Color Grading Presets vs Cinematic Presets: Which is Best?

If you’ve been exploring Lightroom presets, you’ve probably heard two terms a lot: color grading presets and cinematic presets. They might sound interchangeable, but there’s a key difference that can help you choose the right presets for your photography.

Let’s break it down so you can edit smarter, faster, and with more style.

What’s the Difference between Color Grading Presets and Cinematic Presets?

• Color Grading Presets: Adjust tones, hues, contrast, and overall color to create a polished, versatile look for portraits, travel photos, weddings, and lifestyle photography.
• Cinematic Presets: A specialized type of color grading preset designed to emulate movie-like tones, mood, and storytelling depth in your images.

What Are Color Grading Presets?

Color grading presets are all about adjusting color and tone. They refine your photos by tweaking highlights, shadows, midtones, saturation, and overall contrast.

They’re extremely versatile, suitable for portrait, wedding, travel, lifestyle, and product photography. Think of them as the foundation for a consistent, polished style across your portfolio.

👉 Explore our Color Grading Presets for Lightroom to see the full collection.

What Are Cinematic Presets?

Cinematic presets are a specialized form of color grading focused on recreating the feel of movies. They emphasize mood, atmosphere, and storytelling, often using teal-orange contrasts, moody shadows, and dramatic highlights.

Perfect for street photography, automotive shots, moody portraits, or editorial work, these presets give your images the kind of depth and drama you see in film stills.

“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.” – Destin Sparks, cinematographer & photographer

👉 Check out our Cinematic Presets for Lightroom to give your photos that cinematic edge.

The Key Differences

Here’s a quick comparison:

Tip: All cinematic presets are color grading presets, but not all color grading presets are cinematic.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Color Grading Presets: For versatility, consistent style, and general photo enhancement.
• Cinematic Presets: For drama, mood, and a cinematic storytelling effect.

Many photographers use both: color grading presets for everyday consistency and cinematic presets for dramatic projects.

FAQ

Are cinematic presets just color grading presets?

Yes, cinematic presets are a specialized form of color grading that focuses on movie-inspired mood and color tones.

Can I use both in the same edit?

Absolutely. Start with a color grading preset for the base style, then layer a cinematic preset for atmosphere and depth.

Do these presets work in Lightroom Mobile?

Yes, all of our presets are compatible with both Lightroom Desktop and Mobile.

Which is better for beginners?

Color grading presets are ideal for starting out, but cinematic presets are also beginner-friendly, giving instant dramatic results.

Final Thoughts

Both color grading presets and cinematic presets can elevate your photography – it just depends on the look you want to achieve.

• Use color grading presets for versatility and polish.
• Use cinematic presets for drama, storytelling, and movie-like mood.

Either way, your photos will stand out with professional, film-inspired style.

Explore the full collections:

• Color Grading Presets for Lightroom
• Cinematic Presets for Lightroom