Presets to Add Light
Image by Romulo Ozolio
Edited with Halite Presets + Limited Edition Lens FX
While it’s still gray and gloomy daily in the Northern Hemisphere as winter edges closer to spring, you can still inject a TON of light into your images!
We’ve rounded up all the presets that help you add LIGHT— from the absolute wizardry of the NEW Limited Edition Lens FX to the filmic goodness courtesy of Light Leaks, read on to discover all the sets that bring your images to LIGHT. ✨
LIMITED EDITION LENS FX
This new preset collection is downright magical— layer and customize over 70 presets to add sunspots, sunbursts, rays of light, light blooms, and more! This set is limited in number, so get your copy before it’s sold out of the Archipelago Presets shop!
Image by Rebekah Dunn
Edited with Halite Presets + Limited Edition Lens FX
QUEST TOOLS 08 - EXF LIGHT LEAKS
February’s Quest preset is all about reigniting the FUN of photography back into your editing workflow. Play with Vintage Tone and add a bunch of incredibly filmic light leaks using this set! You can use the light leaks to give your photos a retro/filmic vibe, or lower the opacity using the preset slider to give more subtle light effects.
In film photography, a light leak occurs when unintended light exposes the film, resulting in unpredictable streaks, spots, or fogging within the image. Rather than being considered flaws, these imperfections can inject a vibrant sense of energy into the frame, contributing to the overall narrative of your photograph.
Introducing Quest Tools 08 ExF Light Leaks — a powerful tool that allows you to precisely control the appearance of these nostalgic visual effects in your images using Lightroom’s masking capabilities. The collection comprises eighteen light leak presets, offering a diverse range of styles, colors, and placements of light leak effects designed for seamless layering and adjustment within the masking panel.
Additionally, the set includes a Vintage Tone tool that can be effortlessly layered over any other preset. This transformative feature turns your edit into an analog-inspired masterpiece characterized by desaturated colors, muted dynamics, a gentle haze, and filmic grain.
Please note: Due to current limitations within the Masking feature of Adobe Camera Raw, it’s not possible to move an entire masking group, as such, we recommend using Lightroom Classic for the best experience when using masking tools.
Sun + Burst from Quest 26 ZIA
Warm glowy presets AND Sun and Burst effects give ZIA a leg up in giving your images a hit of golden hour summer sunlight!
ZIA was developed with golden sun-kissed imagery as a top priority. Each color-graded preset variation lends itself to honey amber skintones with slight variations in tonality, giving you perfect grade for every scene under the sun you may encounter. Also included are 3 sun burst presets, both horizontal and vertical variations, designed to create or enhance an already existing light source for a one-of-a-kind dramatic effect. Lastly, be sure to use the Dorado preset for that extra dose of warmth your imagery has been missing!
Image by Azahar Acosta
Edited with Quest 26 ZIA
Anamorphic Flare from Quest 23 ODEON
Want something more cinematic and less warm and sunny? The Anamorphic Flare included in Odeon Presets imitates the horizontal flares that occur when a cinematic lens catches light sources, such as the sun or headlights. Add this flare to elements in your images such as reflections, sunlight, light sources, and more!
Image by Sharon Kastelijns Photography
Edited with Quest 23 Odeon
Quest 23 Odeon delivers a subtly cinematic aesthetic that allows the narrative of your photo to be told in a richly dynamic way. Each of the three base presets offers a uniquely beautiful starting point for your image, while the three Color Grade presets can be layered on top and used in conjunction with the ‘preset amount slider’ to further dial-in the look. The Odeon creative profile gives ultimate flexibility by adjusting the highlights and shadows across the image, giving total control over the dynamic range. In addition, tools such as Anamorphic Flare, Cinematic Haze, Background Texture and Black Bars use Adobe’s advanced mask features to bring a creative edge to your work.
Quest Tools 04 - Prism Effects
Prism Effects give you so many ways to add creative light effects to your images! These presets are inspired by different ways you can use prisms, crystals, and other pieces of glass to reflect light in your photo. Use the effects to add realistic prism effects to your image or play with them creatively to add light in new ways!
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.
What’s your favorite preset to add light to your images? Tell us in the comments!