A vignetted shot of a woman on top of a mountain

Shadow Crusher


Shadow Crusher is a free Lightroom preset that saturates images with bold vivid tones. Its dark and dramatic aesthetic is similar to a cross-processed photograph or a modern urban artwork.

Try to make a loud statement with this preset’s intense look. With its complex audacious style, Shadow Crusher will leave an impression as unforgettable as it looks.

Vivid Urban Scenes

An alley with blue walls, doors, and an awning

Dynamic Urbanscape. This preset can produce dramatic scenes out of your immediate surroundings; it is like the expressionist art produced in the 1920s. It is dark and bold. The mood is intense and suspenseful.

Shadow Crusher produces this effect by adding a stark magenta tint. This reddish hue also complements the boost in contrast and exposure. See how striking and transformed the After photo is now: from a cozy alleyway to a stark urban street.

Intensifies Mood and Artistic Drama

A jump shot of a man on a rocky mountaintop

Fearless Hues. The magenta tint above comes with a brown tone in the highlights. This warms the light areas of an image. This is most noticeable in high-key backgrounds, like the vast sky in the photo above.

Then there is the boost in vibrance, of course. The boldness of this Shadow Crusher preset can, after all, be attributed to the overall amplification of tone and colors.

These help underscore the daring and fearless mood of the image. Like the photo above, for example: that daring man is jumping from up high and does not seem to mind. In such a case, only an equally bold preset would do it justice.

Bold, Dark, and Gothic

A bold shot of a late-gothic architecture

Gothic. In addition to those day-to-day or casual use, the preset also enhances architectural photos to make them look grand and majestic.

Look at the photo above, for example. That is Jerónimos Monastery, Portugal’s late-gothic architecture. The preset heightens the gothic vibe; the structure is even more awe-inspiring now, even somewhat haunting.

The preset also increases sharpness and clarity to help emphasize the intricate details. As a result, you can see more of the windows, spires, and structure’s texture.

Cross-Processed Look and Feel

A road lined with palm trees leading to a mountain range

Vintage Drama. This preset is reminiscent of the old film style of cross-processing. It was a manual and skillful method that was popular in the age of analog cameras.

Shadow Crusher replicates some of its recognizable elements with a decrease in all highlights, shadows, white and black channels. Notice the now inky blacks in the image. This is, again, one with the preset’s bold style.

Lastly, another visible addition is the strong, dramatic, vignetting. It hones into the center of the image, ideally where the subject would be. It is as though you are peering through something closely, and anticipating something yet to emerge.

Hence, for a dark suspenseful filter, look no further — this is the one to use. Experiment with it on your next photo shoot or even an Instagram upload. It will be interesting to note your audience’s reactions.

Shadow Crusher is for Lightroom Mobile, Desktop, and…

Like all of our presets, you can absolutely use Shadow Crusher 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

Shadow Crusher - Preset Love Preset


Free Lightroom Preset by PresetLove.com

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