Editorial

Editorial is the preset you reach for when you want a photo to look exactly the way you pictured it. Crisp, clear, with cool shadows that add depth without feeling cold. Skin stays warm and present, as if the light is coming from within. This preset has a clear point of view, but it never overpowers the subject.

Technically, Editorial makes its mark in specific and deliberate ways. The shadows shift toward a cool, blue-grey tone, which increases perceived depth in the frame. At the same time, midtones and highlights stay warm, creating a visible colour contrast between the lighter and darker areas of the image. Overall contrast is lifted slightly, but not so far that detail is lost. Texture in skin, fabric and backgrounds remains well defined. Clarity is sharpened just enough to make the image feel precise without looking processed.

This preset works particularly well for environmental portraiture, especially when the frame includes strong shadow areas. Think urban settings, the shade of buildings, overcast skies, or any situation where the ambient light is naturally cool. It also holds up well in the studio with simple backgrounds and directional light. Street photography with people in the frame benefits from the way Editorial separates a cool environment from warm skin tones.

Choose Editorial when you want an image to carry an editorial quality, the kind of look you see in magazines and campaigns where the photograph does part of the storytelling. Not colourful for the sake of colour, but controlled enough to put a person clearly in the frame. If you shoot for clients who expect a clean, professional finish, or if you want your own portfolio to have a consistent visual direction, this preset tends to land well on the first try.

One practical tip: check your exposure before applying the preset. Editorial responds best when the midtones in your source file are already close to where they need to be. If your shot is a little underexposed, bring up the exposure first, then load the preset. The cool and warm separation the preset creates works most effectively when it has a well-balanced base to work from.