Mobile photography has long ceased to be just a way to capture a moment for a family album, turning into a full-fledged creative tool that requires a serious approach to post-processing. Owners of devices based Android often face the need to speed up the editing process, especially when you need to process a series of photographs taken under the same lighting conditions. This is where the function of creating and saving your own settings comes to the rescue, allowing you to apply complex color correction algorithms with one touch.
The question of how to save a preset in Lightroom on Android becomes especially relevant for those who want to systematize their workflow and ensure uniform style on social networks. The mobile version of the application Adobe Lightroom has almost the same functionality as the desktop version, however, the touch screen interface makes its own adjustments to the navigation. Understanding the logic of working with profiles and export settings will allow you to significantly increase productivity.
In this article we will analyze the entire process in detail: from the initial adjustment of image parameters to the final export of the finished settings file. You will learn about the technical nuances of working with DNG files, understand the difference between local and global adjustments, and also learn to avoid common mistakes that can ruin the final result. Get ready to dive into the world of professional mobile retouching.
Preparation of the original image and basic settings
Before you think about saving the settings, you need to create a high-quality base on which your future preset will be built. Beginner users often make the mistake of trying to save an effect applied to an already heavily overexposed or noisy photo, which leads to the algorithms not working correctly when applied to other photos. The ideal source is a RAW or DNG file shot in manual camera mode, as it contains the maximum amount of color and dynamic range data.
Open the application and select a photo that has an average level of contrast and light, without extreme highlights or blackouts. This is important because many of the sliders in the Light section work relative to the original pixel values. If you adjust the white balance on a cool photo and then apply that preset to a warm photo, the results may be unpredictable due to differences in color temperature.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use photos with filters applied from other cameras or third-party applications to create a reference preset. Lightroom may not read the source data correctly, and the saved settings will not produce the expected effect on a clean RAW file.
Begin editing with cropping and straightening the horizon, as geometric distortion can also be part of your author's style. After that, go to the basic panel Light, where the main work with exposure, contrast, light and dark areas is done. It is these parameters that form tonal pattern images, which is often the photographer's calling card.
Detailed adjustment of color and tonal curve
The most important part of creating a unique style lies in working with color and curves. Section Color (or Color) allows you to control the saturation of individual channels, which is especially useful for creating popular cinematic effects such as Teal & Orange. It's important not to overdo it here: excessively shifting skin tones can make portraits unnatural, so always control the impact of settings on the human face.
Particular attention should be paid to the tool Color Grading (formerly known as Split Toning), which allows you to independently tone shadows, midtones and highlights. This is a powerful tool for creating atmosphere: for example, adding a cool tone in the shadows and a warm tone in the highlights gives the image volume and depth. On mobile devices, this tool is controlled through color wheels, which is intuitive, but requires precision.
Tone Curve (Tone Curve) is the next step where you can achieve unique contrast. On Android, curve control is implemented through points on the graph: by raising or lowering the line, you change the brightness of the corresponding tones. Often, photographers will create a slight S-curve to enhance contrast, or raise the lower left corner ("clogged blacks") to create the matte effect typical of film photography.
When working with the curve on a small smartphone screen, use two-finger zoom to fine-tune control points. This will help avoid sudden changes in tonality.
The use of calibration and effects for uniqueness
Section Effects and Calibration (Calibration) are often underestimated, although they are the ones that can turn an ordinary digital picture into a work of art. Calibration works with primary colors (Red Primary, Green Primary, Blue Primary) at the deepest level of the camera profile. By moving the sliders in this section, you change the very basis of color rendering, which is especially effective for simulating film emulations.
In the effects panel, the main tools are texture, clarity and haze removal. Be careful with the Clarity (Clarity) slider, as in portraits it can highlight all skin imperfections, and in landscapes it can create unpleasant halos around contrasting edges. Grain (Grain) is also added here, helping to hide digital noise and unify the colors into a single harmonious structure.
Don't forget about vignetting, which helps direct the viewer's eye to the center of the frame. In Lightroom mobile, you can choose the type of vignette (color priority or color selection) and the degree of its feathering. A correctly chosen vignette can save the composition by making the edges of the frame less noticeable and focusing attention on the main subject.
The secret of calibration
Try moving the Blue Primary Hue slider to the yellow side and decreasing the Blue Primary Saturation. This is a classic technique for achieving soft, pastel colors, popular in modern Instagram style.
Saving settings as a custom preset
Once you have achieved the desired result, the most important moment comes - saving the created configuration. Unlike the desktop version, where the menu may differ, on Android the interface is adapted to the vertical arrangement of elements. To record your work, you need to find an icon with three dots in the upper right corner of the editing screen or in the lower toolbar, depending on the version of the interface.
In the menu that opens, select the item Create a style (Create Preset). The system will prompt you to name the new preset and select a group to place it in. Grouping is a great way to keep your library organized, especially if you create presets for different genres: portraits, landscapes, street photography or night photography.
The most important step is choosing the parameters that will be included in the preset. Lightroom offers you to select all changes by default, but it often makes sense to exclude some of them. For example, if you create a color profile, but do not want it to change the cropping or degree of grain in other photos, you need to uncheck the corresponding checkboxes in the list of parameters. This makes the preset more versatile.
☑️ Checklist before saving the preset
Export settings in DNG format for transfer
If your goal is not just to save the preset for yourself, but also to transfer it to another user or sell it, standard saving within the application will not be enough. In this case, the method used is to create a DNG file that contains all the embedded settings. This file can be sent via instant messengers, email, or uploaded to cloud storage.
To do this, open the processed photo, click on the export menu (usually the or icon Export) and select format DNG. Make sure that the "Include Edit Settings" checkbox is checked in the export settings. The recipient of the file, opening it in his Lightroom on Android, will see the photo with the effects you have applied, and he will only have to copy these settings.
| Option | JPG export | DNG export | DXP preset format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintains quality | No (compression) | Yes (RAW data) | Yes (settings only) |
| Ability to edit | Limited | Full | Use as preset |
| File size | Small | Large | Minimal |
| Transfer of settings | Impossible | Through copying | Direct application |
It is worth noting that the DNG file weighs significantly more than a regular JPG, since it contains a raw_data matrix. When sending via messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, it is important to select the “Send as file” option, otherwise the application will compress the image and the ability to transfer settings will disappear. For professional transfer, it is better to use cloud services or email.
Library management and import of presets
Management of the created library is carried out through the panel Presets at the bottom of the editing screen. Here you can see all available groups and individual settings. If you want to delete a failed experiment or rename a group, you can usually just tap and hold on the preset name to bring up the context menu.
To import presets received from other authors (in .DNG or .DXP format), the process is also simple. If it's a DNG file, open it in the app, then select Copy settingsin the photo settings menu. After that, go to your photo and select Paste settings. If you have a .DXP file (Adobe native preset format), you need to place it in a folder Adobe/Lightroom/Presets in the internal memory of the device, and then restart the application.
⚠️ Attention: The Lightroom Mobile application interface is regularly updated by the developers. The location of the "Create style" or "Export" buttons may vary depending on the software version and the type of subscription (Free or Premium).
Systematization is the key to successful work. Create a logical folder structure: for example, “Portraits”, “Landscapes”, “B&W”, “Film”. This will save you a lot of time in the future when you need to quickly process dozens of images from one photo shoot. Do not store all the presets in a common heap, otherwise the search for the desired effect will turn into chaos.
Using DNG files is a universal way to exchange styles between different devices and even between mobile and desktop versions of Lightroom, providing identical processing results.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I save a preset in the free version of Lightroom on Android?
Yes, the basic functionality of creating and saving presets is available in the free version of the application. However, some advanced tools, such as masking, geometry, and working with RAW files from certain cameras, may be covered by a paid Premium subscription.
Does my saved preset produce different results in different photos?
The preset applies absolute or relative values to the parameters. If the original photos have very different exposure, white balance, or camera color profile, the final result will be different. Presets work best on a series of pictures taken under the same conditions.
Where are the preset files stored on the phone?
Internal presets are stored in the application database and do not have direct access through the file manager without root access. Exported DNG or DXP files are located in the folder where you saved them when exporting, usually this Internal Storage/DCIM/Lightroom or Downloads.
How to transfer a preset to iPhone?
The most reliable way is to export the photo with the applied effect in DNG format and send it via the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) or messenger with file transfer no compression. The recipient on the iPhone will open the file in Lightroom and copy the settings.