If you've spent any time editing photos, you know that a great preset is worth its weight in gold. But creating that perfect look is only half the battle. Learning how to export a preset in Lightroom is a non-negotiable skill for any serious photographer. It's how you'll back up your signature styles, share them with other photographers for consistent branding, or even package them up to sell.
Why Bother Exporting Lightroom Presets?
Getting a handle on the export process is about so much more than just sending a cool filter to a friend. It’s about taking control of your workflow and protecting the creative assets you’ve worked so hard to build. When you export a preset, you’re essentially bottling up all the adjustment data for a specific look into a single, portable file.
This little file is your key to a more efficient and consistent editing life.
Lock Down Your Creative Workflow
Think about it. You spend hours, maybe even days, dialing in the perfect editing style for a wedding or a portrait session. Now, imagine losing all of that work to a random hard drive failure or a software bug. It’s a photographer’s nightmare.
Exporting your presets is your insurance policy. It's a simple backup that ensures you can get your entire editing toolkit back up and running in minutes, no matter what happens. This quick habit can save you from a massive headache down the road.
On top of that, exporting makes teamwork a breeze. If you run a photography business with multiple editors, sharing a master set of presets is the only way to guarantee every single photo aligns with your brand's unique look. That kind of consistency is what builds a professional, recognizable portfolio.
A Quick Word on Preset File Types
Years ago, preset files were a bit of a mess, but thankfully, things have gotten much simpler. The industry has standardized around the XMP file format. These .xmp files are now the universal way to save and share Lightroom preset settings, which makes them super easy to archive or send to a colleague.
If you’re just getting started, it helps to understand what Lightroom presets are and how they work on a deeper level. They aren't just one-click filters; they're powerful, customizable recipes for bringing your creative vision to life.
Exporting Develop Presets in Lightroom Classic
When you're ready to share one of your custom-made presets or just want to back it up for safekeeping, Lightroom Classic makes it incredibly simple. The goal here is to package your unique editing recipe into a portable .xmp file. Forget about digging through hidden system folders; the whole process is handled right inside the Develop module where you do your creative work.
First things first, head over to the Presets panel on the left side of your screen. This is home base for all your installed and custom presets, which are hopefully organized into neat groups. Find the specific preset you want to export. If you've been smart about organizing your work into custom groups—like 'Client Wedding Edits' or 'Moody Landscapes'—just expand the group to find the one you need. A little organization up front saves a ton of time here.
The Right-Click Export Method
Once you've zeroed in on the preset, it's as easy as a right-click (or Control-click on a Mac). A small menu will pop up with a few options, and you're looking for the one that says "Export." This is the most direct route to getting your preset out of Lightroom.
This quick visual breaks down the core export workflow from start to finish.
As you can see, it's really just three simple actions: selecting your preset, choosing to export, and then saving it to your computer.
After you click "Export," a standard save window will appear, letting you choose exactly where you want to save the .xmp file. I highly recommend creating a dedicated folder called something like "My Exported Presets" on your desktop or in your documents. Keeping all your exported assets in one place makes them much easier to find later for backups or for sharing with other photographers.
Exporting an Entire Preset Group
But what if you need to export a whole collection at once? Maybe you're creating a preset pack to sell or sharing a complete set of looks with a collaborator. Lightroom Classic has a fantastic shortcut for this.
Pro Tip: Instead of exporting presets one by one, you can grab an entire group simultaneously. Just right-click on the name of the preset group itself, and you'll find the same "Export" option in the menu.
This is a massive time-saver. It packages all the individual .xmp files from that group and saves them together in a single, organized folder for you. It's an indispensable feature for anyone managing multiple creative styles or creating commercial preset packs. Getting familiar with the variety of Adobe presets for Lightroom can also spark some great ideas for building your own collections worth exporting.
Lightroom Preset File Types Explained
Understanding the difference between the modern and legacy file types for Lightroom presets is crucial for compatibility and sharing.
| File Type | Used For | Compatibility | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| .XMP | Modern Presets | Lightroom Classic (7.3+), Lightroom (CC), Camera Raw (ACR) | The current standard. Use this for all new presets to ensure maximum compatibility across the Adobe ecosystem. |
| .LRTEMPLATE | Legacy Presets | Lightroom Classic (version 7.2 and older) | This older format is largely phased out but good to recognize if you're using older presets or software. |
Ultimately, sticking with the .XMP format is the way to go unless you have a very specific reason to work with older versions of Lightroom. It ensures your creative work is future-proof and shareable with the widest possible audience.
Finding Your Presets in Lightroom CC
If you're using the cloud-based Lightroom, often called Lightroom CC, you've probably noticed it handles things a little differently than Lightroom Classic. One of the biggest head-scratchers for many photographers is the missing "Export" button for presets. It can feel like your presets are stuck.
But don't worry, your presets aren't trapped in the cloud. Lightroom actually stores them locally on your computer as standard .xmp files—you just need to know where to look. This little workaround is a lifesaver when you need to back up, share, or migrate your favorite presets.
Navigating to Your Preset Folder
The trick is finding the specific folder where Lightroom tucks these files away. The file path is different depending on whether you're on a Windows PC or a Mac, but the goal is the same: find that folder, and copy your presets.
Here are the direct paths you'll need to follow:
- For Windows Users:
C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings - For macOS Users:
~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings
Once you open up that "Settings" folder, you'll see all your custom presets as individual .xmp files. They'll likely be mixed in with any other presets you've ever imported.
Pro Tip: On a Mac, the Library folder is often hidden by default. To get to it, open Finder, click "Go" in the top menu bar, then hold down the Option key on your keyboard. "Library" will magically appear in the dropdown menu.
From here, it's as simple as copying the .xmp files you want and pasting them into a new folder on your desktop for easy access. These are the exact files you'll need to share with a friend or back up for safekeeping.
Once they're copied, they are ready to be sent to a colleague or imported into another system. If you need a refresher on that part of the process, our guide on how to install Lightroom presets walks you through it step-by-step.
Saving Your Export Settings as Presets
While develop presets are all about your creative style, export presets are your secret weapon for workflow efficiency. They’re a huge time-saver, letting you store specific output settings—things like file format, resolution, watermarks, and sharpening—so you can apply them with a single click.
Imagine you have custom settings for different clients or platforms. You could have presets ready to go for "High-Res Client Prints," "Web Gallery Images," and "Instagram Stories." Instead of fiddling with dozens of settings every single time you export, you just pick the right preset from a list and you're done. This guarantees consistent, professional results for every photo, every time.
Creating Your First Export Preset
You’ll build these presets right inside the Export dialog box. Once you've dialed in all your settings for a specific task, don't just hit export. First, look to the lower-left side of the window for the "Add" button. Clicking it brings up a small pop-up where you can name your shiny new preset.
Give it a name that makes sense to you down the road. Something descriptive like "JPEG for Blog Post" is perfect. Once you save it, you’ll see it pop up under the "User Presets" section, ready for action.
A big part of getting the hang of exporting presets in Lightroom is realizing this isn’t just a convenience—it’s how you streamline repetitive tasks. Even Lightroom Classic’s built-in presets, like 'Burn Full-Sized JPEGs,' are just pre-configured settings for common uses. Mastering this is a massive step toward a more professional workflow. For a deeper dive into all the options, the Adobe HelpX page is a great resource.
Remember, the whole point here is consistency. An export preset ensures that every single image you send to a specific platform or for a particular use case has the exact same technical specs, from file size to color space.
This simple habit eliminates guesswork and prevents frustrating errors. Before you know it, you'll have a full library of presets built out for every type of output you need. For more ideas on building a robust system, check out our detailed guide on how to save Lightroom presets like a pro.
Common Preset Export Mistakes to Avoid
Exporting a preset in Lightroom should be a simple click, but a few common snags can trip up even seasoned photographers. It’s incredibly frustrating when things don't work as expected, so let's clear up the biggest issues before you even run into them.
One of the most frequent problems we see is the "Export" option being completely grayed out or just… missing. If this is happening to you, you’re almost certainly in the wrong panel or module. Just remember: you can only export a develop preset by right-clicking it in the Presets panel while you're inside the Develop module. Trying to do this from the Library or anywhere else just won't work.
Dealing with File Type Confusion
Another major headache comes from file type incompatibility. All modern versions of Lightroom use the .xmp file format for presets. Simple. But if you’re trying to use a very old preset, you might be dealing with an outdated .lrtemplate file, which can throw import errors on newer systems. Sticking with the .xmp format is your best bet for ensuring your presets work everywhere.
This kind of detail-oriented thinking also applies to your final image exports. In fact, over 70% of Lightroom users rely on export presets to keep their work consistent and save a ton of time. A common setup for platforms like Instagram is exporting JPEGs at 1080 pixels on the short edge with an sRGB color space. This gives you a great balance of quality and file size.
Key Takeaway: If a preset you imported doesn't show up on another machine, the first thing to check is the file type. Make sure it's a compatible .xmp file and that you’ve placed it in the correct user presets folder.
Finally, keep in mind that these export rules are for the desktop versions of Lightroom. If you’re trying to get presets onto your phone, the process is a bit different. We’ve got you covered with a specific guide on how to import presets into Lightroom Mobile.
Common Questions About Lightroom Presets
Even after you get the hang of exporting presets in Lightroom, a few questions always seem to pop up. Let's tackle the most common ones I hear from other photographers to clear up any confusion and get you back to editing.
Can I Export Presets Directly from Lightroom Mobile?
The short and simple answer is no. You can't export a preset as an actual file directly from the Lightroom Mobile app.
Any presets you create on your phone or tablet are designed to sync automatically with your Lightroom CC desktop application. To get your hands on that shareable .xmp file, you'll need to hop on your computer, find the preset that synced over, and then follow the steps we covered earlier to locate it in the settings folder.
What’s the Difference Between XMP and LRTEMPLATE Files?
This is a classic point of confusion, especially for anyone who's been using Lightroom for a few years. It really comes down to old vs. new.
- .lrtemplate is the legacy format. You'll see this with presets from the days of Lightroom 4, 5, 6, and some earlier versions of Lightroom Classic.
- .xmp is the modern, universal standard. It’s used by all current versions of Lightroom (both Classic and CC) and even Adobe Camera Raw.
The most important thing to remember is that .xmp files are far more compatible across the board. If you happen to have some old .lrtemplate files lying around, don't worry—Lightroom Classic is smart enough to convert them to the new format automatically when you import them.
How Do I Share an Exported Preset with Someone?
Once you have that .xmp file saved on your computer, sharing it with a friend, a client, or another photographer is a breeze.
You can simply attach the file to an email, just like you would with a photo or a document. Another popular option is to upload it to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox and just share the link.
If you’re sending a whole collection of presets, the best way to do it is to group them into a single .zip file. This keeps everything neat and tidy, making it super easy for the other person to download and import them into their own Lightroom setup in one go.
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