Faded Film is a free Lightroom preset that artistically dims photographs with a soft blue hue. It replicates the retro look of some film cameras that are partial to light hues and cool color temperature. Its light motif gives portraits a dramatic yet understated style.
If you are going for a classic look, Faded Film is the vintage preset to use. It works well on photos taken outdoors, and the mood that it casts over photos is perfect for portraits. Its enhanced highlights and shadows are enough to give your images an enigmatic feel. Try this as an Instagram filter, if you want a dark yet professional look for your feed.
Creates a Soft yet Dramatic Look
Soft and Dim. Notice how the preset transforms the atmosphere and mood of the image above. The After photo looks more mysterious and brooding. It is more engaging, too, because of the dim tones. What makes Faded Film special is its expertly blended tones: although the entire aesthetic is dark, notice how the shadows are actually lightened. You can examine this effect on the woman’s face.
The dimming and the softening of the preset primarily happens in its split toning. Faded Film adds a soft blue tone in the highlights. It gives the image a cool coat of blue, but only for the brightest areas of the image. This, plus the lightening of shadows in the tone curve, produces the preset’s distinct aesthetic.
Draws the Attention to the Subject
Expressive Portraits. Faded Film’s tonal adjustments give photos, especially portraits, a simple yet professional enhancement. Its blue highlights serve as a contrast to the warm skin tones.
In the photo above, for example, see how the preset accentuates and draws your attention to the couple. It more effectively reveals the expressions and underscores the emotions in a portrait. You now do not mind the other elements so much; the plants in the background look less yellow, dimmer, and subdued.
Smoothens for a Polished and Professional Look
Smooth Finish. As a final touch, the preset reduces the noise in photos. This simple adjustment helps smoothen skin and remove unnecessary grain. This complements the entire aesthetic, too.
In the above After photo, examine how Faded Film’s noise reduction gives the portrait a professional polish. It also adds to the overall light motif. See how the smooth look blends well with the gentle blue hues in the highlights. Also take note of how the preset softens without losing any detail. In fact, there is now more depth because of the greater contrast between tones.
As a result of these enhancements, the photo above now has a classic yet stunning urban look. There is the charm of film photography, just with a modern touch.
Faded Film is for Lightroom Mobile, Desktop and…
Like all our presets, you can absolutely use Faded Film preset as is, right out of the box. With any preset, you might need to make adjustments to accommodate your specific camera, settings, lighting and subject matter.
- Entirely Adjustable
- Compatible with Lightroom 4, 5, 6 and CC
- Performs with both PC, Mac, and Mobile
- Applicable to both RAW and JPG images
- 100% Free
Free Lightroom Preset by Memzy
