TL;DR: You can create a custom Lightroom Mobile preset by adjusting any photo’s exposure and color settings, then saving those specific edits as a reusable preset from the adjustments menu. Applying it to other photos is a one-tap process that instantly transfers your unique style across your entire gallery.
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, open the Lightroom Mobile app and select a photo that represents the type of image you want to edit consistently. This could be a portrait, a landscape, or a product shot. Tap the “Edit” button to enter the editing workspace. Begin by making basic adjustments to your photo. Start with the “Light” panel, tweaking exposure, contrast, and highlights to establish a solid base. Move to the “Color” panel to adjust temperature, tint, saturation, and vibrance. These global adjustments form the core of your preset. If you want a more specific look, dive into the “HSL” (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) panel to target specific colors, such as making blues deeper or greens more vibrant. Remember, the goal is not to make this single photo perfect, but to create a balanced adjustment profile that will look good on many similar images. Once you are satisfied with the overall look of the test image, tap the three-dot menu icon located in the top right corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select “Create Preset.” A new window will appear asking you to name your preset and choose which sliders to include. To ensure maximum flexibility, you can leave all sliders checked, but unchecking sliders for specific photos that need individual attention, like focus or crop, is often a smart move. Name your preset descriptively, such as “Soft Glow Portrait” or “Moody Landscape,” and tap “Save.” Your new preset is now available in the “Presets” section of your editing toolbar.
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Applying Your New Preset
To apply your newly created preset to a different photo, simply open that photo in the editor. Navigate to the “Presets” tab, which is usually the second icon from the left in the bottom toolbar. You will see your custom preset listed under “User Presets” or at the top of the list. Tap the preset once to apply the full set of adjustments to the new image. The photo will instantly adopt the color grading and lighting balance of your original test photo. This process is incredibly fast, allowing you to apply a consistent aesthetic to dozens of photos in under five minutes. After applying the preset, you can still make minor manual adjustments to the new photo if necessary, such as fixing a bright sky or boosting the contrast on a specific subject. The preset serves as a strong starting point rather than a rigid rule, giving you the best of both worlds: consistency and individual customization.
Pro Tips for Better Results
When creating presets, avoid making extreme adjustments to individual sliders. Subtle changes blend more naturally with different lighting conditions and subjects. If you find that a preset looks too harsh on some photos, go back and reduce the intensity of the main sliders, such as contrast or saturation. Additionally, consider creating multiple presets for different scenarios. A preset designed for bright daylight portraits may not work well for dimly lit indoor shots. By having a small library of targeted presets, you can speed up your workflow significantly without sacrificing image quality. Always test your preset on a variety of photos before committing to it for a large batch to ensure it performs reliably across your content.
FAQ
Q: Can I share my Lightroom Mobile presets with friends?
A: Yes, you can export presets as .xmp files and share them via email or cloud services, though importing them on other devices requires a Lightroom subscription.
Q: Do presets overwrite my existing edits?
A: No, applying a preset adds its adjustments to the current state of the photo, but you can always reset individual sliders if you want to keep specific manual tweaks.
Q: How many presets can I create in the free version?
A: The free version of Lightroom Mobile allows you to create and
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