A medium-contrast photo of an architecture

Microcontrast


Microcontrast is a free Lightroom preset that enhances the natural look of images. It makes them clear and vivid without altering much of a photo’s elements. You can easily regard this preset as a go-to quick fix if you simply want to enhance tonal contrast, depth, and texture — if you want a little pop and polish.

You can apply this preset to any photo because of its versatile adjustments. It can make any image look professionally taken and processed, from indoor portraits to landscapes.

Enhances Depth and Detail

A vibrant photo of a woman's hands wrapped around a mug of coffee

Clear Definition. Microcontrast preset amplifies contrast, clarity, and sharpening levels to enhance depth and definition. Contrast helps broaden and intensify all tones while, more specifically, clarity reinforces the midtones. You can see how these two attributes come together by comparing the mugs of coffee in the Before and After photos above. Notice how that mug looks more defined: the shadows in the mug are more accentuated and the rim looks reinforced.

It is easy to spot how the increase in sharpening affects images, especially in the After photo above. Simply examine the wooden table’s grains and the book’s pages.

A vibrant outdoor of a woman in a denim jacket sitting on a rock, with a mountain landscape in the background

Vibrant Outdoors. If your photo has a lot of elements and fine details, you definitely would want to give Microcontrast a try. This is especially true for outdoor photos like landscapes and dynamic urban scenes.

Let us compare the images above and see how the preset processes tone and texture. First, pay attention to the subject: notice how the intensified tones accentuate her clothing, hair, and position. She seems to pop more against the mountain landscape in the background.

As with any photos of landscapes, it is important to note the crispness of textures. It, after all, defines the terrain and the entire scenery. Notice how the rock looks coarser now, too, and how it adds to the overall atmosphere of the image.

Accentuates Features

A vibrant full-body photo of a woman wearing a white summer dress

Dramatic Portraits. See how Microcontrast’s seemingly simple settings produce professional results. In the After photo above, notice how the preset accentuates the woman’s features, from facial expressions to her skin tones. Even her hair strands look more defined now.

As you can see in this example, Microcontrast preset is also optimized for outdoor portraiture. It makes the most of natural light and, with it, draws out more complex tones. The mood is reinforced as a result. See how the resulting image commands more attention now.

A vibrant photo of a woman and her dog walking side-by-side on a wooden bridge

Natural Tones. The preset does not drastically alter your photo’s elements, as you can see above. It retains the natural colors and only heightens tones for definition. Examine the effect above: there are now lush greens, sharper lines, and crisper shadows. Notice how the preset also brings out the natural beauty of the dog’s fur; it is not only more textured but also richer in color. From this example, you can see how you can use Microcontrast on pet photos as well. Overall, the image looks more polished, especially with its sharper details and elegant brown hues.

Microcontrast preset is for Lightroom Mobile, Desktop and…

Like all our presets, you can absolutely use Microcontrast 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

Portrait Free Lightroom Presets


Free Lightroom Preset by Forrest Lane

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