Use presets on Instagram

1. Define your goals for presets by considering your Instagram style.

Instagram presets are filters that improve the look of your images. Example style goals: Make an image series, like a summer campaign or product launch, more cohesive by applying one preset to the entire series. Improve the overall appearance of your photos with presets that perform basic contrast and color corrections. Set a tone or mood for your feed by using a specific preset, like a warm-toned Madewell image that conveys warmth and coziness. Enhance the look of your products by following Tiffany & Co’s example. The brand uses a stark white background to highlight the beauty of its jewelry collection. Standardize your Instagram style, so your social media team can use presets consistently.

2. Decide preset styles based on your goals and what you want images to look like.

Consider the elements of a photo that presets can alter, including contrast, highlight, shadows, clarity, saturation, vibrance, color adjustments, noise reduction, and more. For a chosen photo, decide: What colors or features you want to draw more attention to, such as vibrant reds. What mood or tone you want the image to convey, such as dramatic sadness or carefree happiness. What you want to change about the photo, like the brightness or temperature. What the subject of the photo is, such as a person or food. If you’re unfamiliar with different style options or need more inspiration, look for ideas on Pinterest or visually appealing Instagram feeds.

3. Look for presets to download by filtering results on Instagram preset sites.

Some places to download or purchase Instagram presets: 123 Presets Light & Airy Lifestyle Presets Flourish Presets FreeLightroomPresets.co Many influencers sell the presets they use. So, if you’ve found an influencer whose images you like, see if their presets are available for purchase.

4. Download presets that fit your style preferences, goals, budget, and required file type.

To choose a preset bundle: Look for a preset designed for that type of photo, like a portrait, landscape, or close-up. If it’s a portrait, choose a preset that’s designed for the subject’s skin tone. Make sure it’s the right file type for the device you intend to edit the photo on: .xmp for Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC version 7.3 or older, .lrtemplate for legacy versions of Lightroom, and .dng for Lightroom Mobile. Look at customer reviews and example images to judge the quality of the presets. Stick with a low budget while you experiment. If you’re new to presets, you may want to start with 25 dollars per bundle.

5. Download Lightroom and install downloaded presets to your version of the app.

Use Lightroom Mobile for a free version that’s great for quick edits. It also syncs to your device if you have an Adobe Creative Cloud license. Lightroom CC desktop app isn’t required, but it offers the quickest way to install presets, has more features, and syncs to all Creative Cloud devices. To install presets to Lightroom Mobile with access to the desktop app: Open the Lightroom desktop app. Click File > Import Profiles and Presets. Select the downloaded presets folder > Import. These presets will sync to Lightroom Mobile if logged into the same account.

6. Apply the preset to your photo in Lightroom and make custom adjustments as needed.

Open the Lightroom Mobile app and make sure the cloud icon at the top has a green checkmark next to it to show that it’s synced to your Lightroom desktop. Import the photo to Lightroom > Presets > User Presets > click on the preset you want to use. Make manual adjustments to customize that preset for that specific photo. Presets work best for photos that have a high resolution and the right exposure. Experiment with different presets to see which works best for your images. Sometimes none of them work the way you imagine, so you may have to experiment with different options.

7. Save the image, upload it to Instagram, or add the image to your Instagram scheduler tool.

Save your edited image to your camera roll from Lightroom, and then upload it to Instagram. Use a tool, like Later, Planoly, Unum, or Hootsuite for Instagram, to preview what your image or series of images will look like on your feed, and then schedule your content for posting.

8. Create your own presets in Lightroom if you have a custom style in mind for multiple images.

To make your own preset, edit a photo to your liking and then tap the three-dot icon in the top right of Lightroom Mobile and select Create Preset. Give the preset a distinct name and make sure the boxes are checked for the attributes that you altered, then tap the checkmark icon.

9. Organize your presets into folders based on the type of image they work well with.

Streamline your workflow by using a designated preset for a specific type of image. For example, if you want to brighten your photo, use a preset from the Brighten folder. If one preset bundle looks great for your food close-ups, label that folder Food Close-ups, and always use those presets for that type of image. Make categories and subcategories like Holiday Campaign, Basic Corrections, or Portraits.