The preset performance in Lightroom is essentially the most basic characteristic of this system round which photographers design their digital workflows. In complete, Lightroom makes use of 9 various kinds of presets that handle completely different areas of digital asset administration (DAM). The presets can be utilized in numerous modules of this system such because the
In one in all my earlier tutorials, I dug deep and specified how every of the 9 sorts of Lightroom presets matches into the massive image of digital asset administration and picture modifying.
In at present’s tutorial, I’ll handle the right way to create and use the Import Presets to simplify and pace up the method of importing new photographs into Lightroom.
Import Module
My private opinion is that the Import Module is essentially the most complicated and maybe even essentially the most pointless a part of Lightroom.
Let me clarify.
Whenever you open Lightroom, you can’t merely navigate to a folder in your pc, choose a picture, and begin modifying it as you’d in just about each different RAW editor. Earlier than you can begin modifying photographs, you could first import them into the Lightroom Catalog. When you choose the Import Pictures choice, you’re offered with a complicated interface that contains a gazillion completely different choices (or so it appears).
This at all times causes confusion for photographers who’re simply beginning to be taught this system. It is usually the fundamental stumbling block for Lightroom adoption.
That is the place the Import Presets can play an necessary function in overcoming the confusion of the Import Module. You make investments the time to grasp what import choices are important to your specific workflow after which save them as preset(s). From that second, you should utilize the import course of on autopilot.
Let me present you what import settings I exploit in my images, why I exploit them, and the right way to save them as an Import Preset.
Creating Lightroom Import Presets
First, activate the Lightroom Import Module by going to the highest fundamental menu and choosing
File > Import Pictures and Video…
Optionally, you should utilize the keyboard shortcut Ctrl (Choice on Mac) + Shift + I.
As soon as the Import Module is energetic, you will see the Supply Panel on the left facet. That is the place you choose the situation of the photographs that you simply intend to import into Lightroom. You can not save the supply location as a preset as a result of the situation can range from import to import relying on whether or not you import photographs from a reminiscence card, an exterior onerous drive, or an area folder.
File Format and Import Choices
The primary choice it’s a must to specify is the way you need Lightroom to deal with photographs through the import course of.
Do you wish to deliver the pictures within the authentic proprietary RAW format, or do you wish to convert them to an open supply digital damaging format (DNG)?
In my case, I don’t hassle with the conversion and preserve all my RAW photos within the authentic format. I don’t see too many benefits for the additional step.
See additionally: The right way to Arrange Lightroom Presets
Subsequent, you could specify if you wish to Copy, Transfer, or Add the pictures to Lightroom.
The Copy choice implies that all the chosen photographs can be copied to the specified vacation spot in your pc with the originals intact on a reminiscence card.
The Transfer choice implies that the unique photographs can be deleted from the reminiscence card throughout import.
I by no means use the Transfer choice to make sure that I’ve a backup of the unique information within the occasion of file corruption through the switch.
The Add choice is used when you have already got photos in your pc in the appropriate location and also you merely wish to add them to the catalog.
For instance, when you manually copied information from a reminiscence card to a pc, you’d merely use the Add choice.
Subsequent, we transfer to the appropriate panel the place a lot of the import choices are situated.
File Dealing with
These are the choices I exploit within the File Dealing with panel in 99% of instances.
For sooner efficiency, I wish to guarantee that full dimension (1:1) previews are generated. I additionally choose the “Construct Good Previews” choice. In case you are undecided what Good Previews are, check out my in-depth article right here: Lightroom Good Previews – When, Why and The right way to Use Them
I choose the “Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates” choice to make sure that I don’t import the identical picture a number of instances.
You’ve got the choice of Making a Second Copy of the imported photographs on one other location like an exterior backup onerous drive. I don’t use this feature as a result of I’ve an automatic backup system that backs up my desktop pc each night time.
The “Add to Assortment” checkbox makes the imported photographs a part of the gathering of your alternative. I don’t use this perform.
To generate full-size previews and Good Previews for each imported picture takes loads of processing energy and is time-consuming. After I import 5,000 RAW photographs after one in all my journeys, this might take hours. I developed a routine to at all times begin the import course of earlier than I am going to mattress at night time. After I get up within the morning, the import course of is full, and I’m prepared to begin processing my new photographs.
If I’m on the highway with my laptop computer and can’t afford to empty the laptop computer battery to generate full-size previews, I exploit the minimalistic choice—Embedded & Sidecar. On this case, Lightroom makes use of smaller previews which can be generated by the digital camera and embedded into the RAW information. This enables me to begin analyzing and culling my photographs in seconds with out taxing my laptop computer battery.
File Renaming
Lightroom offers you the choice to rename all of the information that you simply import into the catalog. That is an non-obligatory characteristic. It’s completely regular to maintain the unique file names generated by the digital camera.
I desire to rename my photos by including the date the picture was taken and the situation to the unique file identify. To verify my naming conference is constant, I exploit the File Renaming Presets.
To learn to create and use File Renaming Presets, try my devoted article right here: The right way to Create and Use Lightroom File Renaming Presets
Apply Throughout Import
Right here you may apply the Develop Preset of your option to all of the imported photographs. For a very long time, I hardly used this performance. I solely not too long ago began to understand it because of the advances in machine studying.
Within the Primary Panel of the Develop Module, there’s an Auto Button that’s powered by AI and machine studying algorithms. When the Auto perform is activated, Lightroom analyzes the picture and tries to enhance it robotically by making use of numerous edits. This characteristic turns into simpler and helpful with each Lightroom replace. I created a Develop Preset (Auto Regulate AI) that solely does one factor—triggers the Auto perform. After I apply this preset to all my imported photographs, it offers me a extra practical model to begin organizing and culling my newly imported photographs within the Library Module.
Subsequent, there’s a very helpful choice to use a Copyright Preset to all of your photographs through the import course of. I exploit this feature with any picture I deliver into Lightroom.
You possibly can learn to create your personal Copyright Presets right here: The right way to Create and Use Lightroom Copyright Presets
You possibly can go away the Key phrases part empty. Key phrase choice varies for each import so you’ll enter these manually.
Vacation spot
You specify the place you need the brand new photographs to be saved within the Vacation spot Panel.
That is the setup I exploit for the Vacation spot Panel.
I specify the identify of the folder I wish to create and retailer all of the imported photographs there. Optionally, you may arrange the photographs By Date. For every date, Lightroom will create a devoted folder utilizing the date because the folder identify.
Saving the Import Setting as a Presets
If you end up proud of the Import settings, click on the black panel on the backside of the Import Module and the “Save the Present Settings as a New Preset…” choice can be obtainable.
Title the brand new preset and click on the Save button.
You might be executed.
Making use of the Import Presets
The following time you import new photographs into Lightroom you’ll not need to undergo all of the choices of the Import Module. You possibly can even reduce your entire Import interface by clicking the Decrease button on the underside left nook.
From the underside of the panel, choose the Import Preset you created within the earlier step. Subsequent, specify the key phrases you wish to add to your entire import. Then, you’re able to hit the Import button.
