Set preferences for working in Lightroom Classic

Presets

HDR Defaults

Select the checkbox to allow HDR editing by default for HDR photos. 

RAW Defaults

You can set default settings for importing raw file format images in Lightroom Classic based on Adobe defaults, camera-specific defaults, or custom presets.

Visibility

Some presets are partially compatible with the selected photo, as not all Preset settings can be applied to the image. Select the checkbox to allow the partially compatible devices.

Location

If you are working with more than one catalog, you may find that your presets need to be included while working with a particular catalog. This can happen if you have the Store presets with this catalog option selected in the preferences.

By default, the presets and templates that you create in Lightroom Classic and your catalog are stored at different locations within the user account folder path on your computer. To know the default locations on macOS and Windows, see 'Presets and templates' and 'Catalog' locations in Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic.

Any new presets or templates you create after selecting the Store Presets With This Catalog option will be stored in a new folder named 'Lightroom Classic Setting' created within the associated catalog folder.

The advantage of using this option is that the presets and templates are available in Lightroom Classic when you launch the associated catalog on another computer. These presets and templates include Develop presets, Export presets, External Editor presets, Filename presets, Filter presets, FTP presets, Keyword sets, Label sets, Local Adjustment presets, Metadata presets, Print templates, text templates, Watermarks, and Web templates.

Lightroom Defaults

You can restore the Lightroom Classic defaults by selecting the respective buttons:

• Restore Export Presets
• Restore Filename Templates
• Restore Library Filter Presets
• Restore Auto Layout Presets
• Restore Keyword Set Presets
• Restore Text Templates
• Restore Color Label Presets
• Restore Text Style Presets
• Restore Local Adjustment Presets 

External Editing

Edit in Adobe Photoshop 

Photoshop version: This option lets you select a specific version of Photoshop while editing your photos with an external editor.
File Format: Saves camera raw images in either TIFF or PSD format.
Color Space: Converts photos to the sRGB, AdobeRGB, Display P3, or ProPhoto RGB color space and tags them with the color profile.
Bit Depth: Saves photos with a bit depth of 8 bits or 16 bits per color channel (red, green, and blue). 8-bit files are smaller and more compatible with various applications but don't preserve the fine tonal detail of 16-bit files.
Resolution: Sets the resolution of the image.
Compression: Applies either ZIP or no photo compression. (Only applicable when you select TIFF as a file format)

Additional External Editor

Preset: Select the preset for the external editor from the drop-down list.
Application: Select the application where you want to edit images in an external editor.
File Format: Saves camera raw images in either TIFF or PSD format.
Color Space: Converts photos to the sRGB, AdobeRGB, Display P3, or ProPhoto RGB color space and tags them with the color profile.
Bit Depth: Saves photos with a bit depth of 8 bits or 16 bits per color channel (red, green, and blue). 8-bit files are smaller and more compatible with various applications but do not preserve the fine tonal detail of 16-bit files.
Resolution: Sets the resolution of the image.
Compression: Applies either ZIP or no photo compression. (Only applicable when you select TIFF as a file format)

Stack With Original

Select the checkbox to stack the edited photo with the original in the folder. If you edit a photo while viewing a collection, two stacks will be created, one in the folder and one in the collection.

Edit Externally File Naming

You can name your file according to your requirements. To change the file name manually, select Edit from the drop-down menu.

Image Name: Specifies a text string option using the filename or folder name.
Sequence and Date: Specifies a text string option using sequential numbers and creation (capture) date and time. This element is available in the Filename Template Editor only when exporting photos.
Metadata: Specifies a text string option using the option available in the drop-down list. 
Custom: Uses the options you specify for the text string.

File Handling

Import DNG Creation

File Extension: Makes the filename extension .dng or .DNG.

 JPEG Preview: Determines whether the exported JPEG preview is None,  Medium Size, or Full Sized.

Embed Fast Load Data: Select the checkbox to allow images to load faster in the Develop module but increase file size slightly.

Embed Original Raw File: Select the checkbox to store all original camera raw data in the DNG file.

Reading Metadata

Select the options to recognize a period ( . ) or forward slash ( / ) between keywords as designating keyword hierarchies.

File Name Generation

Specify which characters and spaces in the filenames of imported photos are illegal, determine how they are replaced, and change the filename when it has space.

Keywords

Select the checkbox to automatically add keywords to enhanced images. Enhanced text is added.

Interface

Panels

End Marks: Select the End marks from the drop-down list.
Font Size: Select the Font size from the drop-down list.

Select the checkbox to Swap only Develop Left and Right panel or Swap Left and Right panel groups.

Lights Out

Select the Screen Color and Dim Level from the drop-down list.

Background

Set the Fill color for the Main Window and Secondary Window from the drop-down list.

Keyword Entry

Separate the keywords by either commas or spaces for keywords.

Select the checkbox for Auto-complete text in Keyword Tags field from the drop-down list.

Filmstrip

Select the checkbox to set the preferences for the Filmstrip.

Tweaks

Select the checkbox to Zoom clicked point to center, Use system preference for font smoothing, and Show Auto Sync notifications.

Performance

Camera Raw

Lightroom Classic can use a compatible graphics processor to speed up tasks of displaying and adjusting images in different modules. Read more about Graphic Processors.

Camera Raw Cache Settings

You can increase the cache size in Lightroom Classic. This allows it to store more image data, which speeds up the generation of previews of those images.

Video Cache Settings

You can also increase the video cache size in Lightroom Classic. This allows it to store more video data, which speeds up the generation of previews of those videos.

Develop

Select the checkbox to Enable hover preview of presets, history and snapshots in Loupe, and Use Smart Previews instead of Originals for image editing.

Catalog Settings

Optimizing the catalog instructs Lightroom Classic to examine the data structure of the catalog and make sure that it's brief.

Preview Generation Settings

Generate preview in parallel processes multiple previews in parallel rather than sequentially. Select the checkbox to enable it.

Read more about the performance tips to optimize Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom Sync

In the Lightroom Sync tab of the Preferences dialog box, you can specify the settings for syncing photos between Lightroom Classic and the Lightroom ecosystem of apps. Read more about how to sync Lightroom Classic with Lightroom Ecosystem.

Account

You can view information about your account in the Account section, such as Adobe ID, Name, Status, Subscribed, End Date, and Uploads. You can select More Account Info Online to access your Adobe ID account online and sign in with your Adobe ID (email address) and password.

Delete All Synced Data removes all the image data and synced information from Creative Cloud, including previews, metadata, and develop settings. Your original photos stored on your computer remain unaffected. All the collections are preserved, but their sync settings are reset.

Options

You can select the Prevent System Sleep During Sync option to stop your computer from sleeping while the Lightroom Classic desktop syncs images with the Lightroom ecosystem of apps.

Location

By default, the Lightroom Classic desktop synchronizes your Lightroom ecosystem images at:

(Win) C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures

(Mac) /Users/[user name]/Pictures

You can use the following options to choose a preferred location for Lightroom ecosystem images and specify a folder structure.

Specify Location for Lightroom Ecosystem's Images

Choose a preferred path for downloading Lightroom ecosystem images.

Use Subfolders Formatted By Capture Date

Select this option to choose a preferred subfolder format for downloading Lightroom ecosystem's images within the above location. 

Display

You can choose a monitor for a secondary window in Lightroom Classic in the Display Preferences tab. 

Network

Proxy Server Settings

Enter the credentials for the proxy server and select OK to save. When the Lightroom Classic app launches, they query for a connection to the Internet. Read more about how the Proxy support in Creative Cloud products works.