)
Using Lightrooms Presets is a useful tool when it comes to batch editing photos and creating a consistent editing style. If you’re on the fence about switching to Affinity Photo, you might be wondering if Lightroom Presets can be used in the new software.
As a general rule, Lightroom presets cannot be used in Affinity Photo. Affinity Photo is not an image catalogue software and lacks any feature similar to Lightroom Presets, so there is nothing for the presets to be converted to.
While Lightroom Presets are helpful, they aren’t the only way to save and use your editing preferences across multiple photos. Keep reading for more information on using presets in Affinity Photo.
Can Lightroom Presets Be Used in Affinity Photo?
Any photographer who has worked with Lightroom has probably accumulated a collection of presets that they use when batch editing photos. These presets can help to:
- Increase productivity
- Create a cohesive look for your brand and style
- Speed up editing
- Increase understanding of the program
But what if you what to switch editing software, can you take the presets with you?
Unfortunately, Lightroom presets cannot be converted for use in Affinity Photo. However, that doesn’t mean preset use isn’t possible.
When working with Affinity Photo, you have the option of using Look-Up Tables (LUT) or Affinity’s own preloaded presets. While these are not exactly the same as Lightroom presents, they follow the same concept of creating a unique and consistent editing style for your photos.
What is a LUT?
A LUT (look-up table) is a tool that allows you to save specific color grades as a template. In a sense, it is a preset with mathematical instructions that replace one set of colors with another in a photo.
LUTs are adjustments that a photographer, filmmaker, or graphic designer can readily use when working on a project. This can save time and ensure consistency by applying LUT to photos instead of starting from scratch every time.
The downside to LUTs, however, is that they only affect color, contrast, and brightness. If you want effects such as sharpness or grain saved, this won’t work.
Turn a Lightroom Preset into a LUT
Though Lightroom presets can’t be used in Affinity Photo, there is a way to save the adjustments so that they can be applied in other programs. This is done by converting the preset into an LUT profile using a HALD and a CUBE.
A HALD is a pattern that contains all color values. Since LUTs are created pixel by pixel, applying a Lightroom preset to a HALD will save the adjustments for all color values.
A CUBE is another file type that can describe LUTs in a three-dimensional space. Once the HALD with the preset applied is converted to a CUBE, this new file type will act as your preset.
What is the Difference Between Lightroom and Affinity Photo?
One of the main reasons Lightroom presets won’t work in Affinity Photo is because the programs function in completely different ways.
Lightroom is a RAW photo editor and image cataloging software. The program allows you to upload thousands of images at a time and easily edit them in a batch. Lightroom presents are essentially saved adjustments and settings within the program that can be applied to RAW or JPG files.
Affinity Photo, on the other hand, functions more like Adobe Photoshop. It is a raster graphics editor designed for making advanced edits to images and designs. While Photoshop and Affinity have their own forms of presets, these function much differently from those in Lightroom.
How to Find and Use Affinity Presets?
If you’re new to working with Affinity Photo, you may want to play around with the preloaded presets to get started. These presets work by creating a set of adjustment layers that can then be applied to an image. These can be found in the Adjustment Panel of the program.
You can also make your own presets by making changes in the adjustment layer of an image. Once the settings are where you like them, click the button that says ‘Add Present’ to save them. To use your saved present on another image simply look for it in the Adjustment Panel.
Final Thoughts
Lightroom presets are simple to use and make editing photos a breeze. Unfortunately, they can’t be used in other editing programs like Affinity Photo.
Luckily, there are other editing solutions. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with various tools and files such as LUTs, so that you don’t feel lost when moving to another program.
