Creating Presets from Inspiration Photos

Sidecar vs preset — what's the difference?

An XMP sidecar is tied to one photo — it sits next to your RAW file and applies settings to that specific image. A develop presetis a reusable template you can apply to any photo in Lightroom's Presets panel.

GetXMP's Generate Preset mode is for when you find a look you love — on Pinterest, Instagram, a film scan, or a mood board — and want to capture that grade as a starting point for your own work.

What makes a good inspiration image?

• A finished photo with a clear, consistent grade (not a flat RAW)
• Film scans with visible color character (Portra, Fuji, Kodak Gold, etc.)
• Mood board crops where the color story is obvious
• Screenshots from photographers whose style you want to study

Step-by-step in GetXMP

1. Switch to Generate Preset on the homepage
2. Upload your inspiration image (JPEG, PNG, or WEBP)
3. Optionally describe what you love about the look
4. Name your preset (e.g. "Warm Portra", "Blue Hour Fade")
5. Click Analyze Look & Generate Preset
6. Review the look description, parameter breakdown, and color grade card
7. Download the .xmp preset file

Installing in Lightroom Classic

1. Open the Develop module
2. Right-click a preset folder → Import Presets…
3. Select your downloaded file — it appears under GetXMP Presets

Important expectations

A preset captures a starting point, not a one-click match. Your lighting, camera, and subject will differ from the inspiration image. After applying the preset, adjust exposure and white balance per photo — that's normal and expected.