How AI Helped Me Create Stunning Lightroom Presets
Dive into the story of how I used AI to create these unique Lightroom presets by listening to the podcast as you explore the blog.
As a photographer, one of the most exciting parts of the creative process is finding the perfect mood for my images. Whether I’m capturing eerie forests, moody landscapes, or surreal scenes, creating presets that bring out the emotional essence of a photo is both challenging and rewarding. Recently, I took an unconventional approach by leveraging AI to help generate unique Lightroom presets designed to enhance specific atmospheres.
Using AI, I provided detailed descriptions of the visual mood I wanted to achieve—whether it was the haunting gloom of a misty forest, the fiery drama of a blood moon, or the ethereal glow of ghostly scenes. From there, AI helped translate those ideas into actionable settings that I could apply directly in Lightroom. Each preset reflects a distinct aesthetic, carefully tuned to evoke the desired emotion while saving countless hours of manual editing.
This process showed me how technology and creativity can work together to achieve something truly remarkable. Below, you’ll find a collection of Lightroom presets that emerged from this experiment. From "Foggy Dread" to "Nightmare Vision," each preset is crafted to transform your photos into captivating works of art. Whether you're a professional photographer or an enthusiast looking to explore new styles, I hope these presets inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.
Let’s dive in!
Recommendations for Using AI to Create the Best Lightroom Presets
If you're new to the idea of using AI to generate Lightroom presets, here are some tips and prompts to help you achieve the best results. Whether you're trying to replicate a cinematic color grade, enhance a specific mood, or create a signature look, these guidelines will ensure your AI-assisted presets turn out stunningly effective.
1. Be Clear and Specific with Your Vision
The more detailed your description, the better the AI can interpret your intentions. Think about the mood, colors, and lighting you want your preset to achieve. Use descriptive words that capture the essence of the style you're aiming for.
Example Prompts:
“Create a preset inspired by the moody, desaturated tones of a rainy forest. I want soft highlights, deep shadows, and muted greens with a hint of blue.”
“Design a preset that mimics the vibrant teal and orange color grading seen in action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road. Focus on high contrast and sharp details.”
“I want a preset for nighttime city photography, emphasizing neon blues and pinks with a slightly dark and cinematic vibe.”
2. Consider the Subject and Scene
Different presets work best for specific types of photography. Tailor your request to the scene or subject you’re working with. Landscapes, portraits, urban environments, and conceptual art may all require different tonal adjustments.
Example Prompts:
“Design a preset for golden hour portraits. Enhance warm tones, add soft highlights, and preserve skin tones while keeping shadows slightly muted.”
“Create a preset for abandoned industrial sites, with a gritty and dramatic aesthetic. Include high clarity, desaturated colors, and cool tones in the shadows.”
“I need a preset for snowy mountain landscapes with soft, natural tones. Keep whites bright but not overexposed, and enhance the blues in the sky and shadows.”
3. Experiment with Emotion and Storytelling
Think about the story or emotion you want your image to convey. Is it eerie and unsettling, or warm and nostalgic? AI can help create presets that evoke these emotions with subtle adjustments to color, tone, and texture.
Example Prompts:
“Create a haunting preset for an eerie forest scene, emphasizing deep greens, muted blacks, and soft highlights for a ghostly vibe.”
“I want a nostalgic preset that mimics the sepia tones of old photographs, with warm shadows and slightly faded highlights.”
“Design a cinematic preset for dramatic sunset shots, with vibrant oranges and pinks, enhanced contrast, and slightly lifted shadows.”
4. Incorporate Film Styles
Many photographers are inspired by the aesthetics of film photography. Use AI to create presets based on classic film stocks or cinematic looks.
Example Prompts:
“Create a preset inspired by Kodak Portra 400 for portraits. Enhance skin tones, add soft contrast, and preserve natural colors.”
“Mimic the look of Fuji Velvia for vibrant landscapes. Emphasize saturated greens and blues with crisp details.”
“Design a preset inspired by classic black-and-white film, focusing on deep contrasts and fine textures.”
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Tweak the Results
AI-generated presets are a great starting point, but every photo is unique. After applying a preset, adjust exposure, contrast, and other settings to match your specific image.
Tips for Tweaking:
Adjust exposure to ensure the photo isn’t too dark or bright.
Use highlights and shadows to balance light and preserve details.
Fine-tune temperature and tint for accurate color rendering.
Add or reduce clarity for the desired level of sharpness and texture.
6. Build Upon Your AI Creations
Once you have an AI-generated preset, use it as a foundation to create your own signature styles. Customize and save new versions to expand your collection and refine your editing process.
Prompt Example for Refinement:
“Refine the preset to add a soft vignette and subtle grain for a vintage feel.”
“Increase the clarity and sharpening in the original preset to emphasize textures in urban landscapes.”
Click on titles to download the preset for Lightroom Classic
Mad Max: Fury Road – Teal and Orange Chaos
Description: Inspired by the vibrant, high-energy aesthetic of Mad Max: Fury Road, this preset is all about striking contrasts. With warm orange highlights and cool teal shadows, it creates a dramatic and energetic look that’s perfect for action shots and desert landscapes.
Key Features:
Bold contrast between warm highlights and cool shadows.
Enhanced clarity for sharper details.
Vibrant orange and teal tones for a cinematic effect.
Saving Private Ryan – Bleach Bypass Realism
Description: This preset replicates the gritty, desaturated look of Saving Private Ryan. By skipping the traditional color enhancement, it creates a raw, unfiltered feel perfect for war scenes, urban decay, or dystopian settings.
Key Features:
Desaturated colors with high contrast.
Crushed shadows and muted highlights for a raw, gritty look.
Minimal vibrance to emphasize realism.
The Joker – Haunting Drama
Description: Inspired by the dark and gritty visuals of The Joker, this preset combines muted colors, deep shadows, and slightly vibrant reds to create an eerie, cinematic effect. Ideal for portraits and moody, dramatic scenes.
Key Features:
Deep shadows and muted tones for a dramatic feel.
Enhanced reds to emphasize emotional intensity.
Cool shadows with warm highlights for contrast.
Sin City – Noir Shadows
Description: Recreate the iconic high-contrast monochrome of Sin City with this preset. Perfect for creating timeless, dramatic black-and-white images, it enhances shadows, highlights, and textures for a noir-inspired look.
Key Features:
High-contrast black and white for a classic noir aesthetic.
Emphasis on shadows and highlights for dramatic depth.
Crisp details and texture for a timeless feel.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Sepia Nostalgia
Description: Inspired by the sepia-toned aesthetic of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, this preset warms up your photos with soft, golden hues. It’s ideal for vintage-inspired photography or storytelling scenes with a historical vibe.
Key Features:
Warm golden tones for a nostalgic look.
Soft highlights and subtle shadows for balance.
A sepia tint to evoke a vintage feel.
Tetons Sunset – Natural Splendor
Description: This preset is tailored for majestic landscapes, especially snow-covered mountain scenes during a dramatic sunset. Inspired by the Tetons, it brings out the warmth of the sunset while balancing shadows and highlights for perfect exposure.
Key Features:
Balanced exposure to brighten shadows and recover highlights.
Enhanced warmth in the sunset tones.
Vibrant yet natural colors for landscapes.
Fallout – Post-Apocalyptic Grit
Description: Inspired by the eerie, muted tones of the Fallout universe, this preset enhances gritty textures and desaturates colors for a haunting, post-apocalyptic feel. Perfect for abandoned places or dystopian themes.
Key Features:
Muted colors with enhanced textures for a gritty look.
Cool greens and desaturated tones to evoke decay.
High clarity to emphasize details and textures.
Foggy Dread – Misty Isolation
Description: Capture the atmosphere of foggy mornings and lifeless landscapes with this preset. Muted greens and blues, paired with a hazy effect, create a desolate and mysterious vibe.
Key Features:
Hazy effect with reduced clarity for a foggy feel.
Muted greens and blues to enhance the mood.
Heavy vignette for added depth and focus.
Blood Moon – Fiery Drama
Description: Capture the apocalyptic, fiery feel of a blood moon with this preset. It enhances reds and oranges while darkening shadows for a dramatic, fiery look.
Key Features:
Vibrant reds and oranges in highlights and midtones.
Crushed blacks for added drama.
Subtle dehaze to enhance textures.
Abandoned Ruins – Grunge Realism
Description: Perfect for grungy, decayed scenes, this preset enhances textures and desaturates colors for a gritty, abandoned look. Ideal for urban exploration or derelict settings.
Key Features:
High clarity and sharpening to emphasize textures.
Muted earthy tones for a dramatic feel.
Darkened shadows for depth and mood.
Ghostly Glow – Ethereal Mystery
Description: Add a soft, eerie glow to your photos with this preset. Perfect for ghostly themes or surreal settings, it enhances cool tones and softens clarity for a dreamlike atmosphere.
Key Features:
Soft highlights and lifted shadows for a glowing effect.
Cool blue-green tones for an unsettling vibe.
Reduced clarity for a dreamy, ethereal feel.
Deep Shadows – Claustrophobic Mood
Description: Amplify shadows and create a sense of foreboding with this preset. Ideal for moody portraits or minimal light settings, it brings a cold, dark atmosphere to your images.
Key Features:
Deepened blacks and muted whites for a stark contrast.
Subtle blue tones in shadows for a cold atmosphere.
Reduced vibrance for an ominous feel.
Witching Hour – Twilight Magic
Description: Designed for twilight scenes or dark forests, this preset emphasizes blues and purples while softening greens for a hauntingly beautiful aesthetic.
Key Features:
Rich blues and purples for a twilight effect.
Desaturated greens and yellows for balance.
Subtle glow in highlights for a magical feel.
Rotten Decay – Post-Apocalyptic Horror
Description: Bring out the textures and muted tones of decay with this preset. Perfect for post-apocalyptic or horror-themed photography, it combines earthy browns and greens with gritty contrasts.
Key Features:
High contrast and clarity to highlight textures.
Earthy brown-green tones for a decayed look.
Desaturated colors for a grim vibe.
Nightmare Vision – Surreal Horror
Description: Create surreal, dreamlike horror with this preset. The inverted split toning and heavy vignettes make your photos look distorted and unnerving.
Key Features:
Warm shadows contrasted with cool highlights.
Heavy vignette for a tunnel-vision effect.
Subtle grain for a surreal, dreamlike quality.
