Rich

Rich is a preset with presence. It gives a portrait weight, depth, and a warmth that feels like it was always there. The golden tone is not applied on top, it is built into the tonal structure. You notice it the moment you switch it on. The image settles into itself.

Technically, Rich works from contrast. Shadows drop back, turning cooler and darker, while midtones and highlights stay warm. That separation between cool shadows and warm light is what pulls the skin forward. Orange and yellow tones in the skin are nudged up, not smoothed or filtered, but full. The effect reads like golden afternoon light or a single warm lamp placed close. The contrast is not just in luminance but in color temperature across the tonal range.

Rich works best with portraits against dark or neutral backgrounds. Street portraits in backlight, studio shots with one light source, people photographed in shadow with a warm patch of light falling on the face. Skin tones from light to dark all pick up the warmth well, though the preset reads most clearly on medium to darker skin. With very fair skin and bright highlights, it helps to bring the exposure down slightly before applying the preset.

You reach for Rich when you want a portrait to stay with the viewer. If the mood on location was already heavy or intimate, this preset deepens that. It also holds up well across a series, giving reportage work a consistent, warm look from frame to frame. It is not the right choice for light summer portraits in open sun. It fits moments that ask for stillness, weight, or intensity.

A practical note: after applying Rich, check the shadows on the face first. If they go too dark, pull the shadows slider up a few points. The preset is built to protect skin tones, but facial shadows in backlit situations can close up quickly. A small adjustment brings back the structure in the face without breaking the mood.