How to Install Lightroom presets.

Here's to Install Develop Presets for Lightroom CC and Classic. Start with this main video if you use Lightroom Classic or CC on Desktop. If you only use Mobile or use LR6 still, scroll down. NOTE: Make sure you UNZIP your main downloaded folder before trying to install the folders, or zipped up presets packs contained inside. Don't try and import the entire downloads ZIP.

Lightroom Running Slow? Watch  this guide to make it faster.

Using Mods and Mod-Kit in LR and C1

I made this video to show the power of the mods that I include in all my packs and the dedicated Mod-Kit pack.

Installing Lightroom Mobile presets!

Yes, directly downloading and installing presets for Lightroom mobile with no silly workarounds at least on Android. iPhone is still behind in this so on IOS you will still need to install via LRCC desktop app as shown in the main video above and they will sync to mobile.

Index.dat file --- If after these videos your presets still won't delete are are doing crazy things, you can also delete the index.dat files that you find inside the /CameraRaw/Settings folder. These files can sometimes be damaged and cause odd lightroom problems. Deleting them will not cause you to lose any image files.

Camera RAW presets --- If you’ve installed the presets in Lightroom CC 7.3 or later using the method above for LR, they “should” show up in Camera Raw automatically. In Photoshop presets are used from the Camera Raw folder, not the action panel. If you have never used presets in Camera Raw see the "Photoshop help panel" for a video on using presets in Photoshop.

Develop Presets are stored here after LR 7.3

• Mac: User / Library / Application Support / Adobe / Camera Raw / Settings
• Win:  Users \ UserName \ App Data \ Roaming \ Adobe \ CameraRaw \ Settings

Note: There can also be presets in the /ImportedSettings directory in the same /CameraRaw folder.

Installing and organizing  actions is Photoshop is easy.

The video below will tell you everything you need to know. -- If you need Help using presets in Photoshop, scroll down.

Presets in Photoshop are not actions, but still work great from the Camera Raw filter built into Photoshop. If you're using CS6 see the notes below the videos.

How to master the actions panel to create combos and other advanced action tools.

A few notes for Photoshop users.

If you do not have Lightroom and only use Camera RAW/Photoshop or if they are not showing up, its’ easy to install them manually as I show in the video. Either import the entire ZIP file with the presets via the options in Camera Raw or copy the folder of XMP presets LR/Camera Raw into the Camera Raw settings folder to the path below. (For CS6 and older, copy individual XMP files directly and into the “Settings” folder as older versions of Camera raw does support separate folders inside.

Presets for camera raw are stored here...

• Mac: User / Library / Application Support / Adobe / Camera Raw / Settings
• Win:  Users \ UserName \ App Data \ Roaming \ Adobe \ CameraRaw \ Settings

Greyed out presets or missing presets in-camera RAW:

VIDEO on this here. Some users have reported that some presets are being hidden. This should not be on my default but could be. Sometimes presets that have options that don’t match the image type you’re using will show as incompatible even though it has no effects on whether they are functional. To fix this you need to right-click in the presets window and make sure Show Partially Compatible Presets is active. See this screenshot.

Presets in Pre-CC Photoshop.

The presets will work in older versions of Photoshop like CS6 and can be installed at the same path. It is possible to open RAW files in Camera Raw from Photoshop using the Open menu command (Camera RAW is not part of the filter menu on old versions). If you want a good RAW workflow on these older versions of PS or have non-RAW files, use Adobe Bridge. In bridge you can browse files and open single or groups of images in camera RAW and apply the presets. When done you can open them in Photoshop from within the Camera Raw window.

Updating your actions!

If you are updating to a newer version there is no need to keep the existing version. New versions, including minor updates, include the current complete collection of effects. The easiest way is to simply trash the old set from the actions panel (exit button mode first). Select the entire action group (Lumist for example) then delete it with the trash icon at the bottom of the actions panel and  and load the new version.

Some Photoshop Actions Give Errors or don't run:

Support Action not run: A common problem in powerful actions like Lumist or Blackroom is people don't watch the training video and fail to run the first START action for these that builds the base layers and make the magic possible. Check each product page for training videos.

16 Bit Support: This can happen because you’re working with a 16 bit file instead of an 8bit. Some PS tools (Diffuse Glow for example) will not work on 16bit files and you’ll receive action errors. To correct this you can go to the menu under Image/Mode and convert to 8 bits before running the desired action. Also if editing from Lightroom you can set preferences to open files in 8bit instead of 16. I’ll often use 16bit to bring out dynamic range, but then go to 8bit for final edits because it’s much faster and avoids errors

How to install, manage and delete Capture One Styles.

There's written instructions below also, but I think this video I made will tell you everything you need to know.

Capture One Notes and other help.

In most cases installing styles is as easy as double-clicking the styles pack that you unzip in your download or importing the pack directly from the presets panel in C1, which is also where you’ll apply presets to your images. 

If you need to rearrange or delete compete for sets of style (for example you installed duplicates) C1 has not yet included that feature (I did ask them to( so you need to go directly to the folder where C1 stores the styles.

• On Mac: User: Library > Application Support > Capture One > Styles
• On Windows: X:\Users\username\AppData\Local\CaptureOne\Styles50

Using Filmist and other LUT’s in Resolve, Affinity Photo etc

LUTS are like a universal presets that can be used in many apps.
LUTS are included in some of my presets packs like Filmist and Powerflow

LUTS can usually be loaded via the LUT panel in whatever app you use but I'm adding some notes and videos for various apps. Many apps with have a LUT folder location where you can simply copy the entire pack of LUTS and they will show up in your app.

See this video for OneOne RAW LUT usage.
See this video for using LUTS in Luminar Neo.

Affinity uses this LUT’s path to contain your LUT presets folder.

• WINDOWS: Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Affinity\Photo\1.0\user\adjustments.propcol
• Mac: Users\USERNAME\Application Support\Affinity Photo\user\adjustments.propcol

Heres a video about using the LUTS in affinity.

Using LUT’s in DaVinci resolve for Video

Once unzipped can copy the entire Lut pack folder into the LUTS location in Resolve.

The easiest way to find this is to to to the Color module, click the gear icon at the bottom and go to Color management. Then click open LUTS folder to get quick access to the LUT location. Copy the folder and restart Resolve. Your LUT pack should appear in the LUTS tab of the Color module.

Here's a screenshot to show you where to go in Resolve...

File Troubleshooting…

The file won’t Unzip Or Gives An Error:

A small percentage of users experience a problem unzipping the downloaded file. This appears to be due to an issue with their unzip utility and generally occurs only on Windows Vista or XP. Following the instructions below should resolve the issue.

• 1: Delete all partially unzipped or error files and re-download the package.
• 2: Download Zipeg Unzip Utility. It’s totally free for Mac or WIN:
• 3. Unzip the downloaded file using Zipeg rather than your built-in zip utility.

This usually resolves any issues and your effects will unzip correctly..

Windows is blocking the download:

This can occur on older machines when Windows detects a file type that raises a flag. The fix can be found on this Microsoft Help page. I’ve noted the primary resolve below.

“You can open a blocked file from a known source if you want to. To open a blocked file, follow these steps”

• 1.    Right-click the blocked file, and then click Properties.
• 2.    In the General tab, click Unblock.