Lightroom Presets Vs LUTs for Photo Editing (Ricoh GR III, IIIx)

For years, I relied exclusively on Lightroom to edit my images. Consequently, all the products I created for fellow creators were designed for Lightroom and required it to function. I initially assumed that even if someone didn’t have an Adobe subscription, they could still download and use the free version of the Lightroom mobile app to apply my presets. This way, after purchasing my presets, they wouldn’t need to pay any additional fees to use them.

However, those days are long gone. Now, loading presets into the Lightroom mobile app requires a desktop subscription, or at best involves a cumbersome process of copying and pasting from .DNG files.

Seeking a more accessible solution, I developed a new workflow that has been serving me well for the past year: LUTs instead of Presets. I’ve created a specialized method, which I call "The Ricoh Formula" - a combination of in-camera settings and custom LUTs tailored to these settings, producing excellent results. You can learn more about it here: Ricoh Workflow.

Why LUTs?

• LUTs are compatible with various software, including Photoshop, Lightroom (installed via Photoshop as a profile), Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and most importantly, free smartphone apps like Liit, among others.

• Unlike Lightroom presets, the intensity of a LUT is adjustable.

• Easily transferable across multiple devices, allowing for seamless editing on the go.

• Non-destructive and optimized for JPG files - no need to shoot in RAW.

• Applicable to both photos and videos.

*Disclaimer: This article explains why I prefer LUTs over Presets in my workflow, specifically when working with images from my Ricoh camera. The opinions expressed here apply to my custom LUTs designed for the Ricoh GR III, IIIx, and III HDF. Not all LUTs available online function in the same way or are optimized for photo editing.