How To Install Lightroom Presets

Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash

An easy step-by-step guide for installing Lightroom presets in the desktop, cloud-based, and mobile version

If you’re new to Lightroom, you might have heard the term ‘presets’ and how they’re the secret tool of most photographers and content creators. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of downloading and installing Lightroom presets in all versions of the software (desktop, cloud-based, and mobile) as well as give you the best Lightroom editing tips to enhance your workflow and the best place to find trendy presets.

What Are Lightroom Presets?

Lightroom presets are pre-made filters that you can apply to your photos with just a click. They completely transform your image in seconds and allow you to easily edit multiple pictures at once, without having to manually adjust each setting.

Installing and using Lightroom presets it’s very simple. Let’s break down each step:

1. Download Your Presets

You need to download your presets to later install them in Lightroom. Only download presets from trustworthy sources like Pixmellow to ensure they work perfectly.

Once you find a preset you love, you’ll need to download it. The file will usually be in .zip format, so after downloading it, make sure to unzip the folder to access the actual preset files.

2. Open Lightroom and Access the Presets Panel

After downloading and unzipping your presets, it’s time to open Lightroom and add them to your panel. This process is very similar for both Adobe Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC.

The first step after opening Lightroom is to head to the Develop Module at the top right of your screen. On the left side, you’ll find the Presets panel, which is where all your installed presets will show up once you add them.

In the following sections we’ll help you install presets in Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC.

3. Install Presets in Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic is a desktop app made for professional photographers and editing enthusiasts. Installing presets in Lightroom Classic is very simple, here’s the step-by-step:

1. In the Presets panel on the left, you’ll see a small + icon at the top of the panel.
2. Click on it, and select Import Presets from the dropdown menu.
3. A window will pop up, allowing you to navigate to the folder where you unzipped your downloaded presets.
4. Select the presets and hit Import.

After this, your presets will appear on the Presets panel and will be ready to be applied to all of your projects.

4. Installing Presets in Lightroom CC (Cloud-Based Version)

The cloud-based version of Lightroom (Lightroom CC) is a bit different, but the process of adding presets remains very simple:

1. Open Lightroom CC and navigate to the Edit icon (which looks like three sliders) on the top right.
2. Scroll down to the Presets section, and click the ••• (three dots) icon.
3. Select Import Presets.
4. Locate and select your preset files, and click Import.

Now your presets are available in Lightroom CC, ready to be used!

5. Installing Lightroom Presets on the Mobile Version

Installing presets on Lightroom mobile is very easy and intuitive. Make sure your preset files are DNG versions so they can be uploaded to the app. When you download Lightroom presets they typically include both desktop and mobile-compatible files. Once you have that, follow these steps:

1. Import the DNG files into Lightroom Mobile (you can do this by importing the images into your photo library on your phone, and then opening them in the Lightroom Mobile app).
2. Once the DNG file is open, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Create Preset.
3. Name your preset and save it to a preset group.

Using Presets in Lightroom

Your presets are all installed, and it is time to talk about how you can use them. Open the photo you’d like to edit, scroll through your preset options, and click the one you want to apply.

You’ll see the effect instantly, and you can either leave it as it is or begin modifying certain settings until you’re satisfied with the result. This includes playing around with the exposure, contrast, saturation, etc. Presets are a starting point, so don’t feel like you can’t adjust them to suit the specific image you're working on.

Organizing Your Presets

Your presets library can get full pretty fast, and if you don’t organize them you’ll spend more time finding the one you want to use than adjusting each setting yourself. To combat this, we recommend you organize your presets into folders to keep everything in a place you can easily access.

In Lightroom Classic, you can create new folders by right-clicking inside the Presets panel and choosing New Folder. Then, just drag and drop your presets into the appropriate folder.

Common Lightroom Presets Issues & How To Solve Them

When working with Lightroom presets, you might encounter a few issues until you get the hang of everything. The two most common problems are not finding your presets and the presets not working in old versions of Lightroom. Here’s how you can fix these issues:

• Can’t find your presets: If you installed your presets and they’re not showing up, double-check that you’ve installed them into the correct version of Lightroom (Classic vs. CC). If they’re still missing, try restarting Lightroom.

• Presets not working on old versions of Lightroom: If you’re using an older version of Lightroom and your presets aren’t working, it might be because newer presets use the .XMP You can try converting them or looking for presets made specifically for older versions.

Final Words

Lightroom presets are great tools to enhance your workflow, save time, and have high-quality results. What’s great about them is that they can completely transform your picture in seconds and you only need to focus on adjusting specific settings you consider need some tweaks.

At Pixmellow, you can find the best Lightroom presets for all of your projects. We have a broad catalog with plenty of styles to choose from, including trending presets for social media and professional shoots.