in Lightroom, you may have noticed that the Amount slider doesn’t affect it. This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on these presets for quick edits. The good news is that even old presets can be updated so they respond to the Amount slider, giving you control over their strength.
Start by opening any photo in the Develop module and applying the old preset you want to update. At first, the preset might look too strong or too weak, and that’s okay. Next, go through the preset’s settings and make small manual adjustments. Check exposure, contrast, color balance, and other sliders until the photo looks balanced. These tweaks help Lightroom understand how the preset should behave with the Amount slider.
Once you’re satisfied with the adjustments, save the changes as a new preset. Give it a new name so you can easily tell it apart from the original. Make sure all relevant settings are selected when creating the new preset. After that, test it on a different photo. Move the Amount slider to see how the effect scales. You should notice that the adjustments now respond smoothly, letting you fine-tune the look without losing control.
Some sliders might still feel a little strong or weak at first. You can estimate their starting values by comparing before and after images. Light tweaks make the preset easier to control and ensure it works consistently across multiple photos. After following these steps, your old presets are updated and fully compatible with the Amount slider. This allows you to keep using your favorite presets while enjoying the flexibility of modern adjustments.
How to Fade Develop Presets with the Opal Plugin
Sometimes a preset can feel too strong for a photo. The Opal plugin offers a simple way to adjust the intensity of any Develop preset. This gives you more control over your edits without starting from scratch.
The main benefit of Opal is that it can fade all the Develop settings at once. You don’t need to tweak each slider individually. This is helpful when a preset works well in style but needs a softer effect. Photographers can achieve a more natural look quickly and efficiently.
Opal works with many adjustments, including exposure, color grading, and tone curves. For example, if a preset boosts contrast too much, Opal can reduce it while keeping other edits intact. It also helps when combining multiple presets, allowing a smoother blend without over-editing.
Using Opal is straightforward. After applying a preset, open the plugin and move the fade slider. You can see the effect immediately, which makes fine-tuning fast and precise. This lets you experiment freely, adjusting the strength until the image looks balanced.
Overall, the Opal plugin makes it easier to customize Develop presets. It saves time and keeps your edits flexible. By fading presets instead of undoing changes, you maintain creative control while improving the final image.
How to Use the Opal Plugin
The first step is to install the Opal plugin. Download the plugin from the source provided with your purchase. Open the installation file and follow the prompts. Once the installation is complete, restart your editing software so the plugin appears in the menu.
Next, prepare the photo you want to edit. Start by adjusting basic settings like exposure, white balance, and contrast. These adjustments help the plugin work on a balanced image and give you better results.
Once the photo is ready, open the Opal plugin menu and select a preset or effect. The plugin applies the settings to your photo instantly, letting you see the changes in real time. You can adjust the sliders to control the intensity of each effect. The Amount slider changes the overall strength. For example, setting it to 50 applies half of the effect, while higher values increase it. Other sliders let you tweak specific details, such as color temperature or contrast.
To see how this works in practice, try applying a warm preset to a sunset photo. Set the Amount slider to 70 for a strong effect without losing detail. Adjust the contrast slider slightly to make the colors stand out. With these controls, you can fine-tune the look until it matches your vision.
Following these steps will help you use the Opal plugin with confidence. From installation to applying effects and adjusting sliders, each stage gives you precise control over your photo editing.
How to Use the Opal Plugin
The first step is to install the Opal plugin. Download the plugin from the source provided with your purchase. Open the installation file and follow the prompts. Once the installation is complete, restart your editing software so the plugin appears in the menu.
Next, prepare the photo you want to edit. Start by adjusting basic settings like exposure, white balance, and contrast. These adjustments help the plugin work on a balanced image and give you better results.
Once the photo is ready, open the Opal plugin menu and select a preset or effect. The plugin applies the settings to your photo instantly, letting you see the changes in real time. You can adjust the sliders to control the intensity of each effect. The Amount slider changes the overall strength. For example, setting it to 50 applies half of the effect, while higher values increase it. Other sliders let you tweak specific details, such as color temperature or contrast.
To see how this works in practice, try applying a warm preset to a sunset photo. Set the Amount slider to 70 for a strong effect without losing detail. Adjust the contrast slider slightly to make the colors stand out. With these controls, you can fine-tune the look until it matches your vision.
Following these steps will help you use the Opal plugin with confidence. From installation to applying effects and adjusting sliders, each stage gives you precise control over your photo editing.
Advanced Mode and the Opal Plugin
If you go to the Plugin Manager (File > Plugin Manager), you have the option to enable Advanced Mode. With Advanced Mode enabled, you get more choices in the Opal slider.
Advanced Mode lets you choose which settings you want to adjust. Each category targets specific parts of the image, giving precise control over the adjustments.
If the Tones box is ticked, Opal adjusts the RGB curve, the Parametric curve, and the Highlights, Shadows, Whites, Blacks, and Contrast sliders in the Basic panel.
When the Cast box is ticked, Opal adjusts the individual R/G/B curves, Split Toning, and Shadow Tint settings.
If the Color box is ticked, Opal adjusts the HSL panel, Saturation, Vividness, and the Red, Green, and Blue Primaries.
When the Details box is ticked, Opal adjusts Grain, Dehaze, Clarity, and Vignetting sliders.
This setup gives you full control over the slider’s effect by separating tone adjustments from color and detail adjustments. It provides much more precise control than Lightroom Classic’s built-in Amount slider.
Final Thoughts
Fading develop presets in Lightroom gives you more control over your photos. It helps you soften strong effects and keep edits natural. The Amount slider and the Opal plugin make it easy to adjust presets without changing every setting by hand.
Using these tools, you can create a consistent look across all your images. You can save time while keeping your photos balanced and polished. Even older presets can be updated to work with the Amount slider, giving you flexibility with your favorite edits.
Fading presets is not just about reducing strength. It helps your photos keep their original tone and detail. By taking a little time to adjust presets, your images look more professional and intentional.
With the right approach, fading presets becomes a simple step that improves your workflow and makes your photos look their best.
FAQs:
What does it mean to fade a developed preset in Lightroom?
Fading a preset means lowering its strength. This makes colors, contrast, and effects softer and more natural.
Why should I fade a preset?
Sometimes, presets are too strong. Fading them helps your photo keep its original details and tones.
How do I fade a preset in Lightroom Classic?
You can use the Amount slider in the Develop module. Move the slider down to reduce the effect of the preset.
Can I fade presets on Lightroom Mobile?
Yes. The Amount slider works on Lightroom CC and Lightroom Mobile, so you can adjust preset strength on any device.
What is the Opal plugin?
Opal is a plugin that lets you fade develop presets quickly. It can adjust all preset settings at once, giving you precise control.
Do old presets work with the Amount slider?
Not automatically. You can update old presets by adjusting their settings and saving them as a new preset. Then the Amount slider will work.
Can I control specific adjustments with Opal?
Yes. Advanced Mode in Opal lets you target tones, colors, or details separately for finer control.
Will fading presets save time?
Yes. It lets you apply a preset lightly, then tweak only what you need. This is faster than adjusting every slider manually.
