The power of presets. Mouse over for before image. Get Gavin’s Lightroom and Aperture presets on from seimeffects.com
The Free Lightroom Presets Directory: by Gavin Seim. (Updated 02/17/2013)
One of the most powerful features of Adobe Lightroom is presets. And you’ve just found the biggest, best maintained list of free LR presets anywhere. I hunt the web for these, trying to add the best and filter out the dead ends. There’s plenty to browse. And feel free to share your favorites in the comments (freebies only).
Lightroom 4 Presets: The develop module changed in LR4 and most LR3 presets will not fully function under the new process. As more LR4 presets are becoming available I’ll add to the list. I’ll also note listings that I’ve been able to verify are LR4 Compatible. Non-marked listing may be LR1,2 and 3 only.
NOTE: In LR 1-3 separate JPEG and RAW presets were needed. In LR4 this is not the case. since the process changes, all images are processed the same and any LR4 preset works on any image.
Also check out my presets for Lightroom 1-4. My full collections are guaranteed are worth the cost. But there’s also loads of freebies (linked below). I’m fanatical about quality and honored that they’ve become so well regarded my peers. OK, now on to the goodies. Oh and if you use Apple Aperture, here’s the free Aperture presets list.
Also check out…
Top Free LR Preset picks…
- Seim Effects Free Lightroom Presets (LR4 Compatible).
I have a LARGE and ever growing assortment of free presets that include fully LR 4 compatible effects. I suggest you start with 8 free presets from PW3 and 15 Free Premium Presets from Color Fantasies 2. You can also visit the Seim Effects Ultimate Freebie List. - Preset Heaven (LR4 Compatible).
This is a blog where you’ll find a large variety of presets. I won;t list them all, but there a lot. A nice place to get some sweet goodies. - Lightroom Killer Tips Presets (LR4 Compatible).
Aside from a great LR video cast, Matt Kloskowski from Photoshop TV posts presets on the site for free. His latest works are LR4 compatible. - Lightroom Presets on the Adobe Exchange (LR4 Compatible).
The Exchange has always been a great place to get ad on’s for Adobe products. Keep an eye on it. - Jack Davis’s Perfect Presets Collection (LR 2-3).
This is a download from our friends over at OnOne Software. A large preset collection that is organized in a tidy list. Well put together with lots of effects. - Wonderland Free Presets (LR1-3).
A free sampler pack from their Lightroom Presets collections. It looks like they have LR4 presets coming so we’ll keep watching.
6000+ Facebook Fans say it best – Seim Effects are the ultimate LR presets.
More Free Presets Worth Noting: These may not be large sets but they may have potential…
- NEW – F/stop Spot free presets. A few mini collections of freebies. (LR4 Compatible).
- NEW – Eric Kim 15 Free presets for street photography. (LR4 Compatible).
- Lightroom Library Presets Lots of presets with some previews, (LR2-3).
- Laconic Design Presets Laconic has a bunch, many of which fall into B&W/Vintage (LR1-3).
- Camera Dojo Presets A nice free pack of presets covering a broad range settings (LR1-3).
- Chrome and New York presets from Vert: (LR 1-3).
- Really Japans Presets: A collection of various mini preset sets (LR 1-3).
- Skye’s LR Presets: She has a couple nice looking freebies in one download (LR 1-3).
- MCP Effects: A few free presets from MCP. (LR 1-3).
- Vivian Chungs Presets: A nice little archive of freebies. (LR 1-3).
- I Brake For Bokeh Presets: Another nice variety of free Lightroom presets, LR 1-3).
- Heather Green’s Presets. A few interesting looking color tone presets.
- Joop Snijder Presets: A variety of general use effects (scroll down the page).
- A Girl In Love Presets: A nice little set of ten vintage tone effects.
- Markus Dollinger Presets: Not in English, but you’ll find a presets download link at the bottom.
- Xequals Photography Presets: Once you get past an awkward site, you’ll find a fair variety of free presets.
- Focus Beauty Presets: Various presets allowing you to build effects. Also check out the HDR presets.
- Inside Lightroom Presets: One of the early Lightroom sites. Lots of presets if you browse around.
- Dlbert Debruijn Free presets. A nice looking assortment of free presets.
- BJWok Presets. Looks like many were made for band sessions. A variety of freebies.
- RuleOfThirds free presets. Looks like a nice collection of freebies mixed in with their paid offerings.
Other Random Presets: Some of these have obscure links, some with only 1 preset. But if you crave more…
- Photo Focus preset: Look like just one here, but Scott posted a tone preset he made.
- Sean Mcgrath: Some paid effects in here, but on this page are plenty of freebies.
- Profi Presets: Various preset of the week posts here with free effects. Have to browse thru links.
- Mithrandir’s Lightroom Presets: A list of a bunch of Mithrandir’s presets. Sweet.
- Dryor Eyal Presets: A few presets posted ion his blog. Not many details.
- Gantico’s Presets: Various presets worth a look, including some infrared.
- Stellar Times Free Presets: A few classy looking tones.
- 640 Pixels free presets:
- Katherine’s Pink preset: Just one pink tone here.
- Scenic World Presets: A couple presets with intense highlights.
- Simonetta Rossi’s Free Presets: A few sky brighteners you might enjoy.
- Rockstar B&W & Soda Pop presets: A few presets here. But you have to wade through to get them.
- Rebecca Meyers Preset: Just one Faded Wash preset that I can find.
- Mike Lao’s “300″ presets: A bit of a legend. Two effects based on the movie 300.
- Sean McCormack’s IR Presets: An article talking about Infrared in LR and some free presets.
- Alberts Warming Preset: A warm tone effect.
- Sweets Lightroom Preset: Just a solo.
- Platinum Premium Preset: Not a platinum effects so much as B&W.
- VFASP Presets. Looks like three presets. Color tone and BW.
- Photography Silo Presets: A little clutter, but they post a free preset now and then.
- Minimalist Photography. 5 free B&W presets. Some are a bit harsh but give em a try.
Free Lightroom Brush Presets – How To Install Brush Presets
LR4 Brushes…
- Elegance Essentials LR4 Brushes: My own collection of brushes designed especially for LR4.
LR2-3 Brushes
- Matt’s Light/Dark Brush Presets: A simple set of brushes for burning and dodging
- Seim’s Free Brush Presets: A brush set for Skin Softening, Burning, Dodging, more.
- Matt’s Enhancer Brushes: Another nice assortment of brushes from Matt Kloskowski.
Free Lightroom Print Presets/Templates:
- Gavin’s Album Page Design Print Presets for LR3-4:
A group of print presets to make quick page layouts in LR3. Great for press printed books and small albums. This is a new improved set for LR3. - Album Page Design Print Presets for LR2:
A group of print presets to make quick page layouts in LR2. This is the first set. Don’t use these in LR3-4.
This set of 5 DVDs will cover each of the 5 Lightroom modules (Develop, Library, Slideshow, Print, Web.) Regular price will be $149 but the special pre-release price is $99. According to their website, it should be shipping around the end of May.
