EDITED JULY 24TH, 2024
Do I use presets when I edit?
I definitely do. They are a part of my editing workflow. It’s ok to use presets…as long as they’re used to enhance your art and become a part of your workflow. Not all of it!
Keep in mind that presets are just suggestions that have been supplied to you to help add interest to your images. Many photographers, especially wedding photographers, incorporate presets into their workflow. Those presets often become part of the photographer’s style. Along with how they crop images, frame their subjects, the lenses they use, the DOF they prefer, etc.
A workflow is a photographer’s individual way of processing the images they take. Not every photographer uses presets in their workflows, though. Editorial photographers can’t, most nature photographers don’t so that their images are a true representation of the wildlife they photograph.
Lifestyle photographers will, fine art photographers are likely to use presets. Some of the presets that these photographers, and others, will use are created themselves. That’s something to keep in mind when you’re editing. If you like your edits and find that you just might want to incorporate the same style to any of your other images, then you should create a preset and save it.
Not everyone has the time nor the inclination to create their own presets, or they simply forget to. This is when 3rd party presets can really be a life saver.
A preset is handy in that you can typically reduce the strength of the preset, you can edit each section that the preset alters. Now with the amazing masking ability of Lightroom or Camera Raw, presets can be added to specific parts of an image without affecting others. This just extends the creative editing capabilities.
What you are able to do with presets, how you’re able to apply them, or multiple presets to different portions opens up so many creative possibilities. Don’t forget the various blending possibilities with presets using luminosity masks or applying presets to specific colours and tones.
I’ve taken 5 images and applied 5 different presets. One to each of the first 3 images and then, the last two images, I used 3 partial presets to each of those.
These first 3 images haven’t had any presets applied at all:
The following are the exact same images that I have applied the presets to:
The above Dragonfly has the Vintage – Retro Touch preset created by The Preset Room applied. I reduced the opacity of the this preset fromm 100% to 65%.
The racing horse has the Portrait – Intense Exposure preset created by The Preset Room applied. While the preset is meant for portraits, I love the punch it applies and how it makes the horse’s muscles pop.
This beautiful white horse has the Sports – Outside Game preset created by The Preset Room applied. I also reduced the opacity of this preset by 10% and then did some colour adjustments to keep the yellows from blowing out.
I was having issues with my website and the folks over at The Preset Room have been incredibly patient with me while I wrote this blog so you can see how stunning their presets truly are.
The following 2 images I used Their BLVCK preset 3 different ways. In one step I adjusted the background with their AI Portrait – Background soften and then I used their BlVCK – Deeper Shadows. Then I used the BLVCK #7 and added a slight touch of warming to it.
This is what I ended up with!
Seriously stunning presets!
Over all I think presets, when used appropriately can add something to a photograph. Don’t be afraid to try them and don’t be afraid to mix them up!!
Have fun and keep creating!
If you would like to see some of the other presets that I use in my workflow, then you should jump over to The Preset Room and check out the amazing presets they have to offer!!
I haven’t been disappointed and I’m sure you won’t either!