Post-production plays a vital role in transforming your raw images into stunning works of art. However, this process typically takes a significant amount of time since you must ensure you get the best image results. To streamline and expedite the editing process, photographers and digital artists usually leverage what presets are and how they can help in post-production.
In this blog, we discuss the concept of presets that most photo post-processing services use, their benefits, and how they can significantly simplify your editing workflow. By understanding them, you can achieve consistent and professional results with your photo editing projects.
So, What are Presets?
Presets are pre-designed configurations of adjustments and settings within the post-processing software you use. They are essentially templates that apply a specific style to an image with a single click.
Configuring and setting your image presets can be a combination of adjustments from exposure, contrast, color grading, saturation, sharpness, and more. Using them allows you to save your preferred settings and apply them consistently across multiple images, maintaining a cohesive visual style throughout your work.
Why Use Presets for Post-Production?
Diving into the more specific reasons to use presets in photo editing, here are a few of the main benefits you can get from using them:
Time-Saving Efficiency
Using presets provides a significant boost in your efficiency by offering pre-configured settings that can be easily applied to images. This can save you valuable time and effort by automating repetitive tasks.
The time-saving aspect is particularly advantageous when you’re working on large batches of images that employ the same theme. This is mainly why professional retouching services leverage the use of presets in photo editing. By using them, you can focus on other critical aspects of your work.
Consistency and Cohesion
Presets play a crucial role in maintaining consistency and cohesion across a series of images. When you apply the same set of presets to multiple photographs, you can ensure a unified visual style throughout your project.
This consistency is important if you’re working on projects such as photo series, albums, or branding campaigns, where a cohesive aesthetic is essential. Using presets can enable you to establish a signature look, maintain your client’s branding guidelines, or convey a particular mood consistently across your body of work.
Streamlined Editing Workflow
Using presets can streamline your editing workflow by simplifying and expediting the post-production process. With presets, you can quickly apply a desired style to an image without manually adjusting each setting. This not only saves time but also reduces the potential for error.
How Do Presets Work?
Now that you know the benefits of using presets, let’s explore how they work and how you can integrate them into your photo editing program.
Choosing the Right Preset
Before diving into the installation process, you must select the right presets for your style and creative goals. Presets come in various themes, from subtle enhancements to dramatic effects.
Research and explore presets that align with your photography and editing style, whether it’s portrait, landscape, street, or artistic. There are usually free and premium presets online, often provided by reputable photographers or editing software developers.
Understanding Preset File Formats
Presets are typically distributed as files with specific formats that are compatible with your photo editing program. The most common formats are .xmp for Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw, .lrtemplate for older versions of Lightroom, and .dng for other editing apps.
Be sure to check the compatibility of the presets you intend to use with your editing program to ensure a seamless installation process.
Installing Presets to Adobe Lightroom
As the most popular photo editing program, let’s discuss how to install presets on Adobe Lightroom.
Installing presets in Lightroom is a straightforward process. All you need to do is:
- Open the application and navigate to the Develop module.
- On the left sidebar, right-click on “User Presets” and select “Import.“
- Locate the preset files on your computer and click “Import” again.
After these steps, the presets will now appear under “User Presets,” ready to be applied to your images with a simple click.
Achieving Optimal Image Results with Paper Boat Creative
Installing presets can greatly help you stay productive and be more efficient as you edit your photos. Once you master this photography skill, you can take on more editing projects while still maintaining high-quality work.
With that said, here at Paper Boat Creative, we offer professional photo editing services done by a team of experts. Partner with us to ensure that you receive captivating images that cater to your target audience.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!
