Yellow Dream free Lightroom preset adds a warm retro film look to images. It coats them with a yellow tint that blends with soft accented tones. Its low contrast style also adds a layer of nostalgia.
Because of its unique tonal accents, this analog film preset also looks cinematic. Yellow Dream combines the movie aesthetic that we love with the vintage hues of old films. It is a versatile look that can be applied to all types of photography, from portraits to landscapes. If you want to make the most of its pastel warm tones, use this preset on photos shot under diffused natural light. This will give your shots a golden glow.
You can also try to use it as an Instagram filter! It will give your images, even your entire feed, a cozy and cohesive look.
Creates an Analog Film Look
Warm Film. Yellow Dream creates its signature film look by blending several accent tones. It applies a tinge of violet-magenta hues in highlights and shadows. It then tweaks the effect further by applying a custom blue channel setting in the tone curve.
The preset brings out all these accent colors by lowering contrast. It even further softens tones in the succeeding adjustments. For now, try to examine the result of these subtle layers in the After photo above. The woman's portrait looks light and airy, now with a coat of the preset's elegant style.
Softens Light Regions for a Vintage Effect
Soft Matte. As a film emulation, the preset noticeably has a matte effect. It primarily produces this look by softening whites and highlights. It even refines the look in the tone curve as well. In the example above, try to compare the brightness of the light regions. They now look dimmed. Even if the effect is significant, notice how it can still retain a lot of details.
Lightens Dark Regions Like Old Film
Dark Grays. The preset lightly decreases the dark regions to complement the softening adjustments mentioned above. It makes sure that there are no harsh blacks or shadows; you would get more dark complex grays instead.
You can examine the result in the After photo above. Look at the man's pants, his sunglasses, and the plants behind him. These softer tones now blend well with the rest of the lightened elements. Also, notice how these tweaks all help to bring out more of Yellow Dream's accent colors.
Accentuates Some Colors to Simulate Film Tints
Vintage Tint. The preset amplifies the saturation of colors that would more likely get muted by its old film style. It reinforces orange, yellow, aqua, and blue hues. In contrast, it reduces the saturation of those that are likely to stick out, which are red, green, and purple. All in all, these fine settings make sure that all colors mix well and replicate the look of a film tint.
Try to examine those bushes and trees at the side of the road. Observe how Yellow Dream processes these colors. The car's paint looks a bit fainter now, but finally blending in.
Green Accents. Yellow Dream adds more brilliance to yellow and purple. These, after all, comprise its color motif. Then, as an accent, it darkens green hues. This, combined with the desaturation above, makes greenery appear dark and deep.
You can easily spot the result in the example above. Note the forest at the right and how it stands out without appearing too intense. The hues remain rich and warm.
Yellow Dream is for Lightroom Mobile, Desktop, and...
You can absolutely use the Yellow Dream 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. If you want more retro film presets, view our entire collection here.
- 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 July 5, 2020
