Differences between Profiles and Presets?

[Rene Gr]

I need some education about developing Nikon Z images on Lightroom. I shoot RAW only.

Currently, I use a preset on import to set the camera corrections, sharpness and noise reduction (depending on the ISO). The profile is left to "Adobe Color" simply. Everything else I set per picture or some specific presets.

Now I saw the profiles on https://nikonpc.com/ which can be loaded onto the camera. They are probably applied to the imbedded JPEG when selected in the picture controls, but also stored in the EXIF. I also see a profile section in Lightroom, where you can search for camera profiles too.

Now what is the difference between defining a preset, exactly as described on the linked page, or using a profile for a RAW shooter? Are there more options in profiles?

 

[skyrunr]

I need some education about developing Nikon Z images on Lightroom. I shoot RAW only.

Currently, I use a preset on import to set the camera corrections, sharpness and noise reduction (depending on the ISO). The profile is left to "Adobe Color" simply. Everything else I set per picture or some specific presets.

Now I saw the profiles on https://nikonpc.com/ which can be loaded onto the camera. They are probably applied to the imbedded JPEG when selected in the picture controls, but also stored in the EXIF. I also see a profile section in Lightroom, where you can search for camera profiles too.

Now what is the difference between defining a preset, exactly as described on the linked page, or using a profile for a RAW shooter? Are there more options in profiles?

Camera Level: Picture Profiles work best when used with JPG's or NX Studio.

Adobe Level1: COLOR Profiles in Lightroom recognize picture profiles. When you use different cameras, you will have different Camera Profiles available. The "Browse" option is the best way to experiment and view all of the options. I lean towards using camera profiles and 2-3 Adobe profiles. Favorites make this more useful.

Warning: There is some real magic hidden in these, and you may end up redoing every image you've ever taken!

Adobe Level2: Presets are WHATEVER you want them to be. They can be as simple or as no settings, one setting, or cover every setting. I use one for "Zero'd," Adaptive (new,) and have one for each adapted lens I use. When I'm working on a 100 images or more, I create a preset for that editing session based a common image. They are needed to a apply settings to a BATCH of images (all at once.)

TIPS: Avoid doing any image level adjustments until you've applied profiles and presets. Presets will undo them, and you'll get a headache. I spend a lot of time updating my presets with or without certain features. I usually leave white balance and exposure off of them, and only use the first half of the copy/paste/save list. (uncheck auto)

 

[pyang88]

I need some education about developing Nikon Z images on Lightroom. I shoot RAW only.

Currently, I use a preset on import to set the camera corrections, sharpness and noise reduction (depending on the ISO). The profile is left to "Adobe Color" simply. Everything else I set per picture or some specific presets.

Now I saw the profiles on https://nikonpc.com/ which can be loaded onto the camera. They are probably applied to the imbedded JPEG when selected in the picture controls, but also stored in the EXIF. I also see a profile section in Lightroom, where you can search for camera profiles too.

Now what is the difference between defining a preset, exactly as described on the linked page, or using a profile for a RAW shooter? Are there more options in profiles?

The way my simple brain tries to understand it (hopefully I'm somewhat close to correct):

Profiles (Nikon's picture controls, or Adobe's color profiles in LR, or the profiles in the linked page) are just different ways of converting the RAW data into a visual image. If you're using Nikon's picture controls, this is what is used to produce the JPEG in-camera (and the images shown in EVF/playback), and the profile is stored as a sidecar information in the NEF file - this information may be ignored/overridden by LR upon import, depending on your import settings, e.g. if you choose to apply "Adobe Color" profile instead of "Camera Settings" profile (which are very close, but not perfectly identical, to what Nikon's picture control produces).

Presets are whatever you set it to be, which may or may not include a specific profile (like "Adobe Color"), plus or minus additional tweaks that you frequently use, e.g. if you want to adjust the sharpness, noise reduction, white balance, tone curve, etc. differently from the profiles you use.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

I need some education about developing Nikon Z images on Lightroom. I shoot RAW only.

Currently, I use a preset on import to set the camera corrections, sharpness and noise reduction (depending on the ISO). The profile is left to "Adobe Color" simply. Everything else I set per picture or some specific presets.

Now I saw the profiles on https://nikonpc.com/ which can be loaded onto the camera. They are probably applied to the imbedded JPEG when selected in the picture controls, but also stored in the EXIF. I also see a profile section in Lightroom, where you can search for camera profiles too.

Now what is the difference between defining a preset, exactly as described on the linked page, or using a profile for a RAW shooter? Are there more options in profiles?

I think in short, profiles don't change the sliders in LR, whereas Presets do but the two do basically the same thing. I feel that Profiles give you more flexiblity, so for example, if you create a profile that boosts exposure by 1 stop, you can "stack" additional stops with a preset, whereas with a preset, it will just set exposure at the value defined by the preset.

So if used together you can get more mileage so to speak by applying a preset on top of a profile. But start with profiles first, and then apply presets. Sometimes I'll create a profile to do this to give me more flexibility in some images.

the other difference is you can't apply a profile directly at import, only presets from what i remember. However you CAN have a preset that selects a profile and do it that way for importing.

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PLEASE NOTE: I usually unsubscribe from forums and comments after a period of time, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. Feel free to PM me if you have a questions or need clarification about a comment I made.

 

[jtr27]

The terms are somewhat vague, and to some extent used interchangeably, although they do in fact have different meanings.

Best to refer to Nikon Picture Controls as Picture Controls, when that is the topic, to eliminate any potential confusion.

Here is an article on "The Difference Between Lightroom Presets & Profiles," written in September of last year, that might be of use.

Lightroom Profiles Vs Presets: What's The Difference?

Explore the distinctions between Lightroom profiles and presets. Learn how to enhance your photo editing skills with REFINED Co's comprehensive guide.

refinedco.com

 

[Rene Gr]

The terms are somewhat vague, and to some extent used interchangeably, although they do in fact have different meanings.

Best to refer to Nikon Picture Controls as Picture Controls, when that is the topic, to eliminate any potential confusion.

Here is an article on "The Difference Between Lightroom Presets & Profiles," written in September of last year, that might be of use.

https://refinedco.com/blogs/journal...aJTdt__y3yLH_-a-Q2zeUiWBoPfPiDosl3WA86lFbWp6g

Thanks for that link!