Agreeing with tonymphotos*- this method (switch the sync button to auto-sync using [confusingly] the same toggle that you'd use to hide/reveal the other develop modules, and then apply presets) seems to accomplish what was so easy in earlier versions of Lightroom. Crops and the like are maintained, while the look of the selected preset is applied to all selected images instantaneously. This is a great way to apply presets to groups of images, and also a great way to reversibly preview presets on groups of images. *"Today, though, I stumbled onto another solution...when in Develop module, select all your photos for which you want to apply the preset, then make sure to switch the Sync button the bottom right to Auto-Sync, then apply the preset. It worked for me."
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