One thing that sometimes surprises people that can happen with presets is, you apply a preset to your photo that you think will work… but then the colors look wrong.

This happens even with the best of the best presets designed by professional photographers because not every preset works with every photo, and because presets can alter the “white balance” of your photo.

White balance is a setting that establishes the true color of white and creates a baseline from which all other colors are measured. This is important because white may not actually appear “white” under all lighting conditions, so this helps correct it.

So if you apply a preset and the colors look weird, go to the Color module/tab and adjust the white balance slider until you achieve the right temperature and tint.

Here’s how:

Locate the White Balance Panel: Look for the White Balance panel under the Color tab in Lightroom.

Adjust the Temperature Slider: The Temperature slider in the White Balance panel controls the overall warmth or coolness of the image. Move the slider to the left to make the photo cooler or to the right to make it warmer. Observe the changes to the colors as you adjust the slider and stop when you achieve the desired temperature.

Fine-Tune the Tint Slider: The Tint slider in the White Balance panel controls the green or magenta tint in the image. Move the slider to the left to add green or to the right to add magenta. Make small adjustments until you achieve the desired tint.

Assess the Color Accuracy: As you modify the white balance sliders, pay attention to the colors in your image. Aim to achieve natural-looking colors that accurately represent the scene as you remember it or convey the desired mood.

Experiment and Iterate: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different white balance settings and play with it until you achieve the perfect color balance. Adjusting the white balance is a subjective process, and what looks right to you may be different from others’ preferences.

By customizing the white balance, you have greater control over the colors in your photo, enabling you to achieve accurate color reproduction. This step is particularly important if the preset you applied altered the white balance in a way that doesn’t align with your vision for the image.

White balance is an essential aspect of post-processing that affects the overall feel and mood of your photo. Through experimentation and adjustment, you can fine-tune the white balance to achieve the exact temperature and tint that complements your creative vision and brings your photo to life!