Best Lightroom Film Presets [2024 Review]

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As the world moves forward, so does technology and with Adobe Lightroom, digital editing has never been easier. No matter how many advancements we make, there will always be something alluring and powerful about that classic film feel. 

From the effortless vintage colors to that perfect splash of grain, analog film photography is truly timeless. Since no one really has the time to process physical film, we have curated a list of our favorite Lightroom Film Presets that will help you achieve the same gorgeous results with half the effort!

Review of the Best Lightroom Film Presets 

Film photography is extremely popular among photographers with a vast array of diverse and varied presets to show for it. With such a multitude of options to choose from, it can be difficult to find the perfect one for you. To help you perfect your film aesthetic, we have put together a collection of some of our favorite lightroom film presets  just for you.

Best Overall: The Film Essentials Collection from Brixton Film

Different presets used in film.

PROS

  • Works on RAW and JPEG images
  • Easy to use and has an instant download
  • Compatible with Mac, PC, Android, and iOS
  • Highly reviewed and recommended by customers
  • Includes the Brixton Film Tool Kit with 8 layer presets and 62 tool presets

CONS

  • May be a bit expensive, however, offers great discounts

Why it Stands Out to Us

If you are looking to throw it back for the raw look of analog, the Film Essentials Collection from Brixton Film is the perfect fit for you. With 24 general workflow presets, 8 layer presets, and much more, it is a well-rounded collection designed for film photographers.

The presets are simple to get the hang of with an easy enough learning curve, making it great for beginners to the world of film photography as well. The tools included in this collection also have a lot to offer as they are all-encompassing, versatile, and look after every little detail.

From desaturated warm tones to enhancing the cool green highlights, from detailing your Black and Whites to perfection to finding that classic moody film look, this collection gives you everything that you could possibly need to master the charm of the film. 

Runner-up: Analogue Film Collection

Photography portrait in an aesthetic preset.

PROS

  • Compatible with both Mac and PC
  • Fully compatible with JPG and RAW Images
  • Comes with detailed installation instructions
  • Works on Lightroom Mobile or Desktop versions
  • Adjustable settings, well-suited to all kinds of photography

CONS

  • None

Why it Stands Out to Us

The Analogue Film Collection by BéArt Presets is bringing retro back. An embodiment of the timelessness of film, these presets can make an ordinary picture come alive. Whether you are looking to achieve a vibrant portrait or highlight the drama in a moody landscape, whether you are capturing a big moment or a small one – whatever the tone, this collection of presets is versatile enough to achieve it. From family portraits to fairytale weddings, these presets can take any picture and turn it into a masterpiece.

The Analogue Film Collection leaves us with a lot to love. It is dynamic, efficient, and beyond simple to use and apply. With these presets you can save time, enhance the quality of your pictures, and also get that effortless VSCO charm in no time.  

Best for the Money:The Stories Collection From Brixton Film

Lightroom and Photoshop presets sample

PROS

  • Works on RAW and JPEG images
  • Great for documentary photographers
  • Compatible with Mac, PC, Android, and iOS
  • Eases the workflow has an instant download
  • Highly reviewed and recommended by customers

CONS

  • Some may find it a bit pricey

Why it Stands Out to Us

Pictures tell stories. They capture the moments that we will remember for a lifetime – the moments that matter. To tell those stories in the best way possible, the Stories Collection from Brixton Film is perfect.

This collection is perfectly suited to anybody who loves to capture life as it passes us by. The presets are varied and dynamic. While one creates a mix of rich earthy highlights and plum-filtered shadows, another offers a more warm, filtered look with skin-soft toning. The Brixton Film Tool and Brush Kit included in the collection are great for detailing and will help give your photos that perfect film finish.

Whatever you might need to tell your story as authentically as possible, you will find in this collection. So, whether you are a photojournalist in the making or just a fan of photo albums, the Stories Collection has got your back.

InstaFilm Lightroom Presets

Instafilm preset

PROS

  • Very well-priced and easy to use 
  • Compatible with both Mac and PC
  • Adds depth and warmth to images
  • Works on RAW, TIFF and JPEG images
  • Comes with instructions on how to install

CONS

  • None

Why it Stands Out to Us

Reminiscent of the age-old analog nostalgia, the InstaFilm Lightroom Presets by Lightgram is the perfect balance of warmth, softness, and realistic grain to create pictures worth a thousand words.

These presets are well suited to all kinds of photography from landscapes to portraits. Whether it is enhancing the vibrant colors or highlighting the deeper tones and rich blacks of Kodachrome, this collection will bring out the depth and drama in your images. With 20 amazing, diverse presets, bring your pictures to life with a touch of that retro, cinematic feel.

Cinematic Lightroom Presets (VI)

Premium lightroom preset

PROS

  • Instant and unlimited downloads
  • Extremely affordable and easy to use
  • Offers .lrtemplate, .xmp, and .dng files
  • Completely customizable and adjustable
  • Great for images with primary colors and browns

CONS

  • Might be a little limiting in its uses

Why it Stands Out to Us

A simplified and streamlined workflow, hours of tedious editing saved, and great results to show. The Cinematic Lightroom Presets (VI) by Lightroom Masters has all of this to offer and more. Not only are these presets super easy to use and understand, but they also provide cohesive and consistent looking images, great for a social media feed, travel blog, and so on.

These presets work particularly well on images with dominant green and blue hues as well as on those with yellow and brown tones to create that effortless cinematic feel. Designed to inspire, these presets are the perfect fit for photographers at any skill level. So, if you are feeling a little bit stuck in a rut and are looking for a fresh, new perspective on things, the Cinematic Lightroom Presets might just be the solution you are looking for.

Comparison Cinematic Lightroom Presets V1of the Best Lightroom Film Presets

Advantages of Investing in a Quality Lightroom Film Preset

With photography there is so much to juggle, from equipment to software – it all costs money. To reduce your costs you need to think smarter. Rather than spending countless hours editing you should consider a Lightroom preset. Here are some of the advantages of investing in a quality Lightroom preset.

A Major Time Saver

Recreating an authentic film effect when digitally editing is a task that is challenging even for professionals. And if processing physical film wasn’t time-consuming enough, hours of tedious manual editing could leave you with less than impressive results. 

Lightroom presets are a powerful editing tool that can ease the editing process while still producing amazing results. With Lightroom presets, you can achieve genuine-looking film looks in mere seconds. 

Presets with their predetermined tried and tested settings save you from the mundane manual editing and can take your pictures back in time with a single click. 

Flower photography in a cool tone preset.

Best of Both Worlds

As we transition into the digital age, gone are the days of processing film in a dark room with chemicals, hoping for great photos. With higher resolution cameras and better low light performance, digital is decidedly the way ahead. 

Despite our high-tech equipment, however, we haven’t left the film behind. The distinctive look and feel of the film is still sought after, making Lightroom film presets quite the blessing in disguise. To get the best of both worlds, photographers can now capture images digitally and recreate that vintage, film vibe in the post-production process.

A Professional Finish

The beauty of film presets is that it creates a beautiful, authentic film style aesthetic in your photos in no time. Whether you are a professional looking to get inspired or a beginner with a fascination for film, these Lightroom film presets can help you achieve amazing results.

Aspects to Consider Before Buying 

So what makes one Lightroom present different from the rest? There are several factors, but the main one is the look and feel of the preset. You should try editing the same photo using different presets so you have a constant value to compare against. Then you need to take the following points into consideration.

The Film Feel

The film look can be broken down into three main aspects. For one, unlike digital sensors that tend to process color as close to real life as possible, films render color a little differently each with their own balance of how the colors will appear. 

Next are the black and white points of film photos. In most of these images, the darkest points will appear more dark grey than black while the brightest points will not be an exact white. Finally, most film images are characterized by a bit of grain.

Different film presets will offer these aspects in varying ways to create diverse moods and looks. So, when selecting a preset, make sure you read the product description and all that it has to offer so that it fits the film vibe that you have in mind.

Nature photography enhanced by preset

Ease of Use

A good preset is also one that is easy to understand and use. It should simplify your workflow and also help you save time. Whether you are an amateur with a love for analog photography or a seasoned photographer with years of experience, these presets should be able to adapt to your skill level. 

Customer Reviews

A product is only as good as its reviews. Before buying a preset always make sure to check its reviews to better understand the product and also to reconfirm the quality. You can learn a lot from other people’s experiences with a product and genuine reviews can really help you make your decision.

Conclusion 

There is much to love about the classic film look. Reminiscent of a time long gone, there is a certain charm about vintage, analog photography that, if done well, can breathe life into the simplest of images. 

Our top picks for Lightroom film presets this year can help you achieve a genuine, gorgeous retro vibe that will make your images stand out. So, if you are a fan of film, these presets are the perfect fit for you.