Pastel Cruiser

Pastel Cruiser gives your photos the colour of a quiet afternoon somewhere in 1955. Think mint green Chevrolets, dusty pink Cadillacs and cream white Fords catching soft afternoon light. The preset recreates that mood without pushing it too far. No neon, no heavy saturation. Just that still, dreamy palette you associate with mid-century America at its most iconic.

Technically, the preset lifts shadows and pulls back highlights, spreading light more evenly across painted bodywork and chrome. The white balance shifts slightly warm, but stays well clear of orange. Pastel tones are created by adjusting saturation per colour channel: reds and blues are brought down a little, while cyan and pink gain a touch more presence. Contrast is intentionally kept low. That gives the image depth without closing down the shadows. The tone curve runs gently, producing that characteristic soft sheen on chrome and lacquer that makes classic cars look like they belong on a postcard.

The preset works best on photos of classic American cars, ideally shot in bright daylight or during golden hour. Wider scenes work well too: a drive-in diner, a stretch of Route 66, a parking lot full of vintage cars. As long as warm colours and open surfaces are present in the frame, the preset has room to do its thing. Portraits taken alongside a classic car can also work nicely, especially when clothing and background support the overall atmosphere.

Pastel Cruiser makes most sense when you want a series of photos to feel like they belong together. A set from a car show, a portfolio for a collector, a personal project about Americana. The colour treatment is consistent enough to hold multiple shots together even when the light shifts between frames. That makes it practical, not just pretty.

One practical tip: after applying the preset, check the blue channel in the HSL panel if the sky looks too cyan. Blue skies can read slightly off with this colour treatment. A small adjustment in the right direction and the sky falls back into line with the rest of the image.