Apply profiles to photos

Last updated on Jun 5, 2026

Learn how to use profiles to enhance color and tonality as a foundation for editing your photos.

Profiles determine how colors and tonality appear in your photos, providing a foundation for further adjustments. Applying a profile doesn’t change other edit slider values, so you can edit your photo first and then apply a profile, or apply a profile and continue editing.

Profile groups vary depending on whether you're editing a raw or non-raw photo. Raw photos provide access to Adobe Raw, Camera Matching, and Adaptive profile groups, while non-raw photos show only Basic profiles (Color and Monochrome). Creative profiles work with any file type and provide additional style effects.

Apply a profile

Select a photo to open it in Detail view.

Select Edit > Profiles .

Select the Basic drop-down list and select the desired profile from different categories, such as Favorites, Basic, Artistic, B&W, Film-Inspired, Modern, or Vintage.

Swipe through the profile thumbnails and select a profile to apply to your photo.

Select the Slider on the profile thumbnail to enable the Amount slider and adjust the profile intensity.

Tip

Select and hold the photo to preview the Before view and compare your changes. Select the Star icon on any profile thumbnail to add it to the Favorites profile group.

Apply Adaptive profiles

Select a RAW or DNG image to open it in Detail view.

Select Edit > Profiles .

Select the Basic drop-down list, and then select Adaptive.

From the Adaptive profile group, select Adaptive B&W or Adaptive Color.

Note

Adobe Raw and Camera Matching appear when you select RAW or DNG images.

Drag the intensity slider to adjust the effect from 0 to 200.

For best results, apply Adaptive profiles before making other adjustments to your photo. If you use the Remove or Healing tools after applying an Adaptive profile, you may need to update the profile.

Profile groups vary depending on whether you’re editing a raw or non-raw photo. Non-RAW photos show only Basic profiles (Color and Monochrome), while RAW or DNG photos provide access to both Basic and Adaptive profile groups. Creative profiles work with any file type.

Apply a profile

Select a photo to open it in Detail view.

Select Edit > Profiles .

Select the Basic drop-down list and select the desired profile from different categories, such as Favorites, Basic, Legacy, Artistic, B&W, Film-Inspired, Modern, or Vintage.

Swipe through the profile thumbnails and select a profile to apply to your photo.

Select the Slider on the profile thumbnail to enable the Amount slider and adjust the profile intensity.

Tip

Select and hold the photo to preview the Before view and compare your changes. Select the Star icon on any profile thumbnail to add it to the Favorites profile group.

Select the Done to save your edits.

Apply Adaptive profiles

Select a RAW or DNG image to open it in Detail view.

Select Edit > Profiles.

Select the Basic drop-down list, and then select Adaptive.

From the Adaptive profile group, select Adaptive B&W or Adaptive Color.

Select the Slider on the profile thumbnail to enable the Amount slider and adjust the profile intensity.

Select the Done to save your edits.

For best results, apply the Adaptive profile before making other adjustments to your photo. If you use the Remove or Heal editing tools after applying an Adaptive profile, you may need to update the profile.

Adjust colors

Manage profiles

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