P: Relative Develop Presets

A possible problem I see with applying a preset on top of (in addition to) already set Basic Panel settings is that it could easily max out some settings, which could look horrible.  Maybe a way to implement it would be to have a "stack preset" option (stack is probably a bad term to use since it has another meaning in Lr) that, if it's checked, would apply it over existing settings, then have a slider that would allow you to back off on the intensity of the preset as a whole.

I've seen similar ideas pop up every now and then... However, Adobe haven't implemented anything like that yet. My workflow - and that of other photographers I know - starts off with correcting images. For instance, add some exposure to underexposed images, set the white balance for those where it is not accurate, maybe add local adjustments or vignetting effects to those images where I believe it is necessary, reduce noise or sharpen images etc. Now, depending on the presets, (some of) these settings may be gone when applying a preset.

As a workaround, I export the corrected images as 16bit TIFF and reimport them into Lightroom and then apply the appropriate filters. However, this steps requires huge amounts of disk space, time and CPU load.

Thus, I suggest to implement some kind of image "lock" so that presets applied to locked images will be applied on top of existing adjustments. Any other way to add presets relatively instead of absolutely is welcome too.

Relative presets and relative sync is something I have been asking for since LR2.  Would be a game changer.  People have been wishing for this for many many many many years.  I add my strong vote!

I would think, Adobe could add a vissual icon on any relative preset and when you add a preset, you simply toggle a checkbox that says "relative" and then you make your preset, but instead of recording the absolute values of the sliders, it looks at the relative change and records that (example: +5 on black) so then when you apply it to an image that has 10 on black slider, it just increases the Black +5 from there.

 "Tweak-Sync", additional option request : 
Allow to  sync  "relative tweak-amount" also, not only sync and auto-sync "absolute values".

(John Spacey's post had the same wish :  "Lightroom: Auto Sync: Relative value adjustments"
but I go ahead with my own heading of the post even if the wish is redundant.)

I think such a function would be useful, specifically justifiable to create versions of series (of already seriously, individually edited photos) for say the web, projector, another differently rendering monitor -  sync something that indeed is more something of a final added adaptation, tweaking intervention to a series of copies,  rather than part of serious editing.
(For instance : Add some warmth or contrast or highlights or less red, etc..)

I understand that this could be a voluntarily omitted function because it can (should) admittedly  be qualified as defeating the seriousness LR tools allow.. As a "not a very "serious" approach - and not even possible in many circumstances !
(Then, shall an image -that for instance is already at a maximum setting- be highlighted or ignored ?)

Another problem could be that interventions by 'x' digits might perhaps not translate into linearly perceived repercussion, depending on where on scales they kick-in (and if so, added auto-compensation would definitely conflict Lightroom's integrity).

Still, I think something could be offered along this line, for "conscious" users, it could often be a plus and a time-saver, for when highest quality and puritanism is counterproductive.. 😉  ).

(btw; auto-sync could also be considered kind of "dangerous)

I'd love to be able to do my adjustments, then mark that as a base so any presets applied to a number of photos will all end the same.

An example, I want to use a preset that includes black level adjustment of -10.
I have two photos from different places (ie not bracketed etc).
One of those is under, one is over but I know I want the same look for both.
I adjust blacks, whites, shadows, highlights so the exposures are correct.
I set this as the new "base", as though they were both the perfect exposure
I apply the preset, knowing that the black levels will be adjusted -10 relative to the base, not to the original exposure value, so they'll look the same.

I know there's other ways around this, but one click to set as base would be so easy.

Marcus your use of the term Normalize was easy to understand, and I doubt it was taken to represent the idea of baking anything into a RAW file. Another respondent did feel a Relative Preset would negate the advantages of RAW file use, and appeared to take a Relative Adjustment as making a pixel edit of a file and saving the edited file.

My language was imprecise.

I don't mean baking the image settings into the image itself, I mean baking them into the data LR stores about the image and uses to render the current view of it, so that the sliders can be reset to zero but the previous settings still applied. This would address the fundamental problem that if a slider is already at 100% there's no way for a "relative" develop preset to increase it, even if it's theoretically possible to go beyond 100% - e.g. with the colour temperature sliders.

Alternatively, maybe those sliders that can go beyond +/- 100% should simply have their range increased to their logical maximum, whatever that may be.

Yes please. Still waiting!

Right, RAW files are not changed and nothing is baked in outside of Save Metadata for a given RAW file, which you understand "bakes in" nothing.

Relative Presets remain of great interest to me, and have been so since LR2. Please to see the Under Consideration tag.

John Caldwell
Pittsburgh, PA