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Monimon9
Participant
February 24, 2025
Answered

Lightroom preset changing drastically on photoshop file

  • February 24, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 434 views

Hey everyone,

 

I am encountering issues when applying a preset to a raw image from lightroom. If someone can help me with this it would be greatly appreciated. I've resetted both programs and set the colour profiles to match one another.

 

My workflow is as follows :

I import all my images to lightroom > choose the raw image I want to edit > open the image from lightroom, and click "edit in photoshop" > retouch image > go back to lightroom to apply the preset = preset changes colour drastically.

For reference, the image on the left is what the preset should look like, image on the right is what the preset looks like when applied to a PSD file.

    Correct answer D Fosse

    A preset will not work the same way on an RGB file and a raw file.

     

    That has nothing to do with the applications, but is a result of how the data are encoded in the file. Any numerical adjustment is relative to the color space - the three primaries and the tone response curve.

     

    A raw file is linear (gamma 1.0) with ProPhoto primaries - at least it is by the time the presets are applied (out of the camera it's grayscale). 

     

    Once opened into Photoshop, the tone curve is not linear, but can be gamma 2.2, 1.8, or the rather idiosyncratic sRGB curve. The primaries are not necessarily the same either, they can be sRGB, Adobe RGB or DCI-P3. All of this affects what a certain adjustment will do.

     

    Just as a very simple illustration, setting the black point at 1 or 2 in a ProPhoto file will usually result in significant and noticeable black clipping. Doing the same in an Adobe RGB file will probably not be very visible at all.

     

    And, since this seems to be an extremely common misunderstanding: you do not need to match color settings or profiles between Lightroom and Photoshop. The whole point of color management is that color spaces do not need to match. Preserving color from one to the other is what color management does. Any profile you set in Lightroom will be correctly treated and correctly interpreted in Photoshop.

    3 replies

    Mindflow
    Mindflow
    Participating Frequently
    March 11, 2025

    The same preset is applied to the RAW file (right) and the TIF file (left), why does the contrast look so different? Is there a color profile setting I need to adjust?

    Per Berntsen
    Community Expert
    Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 11, 2025

    Please read the post by @D Fosse above.

    It explains why the preset doesn't produce the same result.

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      February 25, 2025

      A preset will not work the same way on an RGB file and a raw file.

       

      That has nothing to do with the applications, but is a result of how the data are encoded in the file. Any numerical adjustment is relative to the color space - the three primaries and the tone response curve.

       

      A raw file is linear (gamma 1.0) with ProPhoto primaries - at least it is by the time the presets are applied (out of the camera it's grayscale). 

       

      Once opened into Photoshop, the tone curve is not linear, but can be gamma 2.2, 1.8, or the rather idiosyncratic sRGB curve. The primaries are not necessarily the same either, they can be sRGB, Adobe RGB or DCI-P3. All of this affects what a certain adjustment will do.

       

      Just as a very simple illustration, setting the black point at 1 or 2 in a ProPhoto file will usually result in significant and noticeable black clipping. Doing the same in an Adobe RGB file will probably not be very visible at all.

       

      And, since this seems to be an extremely common misunderstanding: you do not need to match color settings or profiles between Lightroom and Photoshop. The whole point of color management is that color spaces do not need to match. Preserving color from one to the other is what color management does. Any profile you set in Lightroom will be correctly treated and correctly interpreted in Photoshop.

        Sameer K
        Community Manager
        Sameer KCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        February 25, 2025

        Hey, @defaultl3idfgamq5bp. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll need more info to help you figure this out. 

        Please share the system information from Photoshop Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > Upload and attach here.

         

        Please test and confirm if the issue exists with Photoshop (Beta). You can get Photoshop (beta) from the Creative Cloud > Apps tab > Beta Apps section. You can uninstall Photoshop 2025 from Creative Cloud while testing with Photoshop (beta). 

         

        Does this happen with specific images or presets that include Camera Profiles? 

         

        Let me know how it goes. 

        Thanks!

        Sameer K

        (Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

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