Quest Presets for Dreamy Edits
Image by Jovel Fernandes
Edited with Quest 47 Frontier and Quest Tools 11 Diffusion Filters
There’s something undeniably magical about dreamy photo edits—the kind that feel soft, romantic, and almost otherworldly.
Whether you’re capturing golden-hour portraits, whimsical elopements, or ethereal landscapes, dreamy editing helps infuse your images with emotion and atmosphere. But achieving that look consistently takes more than just a light touch—it requires the right tools.
In this article, we’re sharing our favorite Quest Lightroom presets for dreamy edits that glow with soft highlight blooms and atmospheric, muted tones. From subtle haze to creamy warmth, these presets are perfect for photographers who want to create images that feel like a beautiful daydream.
Soften the Scene. Elevate the Story. Introducing Quest Tools 11 – Diffusion Filters, a powerful Lightroom toolset designed to authentically replicate the signature look of the industry's most beloved physical diffusion filters.
Built for photographers and visual storytellers who crave the dreamy glow, subtle halation, and cinematic softness of pro-grade optics, this toolset features 16 individually crafted presets, each utilizing advanced Lightroom masking layers for precision control and creative flexibility.
Carefully tuned to emulate the characteristics of real-world filters, Quest Tools 11 includes faithful recreations of:
Black Pro Mist – Adds a soft, glowing effect to highlights while preserving detail in shadows.
CineBloom – Reduces contrast and adds an even softness across the frame.
Gold Diffusion – Softens detail and contrast while introducing a warm, atmospheric tone.
Low Contrast – Flattens tonal range and subtly reduces clarity for a muted look.
Digital Diffusion – Introduces gentle softness and smooth texture with a clean, modern feel.
Whether you're chasing the cinematic glow of golden hour, softening digital sharpness, or enhancing the mood of a scene, Diffusion Filters delivers tactile, lens-grade effects—right inside Lightroom.
Image by Corissa Fir Photography
Edited with Quest 45 Atelier and Quest Tools 11 Diffusion Filters
Forge new paths with Frontier—where deep, grounding shadows anchor your imagery and gently muted highlights soften the light with a nostalgic feel. A delicate haze throughout the frame brings cinematic softness and a quiet sense of atmosphere. Subtle, intentional grain adds texture and soul—inviting viewers deeper into the story.
Designed for the explorers at heart, Frontier evokes the untamed spirit of open landscapes, rugged beauty, and stories waiting just beyond the horizon. Whether capturing windswept portraits, golden-hour wilderness, or moody still lifes, this collection delivers bold, emotive tones with depth.
Includes two color presets, one black and white preset, two custom creative profiles, and tools such as Background Crush—designed to deepen background tones and enhance the overall moody feel.
Image by Michaela Sonntágová
Edited with Quest 47 Frontier
BeQuest Presets transport you to a warm, romantic dreamworld where glimpses of lovers dance by candlelight and live happily ever after in the space between sunset and dusk. Your images take on the baroque look of legacies past, with an amorous glow, mood, and remarkable Aurae effect reminiscent of the incandescent light of eclipse totality.
Image by Foggy Stories
Edited with Quest 38 BeQuest
Trouvaille delivers a hauntingly romantic set of presets designed for the emotive aesthetic. Featuring 2 creative profiles, 1 B&W preset, and 2 color graded presets; this set covers a minimalistic range of tonality built around dark cinematic storytelling. Also included, an essential set of tools to help you shape all the quiet moments your lens encounters.
Image by Nina Goks
Edited with Quest 33 Trouvaille
Add creative flare with the Prism Effects light-bending preset collection.
This set replicates the optical effect created when shooting with a glass prism held in front of your lens, reflecting and dispersing the light to creatively transform your image. Each individual prism effect can be manipulated within the Masking Panel to alter placement and intensity, and multiple prism effects can be layered to create truly unique edits. Both horizontal and vertical versions are provided.
Image by Juan Luis Rojano
Edited with Quest Tools 04 Prism Effects
Some of our favorite dreamy presets are included in our Quest anthologies, which include multiple Quest preset collections!
Quest 01 - Diffusion (Included in Quest Volume 01)
The first of our Quest signature series features a clean & modern preset with true skin tones that will be sure to delight portrait photographers who want something fresh & refined. With three very distinct variations, offering a range of tones from warm & creamy, to soft & romantic, to punchy & clean.
The adjustable Diffusion profile included emulates the hazy glow found in diffusion filters while retaining center detail.
This set will become an essential tool for portrait photographers looking for a refined, modern, & clean edit, with true tones & an irresistible aesthetic.
Image by Nina Goks
Edited with Quest 02 Incandesce
Quest 02 - Incandesce (Included in Quest Volume 01)
This set explores a more muted tonal range with subtle hues of bronze, copper, and teal. Included are 3 variations, each with a distinctive aesthetic. The Incandesce Profile adds both contrast and luminosity while creating an ethereal feel.
Quest 07 - Obscura (Included in Quest Volume 01)
The seventh installment of Quest blends moody, romantic tones with cinematic color grading, creating a soft yet striking aesthetic, perfect for telling powerful stories through imagery. Each of the 3 variations explores distinctly unique color grades to suit any subject/scene while maintaining overall consistency.
The included Obscura profile emulates the characteristic refraction of light achieved when placing a plastic film over the lens of your camera. BONUS: An additional Obscura Filter preset allows the same effect to be achieved with a radial filter that can then be placed anywhere in the frame.
Image by Sherri Poirier Photography
Edited with Quest 15 Opalescent
Quest 15 - Opalescent (Included in Quest Volume 02)
A fun & playful preset collection that is all about bright pastels and faded tones.
Inspired by the iconic color palette of fashion and pop culture of the 1960s, this set bridges that nostalgic vibe with a modern reimagining.
Quest Volume One - Q 01-12Introducing Quest Volume One, the first year of Archipelago Quest presets conveniently anthologized so you won't miss out on anything Quest has to offer. These 12 Quest preset collections give you a versatile variety of cutting edge color grading presets, tools, and creative profiles to take your editing to the next level. SAVE $66 on this 12 preset collection compendium! Includes 43 presets, 16 creative profiles, and tools.
Introducing the next anthology of Quest preset collections-- Quest Volume Two - Q13-16. Quest Volume Two includes four preset collections packaged together giving you a variety of sets to edit with-- from the true-to-color Quest 13 Intrepid to the vintage filmic style of Quest 16 Riven.
Save 20% with this 4 preset collection compendium! Includes 15 presets, 6 creative profiles, and 12 tools!
What’s your favorite preset for dreamy edits? Tell us in the comments!