Where can I download Lightroom filters for free?
Saw some nice presets on TikTok, but they're all paid. Maybe there's somewhere with decent free filters for Lightroom?
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the guys above correctly pointed out the built-in presets - they're actually a pretty solid starting point. i'd also add that it's worth checking out Adobe Stock, they periodically put up free stuff there, including presets. you do need an Adobe account though, but you'll already have one if you're using Lightroom.
another useful tip - look through the community folders on Reddit (r/Lightroom, r/photography) and on specialized sites like FilterGrade or Preset.pro. you can sometimes find decent free options there, though obviously they're often stripped-down versions of paid ones. the main thing is to check compatibility with your Lightroom version - different formats for Classic and the cloud version.
honestly, i spent a lot of time hunting for free quality presets and realized it's exhausting. in the end it's easier to just learn how to tweak the basic settings yourself - contrast, white balance, saturation. takes a couple hours of practice, and then you're doing exactly what you need instead of imitating someone else. i mean for TikTok sure you can just copy-paste presets, but if you're shooting for yourself - get to know the tool better.
The most reliable source is Adobe's official resources. Lightroom itself has around 50 built-in basic presets that cover most typical scenarios (portraits, landscapes, black and white photos). Plus, the Adobe Creative Cloud website regularly releases free preset packs from well-known photographers - over the last three years I've downloaded about 200+ quality filters from there completely for free.
Besides the official source, there are verified communities and forums. On Reddit in the r/Lightroom community people constantly share free presets, and there are also specialized sites like Filtergrade (they often do giveaways), DeviantArt and DPReview. Keep in mind that quality can vary widely - from really great to completely useless. I usually download like 10-20, and then I actually use maybe 3-4 of them in my work.
Honestly, paid presets are often overhyped - for $20-40 you get basically the same processing algorithms as in the free ones, just with prettier packaging and hyped up on TikTok. In my 13 years working with graphics I've convinced myself that it's better to spend time learning Lightroom's own settings (contrast, white balance, curves) than to hunt for the perfect preset. Foundation is more important than decoration.
I've been through this with my grandson too, way back when I started shooting on my phone. Honestly, the built-in presets in Lightroom itself are already pretty decent - there's like fifty of them there, and they really do cover the main cases: portraits, landscapes, black and white photos. Someone already said it right about Adobe's official resources, I completely agree with that.
But if you want something fresher, there are a few other places. GitHub has a bunch of free presets from amateurs - quality varies, of course, but it's worth looking. There are sites like FilterGrade and DNG presets, where some of the content is free. Also check out Reddit in photography communities - people are constantly sharing presets there. Though you gotta be careful with unfamiliar sources, viruses are still a thing.
My advice: start with what's already in the program, experiment, figure out how it works. And then later, if you really want to, add something else. Often it turns out that your own custom settings look way better than other people's filters. It's like at the bathhouse - you start with the standard birch branches, and then you pick your own bouquet.
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