Preset – Wedding Grain Effect
Holy cow! It’s February, and more importantly my birthday month 🙂 It’s also preset day and I’ve got one that’s been asked for quite a bit since I started making presets. It has to do with a “grain” effect and it deals with the new Grain setting in Lightroom 3 Beta. BUT WAIT!!! If you’re not a LR3 Beta user don’t worry. The preset itself still looks cool and still works in Lightroom 2 (it just doesn’t apply the grain). Depending on the photo, the settings still bring out a little graininess in the image so its not a total loss. Anyway, take a look at the before and after by clicking below. It definitely is a nice effect with or without grain and I think it looks good on portraits as well as all the other wedding stuff (shoes, dress, table settings, rings, etc…). Let me know what you think.
To install:
1) Unzip the preset zip file on to your desktop
2) Go to the Develop module. NOTE: YOU MUST BE THE DEVELOP MODULE
3) Go to the Presets panel on the left. Right click anywhere in it and choose Import.
4) Select the .lrtemplate files you unzipped in Step 1 and click Import NOTE: DO NOT IMPORT THE ZIP FILE
• Click here to download the preset.
• Click here to see a sample of the preset.
do these work with LR2????? I cannot get it to work
for the same reason you add grain – for a rustic look.
Why would you take a good image with detail in the dress and suit,
and turn it into two white outs with heads, mabie i just dont get it.
Thanks JoJo. The presets won’t work in Camera Raw. Oh and I’m actually a pisces : )
Happy Birthday fellow Aquarian! I knew there was a good reason I like you so much! Does this preset work with Camera Raw as well?
Great Preset Matt, Thank you!
Katherine:
Drop the preset from your desktop into your “Presets Folder” under Lightroom.
This probably sounds stupid, but do I have to leave the preset file on my desktop after I import it – or can I delete it or save it in another folder.
The was a cool before and after effect. But do you think the circular dark area of the finish photo should stay there?
I used to shoot and develop my own B&Ws many years ago when I had access to the local Universities Darkroom from a “you scratch my back I scratch yours” deal I had withe the newspaper (I did free computer maintenance for them, they gave me access to the darkroom and free chemicals).
I said that to say this. I remember hating when I got a grainy photo because it usually meant I did something wrong. Since everything is digital now its starting to become a ‘look’ and not an accident with your film develop.
Jon said:
“I still dont understand why anyone would introduce “grain” to an otherwise sharp picture. Im just not getting it I guessÂ…”
Jon, while grain used to be the bane of film photography, it is now considered by many to be an artistic touch to digital images. I think adding grain to a digital image takes it from looking too sterile and perfect to organic and imperfect. It is in that latter state that the art exists.
That’s my take on it.
John
John – It simply doesn’t work as Lightroom has no idea what a zip file is.
What happens if you import the zip file? Just curious, as I always see this warning…
I still dont understand why anyone would introduce “grain” to an otherwise sharp picture. Im just not getting it I guess…
thanks Matt that’s one kick-@ss preset. love it.
Thanks Matt this is one I have been looking for to save myself a lot of time and hassle.. Sorry in my tweet I gave scott credit by accident. When its you that deserves it.. As you are the best out of all 3 of you guys.
What day birthday Guy??? I have one on the 19th.
cooksfriend
Great post Matt!!! I’ll make very good use of it!