Top 7 Sites For Lightroom Presets
With the release of Lightroom 4, Adobe has certainly gained more fans in the photography industry. With an easier to use interface, new features, and reviewers claiming that photos processed in the new Lightroom "just look better", it is easy to see why it is one of the most popular solutions for digital photography.
One area that it is lacking in, like many other programs, is the default presets. They look decent enough, but do not cover a large array of styles, and can often look too "default". Luckily for us, there are some fantastic websites that offer free (and paid) presets for Lightroom to help you get the best out of your photos. Check out our favorites below, and keep in mind some may only be for Lightroom 3.
UPDATE: I'm adding new sites as I find them, so make sure to come back and check the list for more Lightroom Presets.
1. ShutterSweets
ShutterSweets is a great new site with an easy to navigate collection of resources for photographers. They've got a wonderful freebie bundle so you can download some of their most popular presets for free. You can grab their Free Lightroom Presets Volume 1 here.
One of my favorite things about ShutterSweets is their Unlimited Membership. Once you sign up, you'll get instant lifetime access to everything on the entire site, both now and in the future.
Other sites offer similar options, but they typically require recurring payments each year.
Visit ShutterSweets for More Lightroom Presets
2. PhotographyPla.net
This is one of the newer sites, but has some amazing presets at affordable prices. They have a small selection of free Lightroom presets you can try too.
You can also sign up for their Ultimate Photography Bundle, which gives you access to EVERYTHING on the site. It's probably the best deal out there for photography resources.
NOTE: PhotographyPla.net has also been kind enough to offer Design Panoply readers 20% off Lightroom Presets, as well as all the other products in their store. Use the code "panoply" during checkout to get your discount.
3. Pretty Presets
Pretty Presets has a vast collection to choose from. Most presets are geared towards wedding, engagement, or portrait photography, but they can be adapted for use in other situations as well.
They do not offer any free presets, but show a lot of examples, so you know exactly what you are getting before you pay for it. You can find something similar to most of the presets they offer elsewhere, but the fact that they have them categorized nicely and all in one place makes the price a little more attractive.
Click here to view more Lightroom Presets
4. New Layer
New Layer has a small, but growing, collection of presets, among other professional-grade resources for creators.
They do not offer any free presets, but show a lot of examples, so you know exactly what you are getting before you pay for it. You can find something similar to most of the presets they offer elsewhere, but the fact that they have them categorized nicely and all in one place makes the price a little more attractive.
Click here to view Lightroom Presets at New Layer
5. Presets Heaven
Presets Heaven is laid out in blog format, so you have to spend some time looking through each post to find presets you like. They do make it easier by providing plenty of before and after photos, as well as popular posts.
They feature presets of their own, as well as ones submitted from other users.
They are our favorite for the simple reason that they offer so many free presets!
6. onOne Software
OnOne has put together a free pack of over 190 Lightroom presets with a few before and after photos to help you get an overall look at what they do. They do, however, have text descriptions of all of the presets so you know what to expect.
I also highly recommend checking out their other software.
7. Camera Dojo
Their preset pack is a collection of "essential" settings to correct common problems like under/over exposure and white balance plus some extras.
8. Seim Effects Free Lightroom Presets
Seim Effects is an easy-to-navigate collection of free presets with a wide range of purposes. Each effect has a before and after shot to help you decide whether it's worth downloading or not.
Visit Seim Effects Free Lightroom Presets.
9. Adobe Lightroom Develop Presets
The name might not be as catchy, but Adobe hosts some pretty good presets submitted by users. Some cost money but the majority of them are free.
Visit Adobe Lightroom Develop Presets.
10. Laconic
Laconic has 5 different sets for download, each containing 23 presets. They have some of the most unusual presets out of the whole bunch and are fun to experiment with.
11. Presetpond
Thanks to thomasfal for turning me on to this one. Looks like they have some free and premium presets, but you must be signed in to download anything.
12. Preset Love
Andrew at Preset Love let me know about their library of free, great-looking Lightroom Presets. There are definitely some useful items here, so check it out.
Do you know of any other good Lightroom preset resources? Which one is your favorite?