Creating Develop Presets

Topics Covered in This Lightroom Tutorial:

Creating a Develop Preset, Saving & Applying a Develop Preset

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

Every professional photographer knows the frustration of applying the same develop settings repeatedly across similar images. Develop presets eliminate this redundancy by allowing you to save and instantly apply complex adjustment combinations with a single click. This workflow optimization is particularly valuable for photographers who shoot consistent image types—architectural photographers routinely apply clarity, vibrance, and exposure adjustments to enhance structural details and building materials, while portrait photographers might standardize skin tone and lighting corrections. By mastering preset creation and application, you'll dramatically reduce post-processing time while maintaining consistent visual standards across your portfolio. Whether you're processing hundreds of wedding photos or preparing architectural imagery for client presentations, presets serve as your foundation for efficient, professional-grade image development.

Creating a Develop Preset

1. If you have not imported the photos that were imported in Exercise 2E:
   • Go into the Library module.
   • At the bottom left of the screen, click Import.
   • In the dialog box that appears, on the left under Source, navigate to Desktop > Class Files > Lightroom Class and select the Develop folder.
   • At the top, above the photos, make sure Add is selected (highlighted).
   • On the bottom right, click Import.

2. Make sure you are in the Library module.

3. In the Catalog panel on the left, click on All Photographs.

4. Click the picture of the US Capitol (_CAS2423) to select it.

5. Press the D key to switch to the Develop module.

6. Click on the Capitol building's dome to zoom in on it and examine the architectural details more closely.

7. In the Basic panel on the right, increase the Clarity to + 60. This adjustment enhances mid-tone contrast, making architectural elements appear more defined and textured.

8. Press the backslash key ( \ ) to see the image before the adjustment. Notice how the enhancement may appear overly aggressive for professional standards.

9. Press the backslash key ( \ ) again to return to the adjusted view.

10. In the Basic panel, reduce the Clarity to + 55. This more conservative approach maintains architectural detail while preserving natural aesthetics.

11. Click on the Capitol photo to zoom out and evaluate the overall compositional impact.

12. Press the backslash key ( \ ) to compare the before state.

13. Press the backslash key ( \ ) again to return to the adjusted image.

14. In the Basic panel, make the additional adjustments below to create a balanced architectural treatment:

    Vibrance:	Increase to + 25
    Contrast:	Increase to + 10

Now that you've fine-tuned these settings to enhance architectural photography, it's time to save this combination as a reusable preset for future projects.

Saving & Applying a Develop Preset

1. In the Presets panel on the left, click the Create New Preset button .

2. In the New Develop Preset window:
   • In the Preset Name field, type Architecture. Choose descriptive names that reflect the preset's intended use for easier organization as your preset library grows.
   • At the bottom, click the Check None button to ensure you're only saving the specific adjustments you want.
   • Under Basic Tone, check Contrast.
   • Check Clarity.
   • Under Color, check Vibrance.
   • Click the Create button to finalize your preset.

3. In the Presets panel, expand the User Presets folder to confirm that your new Architecture preset has been successfully added to your preset library.

4. Press G to return to Grid View where you can efficiently navigate between images.

5. Double–click the Washington Monument (_CAS2135) to view it in Loupe View.

6. In the Quick Develop panel on the right, from the Saved Preset menu, choose User Presets > Architecture.

   Watch as your custom preset instantly transforms the Washington Monument photo, applying the exact same professional-grade adjustments you crafted for the Capitol building.

7. In the Filmstrip panel below the photos, locate the photo of the NYC 9/11 Memorial (_CAS4132) and click it to select it.

   NOTE: If the Filmstrip isn't visible, navigate to Window > Panels > Show Filmstrip to enable this essential workflow tool.

8. In the Quick Develop panel on the right, from the Saved Preset menu, choose User Presets > Architecture. Notice how the preset enhances the memorial's architectural elements while maintaining appropriate reverence for the subject matter.

9. In the Filmstrip panel below the photos, find the photo of the church façade (20111008_swny_030) and click it to select it.

10. In the Quick Develop panel on the right, from the Saved Preset menu, choose User Presets > Architecture. The preset's versatility becomes evident as it enhances this religious architecture with the same professional polish.

    NOTE: Your User Presets integrate seamlessly into Lightroom's import workflow. In the Apply During Import panel on the right, access the Develop Settings menu to automatically apply presets to images as they enter your catalog—a powerful time-saver for high-volume shoots. This import-time application ensures consistency from the moment images enter your workflow, eliminating the need for individual preset application during initial processing.