Back to Basics Lightroom Presets for Classic & Mobile
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Software
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CompatibilityLightroom Classic & Mobile
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Lightroom presets10 Back to Basics Presets
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Works in every Lightroom.xmp for Classic, Desktop & Mobile
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Backup for older app versions.dng for Lightroom Mobile
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In the download4 Sample Images + PDF Guide
Install Guide
How to Install Your Presets
A short PDF that walks you through installing this pack in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom desktop and Lightroom on your phone, plus three tips for better results.
DESCRIPTION
Add steely tones and crisp, cool colors to your photos with our Back to Basics Lightroom Presets!
Nearly every look shifts the white balance toward blue, and most lower saturation and deepen the blacks, which works well for city streets, waterfronts and everyday portraits. After you apply one, raise Temperature a little if skin looks too pale.
One zip holds the 10 presets as .xmp files, which work in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom on your computer and Lightroom on your phone, plus .dng versions for older releases of the mobile app, each in its own labeled folder, with 4 sample images to practice on and the PDF install guide.
TRY THEM FOR FREE
Want to try our Presets before you buy? Check out our FREE Lightroom Presets Sample Pack with 10 of our favorite looks for Lightroom Classic and Mobile.
PHLEARN PRO · Lightroom Presets
Back to Basics Lightroom Presets
10 presets4 sample imagesLightroom Classic & Mobile
Back to Basics Lightroom Presets · 10 Looks
Clean Greys and Soft, Cool Blues
Ten presets that cool the color, tame bright highlights and keep skin natural. They work in Lightroom Classic and in Lightroom on desktop and mobile.
One Clean Look for the Whole Feed
Back to Basics brings mixed, warm photos together into one cool, clean set. In the feed, sunny street shots and city portraits settle into soft grays and pale blues, so the grid reads like a single shoot. No preset adds grain or a vignette.
Cooler White Balance, Calmer Highlights
Nine presets out of ten cool the white balance, and every one pulls the highlights down so bright skies and walls keep their detail. Eight add a faint blue tint to the shadows and highlights. Eight also push the blacks down, which keeps dark clothing solid.
Greens and Blues Turned Down
Every preset lowers blue saturation and eight of them mute greens, which quiets busy backgrounds while faces stay natural. Eight also lower overall saturation, by anywhere from 10 to 36.
Best on: city and street portraits, fashion and lifestyle shoots, and Instagram feeds you want to feel calm and consistent.
Cool Wharf
Cool Wharf strips the warm haze from a waterfront scene. The sky and clouds turn a clean, cool white and blue, the skyline gets crisper, and the pink jacket and brown backpack keep their color in a softer form. The white balance cools slightly and overall saturation drops by 13.
Bright Whites, Deep Blacks
Whites go up and blacks drop hard while the highlights are pulled back, and added clarity and texture sharpen detail in the buildings. The point curve raises the midtones, so the scene stays open despite the deep blacks. A blue tint goes into the highlights, with a lighter one in the shadows.
Quieter Blues and Greens
Blues, greens and aquas lose more than half their saturation, and oranges are muted but brightened, so skin and leather stay warm against the cool city. Purples and magentas lose about half their color too.
Best on: skylines, waterfront walks, and travel photos with lots of sky.
Serpentine
Serpentine turns a busy street into a cool, steely backdrop. The buildings fade to blue-gray, the red banners darken, and his black jacket and denim shirt read richer against the blurred city. The white balance cools slightly, and clarity and texture ease off a little for a smoother look.
Open Shadows, Solid Blacks
Shadows lift a lot while blacks are pushed down, so dark clothing like this quilted jacket shows detail but still looks black. Contrast eases by 18, which keeps the deep blacks from feeling harsh. Whites brighten, overall saturation drops by nearly a third, and a faint blue tint goes into the highlights.
Deeper, Richer Skin
Oranges keep their color but get darker, while blues and aquas are heavily desaturated, so skin stays warm and stands out clearly from the gray street. Greens lose 73 of their saturation and yellows nearly half.
Best on: urban portraits, menswear and outerwear, and overcast city days.
Perfect Grey
Perfect Grey pulls the warm cast out of a sunny scene. The stone steps and buildings shift to soft blue-gray, the white shirt looks cleaner, and her skin and blond hair turn lighter and fairer. Exposure rises slightly, by 0.15 stop, so the cooler look stays bright.
Muted Color, Blue Shadows
Overall saturation drops by about a third and the white balance cools, with a blue tint in the shadows. Highlights and whites come down while shadows lift, and blacks deepen for a bit of extra contrast. Contrast itself rises by 12, and the tone curve pulls the brightest tones down further.
Brighter Skin and Hair
Oranges and yellows get lighter, so skin and blond hair brighten, while reds darken slightly and blues and aquas are heavily desaturated. Red and orange saturation stay close to where they were, so skin keeps its natural color.
Best on: fashion portraits, neutral outfits, and sunny outdoor shoots that look too yellow.
What’s in the Download
One zip, desktop and mobile
One zip with both versions in labeled folders: .xmp presets for Lightroom Classic, desktop and mobile, and .dng backups for older releases of the mobile app, plus 4 sample images to practice on. In Lightroom they show up under User Presets.
- ZIPPHLEARN Back to Basics Lightroom Presets 2026.zipDesktop and mobile presets in one download, 6.6 MB
- XMPLightroom Classic, Desktop & Mobile (.xmp)10 presets for every Lightroom app
- DNGLightroom Mobile Backup (.dng)The same 10 for older releases of the mobile app
- JPG4 Sample ImagesFree-to-use practice photos
- PDFPHLEARN Lightroom Presets - Install Guide (2026).pdfClassic, desktop and mobile install steps
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Bold Greys
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Cool Wharf
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Off Whites
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Perfect Grey
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Rush White
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Semi Gloss
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Serpentine
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Soft Blues
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Soft Spire
- PHLEARN-Back To Basics-Somewhat Lace
The 4 sample images
Lightroom Preset Questions, Answered
What’s included in the Back to Basics Lightroom Presets?
The Back to Basics Lightroom Presets include 10 presets: Semi Gloss, Bold Greys, Cool Wharf, Soft Spire, Serpentine, Off Whites, Perfect Grey, Rush White, Somewhat Lace and Soft Blues. They come as .XMP presets for Lightroom Classic, Lightroom desktop and Lightroom on your phone, plus .DNG versions for older versions of the mobile app.
What kind of photos are the Back to Basics Lightroom Presets made for?
Portraits, landscapes, events and products where you want a clean, simple look. The presets brighten the highlights, cool down the shadows and carefully desaturate colors for steely tones and a crisp, fresh feel. They can also help an otherwise dark photo feel brighter while adding subtle contrast.
How do the Back to Basics presets treat skin tones?
They cool down the color in your photo while protecting important areas like skin tones, so people keep a natural look as the scene takes on cool, steely tones. Each preset is fully customizable, so you can adjust the color in the highlights, midtones and shadows in Lightroom to fine-tune the result.
Are Lightroom Presets included in my PHLEARN PRO subscription?
Yes. A PHLEARN PRO membership includes every Lightroom Preset pack, plus PRO Tutorials, LUTs, Photoshop Actions and Photoshop Brushes.
Which version of Lightroom do I need?
The .XMP presets work in Lightroom Classic 7.3 and newer, in Lightroom on your computer and in Lightroom on your phone. For older versions of the mobile app, use the .DNG files in the download. We recommend the latest version.
How do I install Lightroom Presets?
In Lightroom Classic, open the Develop module, click the + in the Presets panel, choose Import Presets and select the .XMP files. The PDF install guide in your download covers Lightroom on your computer and your phone too, and every method is on our Lightroom Presets install guide.
I imported the pack, but I can’t see it.
The new group arrives collapsed and sits in alphabetical order. Scroll the Presets panel, find the group named after the pack and click its arrow.
Do I have to install the presets on my phone separately?
Not if you import them into Lightroom on your computer: within a few minutes they show up in Lightroom on any device signed in to the same Adobe account. If you use Lightroom Classic, import the .XMP files in the mobile app: open a photo, tap Presets, then Yours, then the three-dot menu and Import Presets.
Do the presets work on RAW and JPEG photos?
Yes. Every preset is built to work on both RAW and JPEG files, and each one can be adjusted after you apply it.
The preset looks too strong. What do I do?
Lower the Amount slider at the top of the Presets panel, then adjust White Balance and Exposure for that photo. Every photo starts from different light.
Do you offer refunds?
Because these are downloadable products, all sales are final and we are not able to offer refunds.
Terms of Use
These Presets are licensed for personal and professional use by the individual who purchased or downloaded them. The license does not extend to companies or partnerships, and the files may not be resold, loaned, gifted, shared, copied or redistributed. All PHLEARN Presets are copyright protected.
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