Film Lightroom presets are pre-configured editing settings designed to replicate the look of traditional film stocks. They adjust settings, such as:
Color Tones – Achieve the warm, cool, or pastel characteristic of film stocks.
Grain & Texture – Add authentic film-like grain for a more organic feel.
Contrast & Highlights – Balance deep shadows and soft highlights.
Saturation & Fading – Create a subtle color fade or rich vintage tones.
What makes these presets so popular? Why have they become an essential part of many creatives' workflows?
1. Timeless Aesthetic
Film presets create a timeless, classic edit by emulating the characteristics of traditional film. Film presets bring out emotion and story, making images feel more authentic. By adding subtle imperfections, such as grain, softness, and a slight fade, film presets introduce a sense of depth and personality.
2. Consistency For Branding
A consistent aesthetic is key—especially for influencers, content creators, and photographers building a brand. Film presets help maintain a cohesive look across social media feeds, websites, and portfolios.
Instagram feeds that feature consistent film tones create a visually appealing and recognizable brand identity. Film presets help photographers and creators stand out in a crowded online space.
3. Perfect Skin Tones
Film Lightroom presets enhance skin tones by adding warmth, mild softness, and subtle contrast. The added grain helps create a more uniform appearance, while the gentle smoothing effect softens the overall image. Their natural color adjustments enhance skin tones in a flattering way without making them look overly edited.
4. Efficiency & Time-Saving
Film presets provide an instant edit, allowing you to achieve a specific look in just one click. Instead of spending hours manually adjusting contrast, tones, and grain, users can apply a film preset and fine-tune the details as needed.
5. Customizable
Film presets offer a quick way to edit and are fully customizable. You can tweak settings like:
Exposure — Adjust brightness to fit different lighting conditions.
Grain — Increase or decrease texture for a more subtle or intense edit.
Color Balance — Fine-tune hues to match editing aesthetic.
Contrast & Fade — Adjust depth for a bold or soft, faded effect.
This flexibility allows you to personalize your edits while still benefiting from the classic film-inspired base.
The Best Film Lightroom Presets
The best film Lightroom presets often capture different styles, moods, and aesthetics inspired by iconic film stocks. Here’s an overview of the top film presets of 2025:
1. Kodak Portra 400 Presets
Why it’s popular — Known for its warm, slightly faded tones and natural skin rendering, Kodak Portra is a favorite among portrait and wedding photographers.
What it does — It enhances skin tones, provides a warm color palette, and adds a smooth, slightly faded look—perfect for romantic and nostalgic vibes.
Shop — Kodak Portra 400 Film Lightroom Presets
2. Tri-X Black & White Presets
Why it’s popular — Kodak Tri-X is one of the most celebrated black-and-white films, revered for its grainy, contrast-rich images.
What it does — These presets offer deep blacks, rich whites, and classic grain—ideal for street photography and adding mood and drama to black-and-white images.
Shop — Kodak Tri-X Film Lightroom Presets
3. Kodachrome Presets
Why it’s popular — Kodachrome is one of the most iconic color films, famous for its vibrant hues and fine grain.
What it does — Adds bold color contrasts, rich saturation, and deep blacks—perfect for vintage and retro styles, often used in fashion and travel photography.
Shop — Included in our All Film Bundle: Kodachrome Film Lightroom Presets
4. Fujifilm 400H Presets
Why it’s popular — Fujifilm 400H is known for its subdued, pastel-like colors, which give photos a soft, airy feel.
What it does — The film tends to desaturate greens and blues while maintaining a natural warmth in skin tones, making it ideal for capturing tender, intimate moments like weddings or family portraits.
Shop — Fujifilm 400H Film Lightroom Presets
5. Polaroid Presets
Why it’s popular — Polaroid was once synonymous with instant photography, offering a unique look with its softer colors and distinctive border.
What it does — These presets create a dreamy, vintage feel with slightly desaturated tones, soft contrast, and a nostalgic vibe.
Shop — Polaroid 600 Film Lightroom Presets
6. CineStill Presets
Why it’s popular — CineStill film is inspired by cinematic film stocks, offering a soft and cinematic feel with vivid color and a slight filmic grain.
What it does — These presets emulate movie-like tones, adding a cinematic touch with beautiful highlights, shadow details, and smooth transitions.
Shop — Free CineStill 800T Film Lightroom Presets
7. Ilford Black & White Presets
Why it’s popular — Ilford film has been a staple in black-and-white photography for decades, known for its high contrast and rich detail.
What it does — These presets provide sharp monochromatic contrast with deep blacks and bright whites, delivering timeless black-and-white imagery with fine grain.
Shop — Ilford HP5 Film Lightroom Presets
8. Fuji Velvia Presets
Why it’s popular — Known for its vivid colors and sharp contrasts, Fuji Velvia is a favorite for landscape and nature photographers.
What it does — Enhances saturation, particularly in greens and blues, while adding a rich texture and sharpness, making it perfect for outdoor photography.
Shop — Fuji Velvia Film Lightroom Presets Coming Soon
Best Film Presets For Photography Styles:
Portraits & Weddings — Kodak Portra, Fujifilm,
Outdoor & Landscape — Fuji Velvia, Kodachrome
Black & White — Ilford, Tri-X
Creative & Experimental — Polaroid, CineStill
Final Thoughts: Why Film Presets Are Here to Stay
The appeal of film photography, combined with the convenience of editing, makes Film Lightroom Presets a favorite. They offer the perfect blend of nostalgia, efficiency, versatility, and aesthetic appeal, making them an essential tool.
Whether you're looking to add a touch of vintage charm to your portraits, create a cinematic feel for your travel photos, or bring timeless elegance to wedding photography, film presets provide an easy way to elevate your images.
