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Installing presets in Lightroom Classic: step by step

By Michiel Heijmans

Installing presets in Lightroom Classic: step by step

You’ve downloaded your presets. Now to get them into Lightroom. There are two ways to install presets in Lightroom Classic: import them or copy the files into the right folder yourself. Importing is easiest. Copying them manually gives you more control over the folder structure. I’d start with importing. Even I don’t need to turn everything into a project.

Which files do you need?

For Lightroom, use the XMP files in your download. XMP is the current preset format and works in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw. You might also come across files with the .lrtemplate extension. That’s the old format, from before Lightroom Classic 7.3. Lightroom converts those files when you import them.

Our download includes each preset in four strengths: 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent. These let you choose the intensity without having to adjust the sliders yourself straight away. If you want all four strengths available, include all the corresponding XMP files when you install them.

The download also includes a .costyle file for Capture One and a .cube LUT for each preset, both in four strengths too. You won’t need those for the steps below. We’re sticking to Lightroom Classic here. Installing presets in Capture One is a separate topic.

Method 1: import through Lightroom

This lets Lightroom put the files where they belong. No need to go looking for an Adobe folder yourself.

  1. Open Lightroom Classic and go to the Develop module. Press D to go straight there.
  2. Find the Presets panel on the left. This is where your presets will appear once they’re installed.
  3. Click the plus sign (+) by the panel and choose Import Presets.
  4. Find your download and select the XMP files you want to install. You can also select the ZIP file itself. With this method, there’s no need to extract the XMP files first.
  5. Click Import. The presets will appear as a group in the Presets panel.

If you can see the group, you’re done. You don’t need to copy the same files manually as well. Either method does the job.

Method 2: copy the files manually

If you’d rather put the files in place yourself, use the CameraRaw folder. That’s where XMP presets belong in Lightroom Classic 7.3 onwards. The Develop Presets folder is only for the old .lrtemplate format. The name sounds right, but it’s the wrong place for your XMP files.

  1. Extract the ZIP file so you can copy the individual XMP files.
  2. Open the Settings folder on your computer. The Mac and Windows paths are below.
  3. Create a subfolder inside Settings for your preset pack. Give it a name you’ll recognise so you can tell which files belong to it later.
  4. Copy the XMP files into that subfolder, including the strengths you want to use.
  5. Restart Lightroom Classic and check the Presets panel.

Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings/

Windows: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings\

On Windows, replace [username] with your own username on that computer. Pay particular attention to the end of the path: you need to be in CameraRaw\Settings.

Presets not showing up?

Run through these checks before installing everything again. A preset can be installed but still hidden in the panel.

  1. Restart Lightroom Classic. If you copied the files manually, make sure you’ve restarted Lightroom since then.
  2. Check the folder. Your XMP files belong in CameraRaw/Settings, or in your pack’s subfolder inside it. If they’re in Develop Presets, move them to the right folder and restart Lightroom.
  3. Show partially compatible presets. Click the plus sign by the Presets panel. Find Show Partially Compatible Presets and make sure it’s enabled.
  4. Check Manage Presets. Presets can be hidden through this option. Make sure the ones you’re looking for are set to show.

Finding your preset

There’s a search field at the top of the Presets panel. Type your preset’s name or a keyword to find it. That saves some scrolling, especially if you’ve installed several packs with all four strengths. Then choose the preset and strength you want to apply.

You can still adjust the sliders for each photo afterwards. A preset is a starting point.

From the photographer