1970s is a free Lightroom preset that brings the nostalgic 1970s home video effect to your photos. The preset adds undersaturated yellowish hues and adjusts the tone curve to simulate that aged film look.
This is the perfect preset to use if you want your photos to have that retro film vibe. It is also reminiscent of some film effects that you would get off a 70s Fujifilm or Kodak.
A Warm Cinematic Atmosphere
Warm Cinematic Stills. 1970s preset applies a warm film hue that is unique to the home videos of the time. To replicate this signature look, it adds lime green tones in the highlights, and some pink tones in the shadows. These tints create that understated vintage feel.
Look at the photo of the beach above. The After photo is more charming in retro yellow. It gives off a cinematic atmosphere, too; after all, it was based off a video effect. Like most color tints in movies, this sets the mood of the scene.
Desaturates Tones for a Soft Retro Feel
Muted Tones. You would not get bold colors and textures off an old film camera. The hues would always appear muted. This does not mean that the photos would be less attractive; on the contrary, it is the soft look at creates the classic and timeless appeal.
To create this effect, the 1970s preset decreases both vibrance and saturation. This complements the tints very well, as you can see in the After photo above. The colors on the hammock look softer, but you can still distinguish their subtle hues. You can maximize this retro effect by using photos that feature a wide spectrum of colors, under bright natural light. The more colors you have, the more charming the blends would be.
Tweaks the Tone Curve for an Authentic Look
70s Motif. The 1970s preset adjust the tone curve to moderate the highlights. The less intense light tones blend better with the overall vintage film aesthetic. In the example above, the preset mutes the white walls and the sky. They now look soft and matted, which are, again, corresponding to the 1970s video motif. With these adjustments in light and colors, 1970s preset will always produce an authentic vintage-looking result.
If you plan to feature something vintage in your social media or Instagram post, like retro outfits or a car, try this preset to give it an authentic feel.
Applies Custom Saturation Settings
Desaturated Hues. In addition to the general adjustment to the saturation under presence, 1970s preset adjusts the saturation of some specific colors, too. To accurately copy the home video effect, it specifically reduces the saturation of reds, and boosts those of blue and magenta.
You can more closely observe how the preset does this in the example above. Notice how the girl's red shirt is muted, while the blue jeans appear more saturated even against the yellow filter.
1970s preset is for Lightroom Mobile, Desktop and...
Like all our presets, you can absolutely use 1970s 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
This Free Lightroom Preset was last updated on May 13, 2020
