A couple holding hands and looking at the mountain landscape view

Zen Film 1


Zen Film 1 is a free Lightroom preset that applies a dark matte but vibrant look to images. It combines the classic film style with the modern high-contrast look. Its enhancements result in a vivid and dramatic photograph.

You can try this preset on various types of photography, whatever demands a strong and bold aesthetic. It works best on outdoor photos or well-lit indoor images. Its analog look will always add a layer of nostalgia, as expected from a preset that emulates the look of analog photography.

This preset also makes a stunning Instagram filter! Not only does it make your images look attractive, but it also gives your entire feed a professional and cohesive look.

Darkens and Deepens Tones

A dark and modern urban photo of a woman wearing a textured blue blazer

Accentuated Tones. To create its signature dark look and feel, Zen Film 1 darkens all tones. It subdues whites and highlights, while it further dims blacks and shadows. As a result, light regions look soft in matte, while dark regions are reinforced. The preset further refines this look in the tone curve.

In conjunction with the above settings, the preset also increases contrast. This helps make tones appear bolder and more defined. You can examine this in the After photo above. Take note of the intensified dark regions and how it contributes to the preset’s moody atmosphere.

Produces Clear and Deep Hues

A clear and vibrant photo of a wooden bridge at a beach

Clarifies. The preset creates deep and rich colors by first applying a custom RGB channel in the tone curve. It then moderately darkens them using the vibrance and saturation sliders. To make them look smooth and clear, Zen Film 1 also refines the resulting hues by increasing the dehaze effect as well.

You can compare the above Before and After photos. Try to observe how the preset processes colors by giving them a denser look. The resulting photo has more complex hues: examine the wooden bridge, vivid blue sky, dramatic clouds, and the light blue waters.

Refines Color Saturation and Luminance

A clear and vibrant outdoor photo of a white hut at a beach

Richer Hues. In addition to the previous color enhancements, Zen Film 1 applies finer tweaks in Lightroom’s HSL panel. It specifically decreases the saturation — the amount of color — in all colors except orange. It does so at varying levels. As a result, the colors look darker yet still vivid. These little adjustments help draw out the dramatic mood in any photo.

For an added film matte effect, the preset further subdues some brilliance in colors. It lowers the luminance of all colors except yellow. As you can see in the example above, doing so removes some luster and, instead, adds richness in hues.

Adds Film Texture

A warm and vibrant photo of a man holding a gold club

Crisp Textures. Lastly, to complete the charming film look, Zen Film 1 enhances textures. It, after all, tries to replicate the sharp and grainy look that most retro films produce. To do this, the preset amplifies sharpening adjustments and adds fine grain.

In the After photo above, examine the dark tones and refined textures of the fields, the man’s skin tones, and his clothes. Try to notice, too, how these effects come together to produce such a compelling and dramatic look.

Zen Film 1 is for Lightroom Mobile, Desktop and…

Like all our presets, you can absolutely use Zen Film 1 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

Film Free Lightroom Presets


Free Lightroom Preset by Lightroom Zen

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