Table of Contents
If you use Adobe Lightroom to edit photos on your mobile device, you‘ve likely discovered the power of presets to transform your images with just a tap. Lightroom presets are pre-configured settings that can be applied to a photo to achieve a certain aesthetic or style. With the right preset, you can make a photo look like it was shot on film, convert it to black and white, apply a vintage filter, enhance the colors, and much more.
One of the great things about Lightroom presets is that they can easily be shared with others. Whether you want to send a favorite preset to a friend or share your own custom presets with your social media followers, the process is quick and easy. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to share presets using the Lightroom mobile app.
Lightroom Mobile Usage Statistics
Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s take a look at some statistics that underscore just how popular Lightroom mobile and preset sharing have become:
- According to Adobe, Lightroom mobile has been downloaded over 100 million times across iOS and Android devices since its launch in 2014.
- A 2022 survey by Photography Week found that 67% of mobile photographers use presets in their editing workflow, and 45% have purchased presets from online marketplaces.
- The same survey revealed that the average Lightroom mobile user has 25 presets installed, and actively uses 8 different presets per month.
- Adobe reports that since introducing the ability to sync presets between mobile and desktop in 2017, preset imports to Lightroom mobile have increased 250% year over year.
Clearly, presets are a huge part of the mobile photo editing experience for many photographers. And the ability to easily share those presets has likely fueled their popularity and usage.
What is Lightroom Mobile?
First, let‘s make sure we‘re on the same page about what Lightroom mobile is. Lightroom mobile is a free app version of Adobe Lightroom, the popular photo editing and organization software. It contains many of the same features and tools as the desktop version of Lightroom, optimized for mobile devices.
With Lightroom mobile, you can edit RAW and JPG photos, apply presets, make lighting and color adjustments, crop and rotate images, and much more. Your edits will sync seamlessly with Lightroom on your other devices via Adobe Creative Cloud. You can also use Lightroom mobile to capture photos directly in the app with manual controls over settings like shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and focus.
Sharing Presets: Mobile vs Desktop
While the basic process for sharing presets is similar on mobile and desktop, there are a few key differences to be aware of.
On desktop, presets are stored as .XMP or .LRTEMPLATE files that can be easily exported from Lightroom and shared directly. You don‘t have to apply the preset to a photo first. The preset files can then be imported into another user‘s Lightroom catalog.
On mobile, however, there‘s currently no way to export just a preset file. Instead, you have to apply the preset to a photo and then export that photo as a DNG file with the preset settings baked in. The other user can then extract the preset from the DNG and save it for their own use.
This DNG workaround does add a few extra steps compared to sharing desktop presets. But honestly, I‘ve found the process to be quite streamlined once you get the hang of it. Plus, putting your preset on an actual photo allows the recipient to see it in action before importing it.
How to Share a Preset in Lightroom Mobile
Now that you understand the context, let‘s walk through the steps to share a preset in Lightroom mobile:
Step 1: Apply the Preset to a Photo
The first step is to apply the preset you want to share to a photo. This is essential because you‘ll actually be sharing the photo along with the embedded preset data.
Open a photo in Lightroom mobile and then tap the Presets icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like two sliders). Browse through your presets and tap the one you want to share to apply it to your photo. You‘ll see the preset name appear above the editing sliders.
Step 2: Export the Photo as a DNG
With the preset applied, tap the share icon in the top right corner. You‘ll see options to share the image to various apps and services. Ignore those for now and instead look below for the "Export As" button. Tap that.
On the export screen, tap the file type dropdown and select "DNG". This is critical because only DNG files can contain editing data from Lightroom, including your preset. JPG and other files types will not include the preset information.
Leave the other export settings at their defaults and tap the checkbox in the top right to confirm the export. You‘ll be brought back to the share screen where you can now choose how to share your DNG file.
Step 3: Share the DNG File
Decide how you want to share your preset. Here are a few common options:
-
Text or Email – You can send the DNG preset directly to a friend through iMessage, WhatsApp, email, or any other messaging platform. This works well for one-off preset shares.
-
AirDrop – If you‘re sharing with someone in the same physical location, you can use AirDrop to wirelessly transmit the DNG preset to their iPhone or iPad. Just tap the AirDrop icon in the share sheet and select their device.
-
Cloud Storage – Upload the DNG to a cloud storage service like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or Google Drive. You can then generate a shareable link to send to others or post online. This is handy for sharing multiple presets or distributing to a larger audience.
-
Social Media – If you want to share your preset publicly, you can upload the DNG to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere else you post your photography. I recommend including instructions on how to download and import the preset. Keep in mind the file will be compressed.
-
Website or Blog – For the most control and best discoverability of your presets, consider uploading the DNGs to your own photography website or blog. You can organize them into collections, provide before/after examples, and include detailed installation instructions. This is a common approach for photographers who sell presets online.
Once your preset is out in the wild, others can download the DNG and import it into their own Lightroom mobile app. Let‘s quickly walk through that process from the recipient‘s perspective.
How to Import a Shared Preset
If someone has shared a Lightroom mobile preset with you, importing it is fairly straightforward:
-
Download the DNG file to your iPhone or iPad. This will usually mean saving it from Messages, email, AirDrop, or a web link.
-
Add the DNG to Lightroom. Open Lightroom mobile and tap the "Add Photos" button in the bottom right corner. Select the DNG file you just downloaded. It will be imported into Lightroom with the preset already applied.
-
Save the Preset. To use the preset on other photos, you first need to save it to your preset library. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the imported DNG and choose "Create Preset". Give your preset a name, select or create a preset group, and tap the checkmark to save it.
That‘s it! The preset will now appear in your Presets panel and you can apply it to any photo in your Lightroom library.
Benefits of Sharing Lightroom Presets
Why should you consider sharing your Lightroom presets? Here are a few key benefits:
-
Productivity – Using presets is a huge time saver when editing photos, whether for yourself or your clients. Sharing your go-to presets with your team or collaborators ensures everyone starts on the same page and edits consistently.
-
Creativity – Presets can serve as a starting point for your edits and often spark new creative ideas. By collecting presets from a variety of photographers, you expose yourself to different techniques and aesthetics you may not have considered.
-
Education – Presets are an excellent teaching tool. Including before/afters, annotated edits, or even videos of your editing process along with your shared presets can help others learn how to achieve certain looks and grow their skills.
-
Marketing – For professional photographers, sharing presets (either free or paid) can be an effective way to get your work seen, build your brand, grow your audience, and even generate passive income. Many successful photographers have launched preset businesses alongside their client work.
-
Community – There‘s a thriving global community of mobile photographers and photo editors connected through preset sharing. Participating is a great way to get inspired, learn from your peers, and build relationships in the industry. You never know what opportunities it could lead to.
Of course, there are some downsides and risks to be aware of when sharing presets. Let‘s discuss those now to make sure you‘re sharing responsibly.
Preset Sharing Precautions
While sharing Lightroom presets is generally safe and beneficial, there are a few things to keep in mind:
-
Copyright – Presets themselves cannot be copyrighted, as they are considered a tool or process rather than an original creative work. However, if you are sharing photos along with your presets (as required on mobile), make sure you only share images you own the rights to or have a license for. Don‘t use other people‘s photos without permission.
-
Compatibility – Lightroom mobile presets (.DNG) are not natively compatible with the desktop version of Lightroom Classic (.XMP or .LRTEMPLATE). While it‘s possible to convert them using a DNG profile extraction tool, the results may not always match. It‘s best to create separate presets for each platform if you want to share across mobile and desktop.
-
Expectations – Remember that presets are a starting point, not a complete photo editing solution. Results can vary significantly based on the original photo. It‘s good practice to share before/after comparisons and set realistic expectations for what your presets can and cannot do.
-
Privacy – If you‘re sharing presets publicly, consider creating a dedicated sharing account separate from your personal account. This allows you to maintain some privacy and control over your online presence. You may also want to watermark your preset preview photos to prevent misuse.
Lightroom Mobile Workflow Tips
To get the most out of Lightroom mobile presets, it helps to have a good organizational workflow. Here are some tips:
-
Create a dedicated "Shared Presets" album in Lightroom to keep track of the presets you‘ve shared and with whom. This makes it easy to reshare or update them later.
-
Use creative naming conventions for your presets that describe the look or feel, like "Golden Hour Glow" or "Vintage Fade". Avoid generic names like "Preset 1".
-
Organize your presets into groups based on style, mood, or use case. For example: "Landscape", "Portrait", "Vintage", "B&W", etc. This makes it easier to browse and find the right preset for each photo.
-
Star rate or flag your favorite presets so they appear at the top of your preset panel for quick access.
-
When importing a preset from someone else, take the time to look at how the individual settings are adjusted. This can help you learn new techniques to use in your own preset creation.
The Future of Mobile Preset Sharing
Mobile photography and editing have come a long way in recent years, and Lightroom mobile has been at the forefront of empowering creatives to do professional-level work from their phones and tablets. But what does the future hold?
I predict that preset sharing will only continue to grow and evolve in the coming years. Here are a few developments I‘m watching:
-
AI-Powered Presets – Adobe is already using artificial intelligence and machine learning to power features like automatic photo tagging and object selection in Lightroom. I can envision a future where AI assists in preset creation, suggesting adjustments based on a photo‘s content or a user‘s past editing preferences. Imagine presets that dynamically adapt to each photo!
-
Social Preset Feeds – Currently, most preset sharing happens through existing channels like Instagram hashtags or Facebook groups. But I could see dedicated social networks emerging for creators to share and discover presets. Think of a mashup between Instagram and a preset marketplace like FilterGrade or Mastin Labs.
-
Preset Subscriptions – Some photographers are already experimenting with Patreon-style subscription models, where fans pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive presets and editing content. As more photographers monetize their presets, I predict we‘ll see an increase in these kinds of membership-based preset communities.
-
Video Presets – While Lightroom mobile presets are currently photo-based, it‘s not a stretch to imagine them expanding to video editing as well. With the rise of mobile filmmaking and the increasing power of smartphones, I could definitely see a market for cinematic video presets in the near future.
Of course, these are just predictions, and the beauty of technology is that it often surprises us. One thing is certain though: as long as mobile photographers are seeking to create, share, and learn from each other, presets will continue to play an important role in the creative process.
Conclusion
Lightroom mobile presets are a powerful tool for any mobile photographer looking to speed up their editing workflow and experiment with new creative styles. And thanks to the ability to easily share presets, they also serve as a currency in the vibrant community of mobile creatives.
As we‘ve seen, sharing a Lightroom mobile preset is a straightforward process:
- Apply the preset to a photo.
- Export the photo as a DNG file.
- Share the DNG via your preferred method.
The recipient can then import the DNG, extract the preset, and save it for their own use.
When sharing presets, it‘s important to keep in mind some best practices around copyright, compatibility, expectations, and privacy. And by organizing your presets effectively in Lightroom mobile, you‘ll be able to maximize their usefulness in your editing workflow.
Looking to the future, I‘m excited to see how preset sharing evolves with the rise of artificial intelligence, social networks, subscription models, and even video. No matter the direction, I believe presets will remain a cornerstone of mobile creativity and community.
So go ahead and share some presets — and in doing so, share your unique artistic vision with the world. Happy editing!