
In this guide, we'll dive into the key considerations for crafting your own presets. We'll walk you through a step-by-step process for developing your unique style, experimenting and refining your preset, and then sharing it with the Darkroom community.

A preset is essentially a collection of editing commands that allow you to quickly attain a specific look or style in your photographs, applied in one go instead having to apply each edit individually. They're an incredibly handy tool, offering a solid starting point and streamlining the photo editing workflow, while ensuring your photos maintain a consistent visual look.

---

## How to create a preset

If you are simply wondering what steps to take to practically create a presets:

1. Make sure you have opened a photo and have made edits.
2. Go to the preset tool and tap the “Create a New Preset” button.
3. Finally, giving it a name in the dialog that appears.
4. Your newly created preset will now show in the “My Presets” section.

That’s it, you are done creating a preset.

Now, we made the below quick and easy to follow tutorial video to help you get started with creating a preset. It’s a great way to get a feel for the process and see how it’s done. However, if you are looking for a more in-depth guide, keep reading as there are more considerations when creating your preset. The key of these considerations is to strike a balance between personal style and universal versatility when developing a preset.

<YoutubeEmbed id="MEYE0MeQx58" title="Make Your Own Custom Presets on iPhone" />

---

## Develop your own custom preset

Creating a preset solely by experimenting with sliders while looking at a photo can be challenging. It is creatively more effective to begin with a clear goal in mind, so that you can determine when you have achieved your desired result.

When determining your style, it is important to try and analyze your preferred aesthetic and mood. Consider the overall look and feel that you want to convey in your photos. Are you attracted to vibrant and vivid colors, or do you prefer a more subtle and muted palette, or perhaps even black and white? What emotion do you want to impart on your photos, bright and fun, or dark and moody? Do you lean towards a clean and minimalist style, or do you prefer a bold and dramatic approach? Perhaps you want to replicate a specific look that you have seen before? At this stage, there is no right or wrong answer; it is subjective, so focus on what you personally like.

It is very helpful to gather example photos that you admire to create a mood board. This can serve as a reference point as you develop your preset. Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are great sources of inspiration to start with.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2024-03-12-moodboard-asteroid-city.jpg"
  alt="Asteroid City Moodboard"
  caption="Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City Moodboard, photos by Focus Features"
  width="2000"
  height="890"
  wide
/>

### Inspect, play and learn

Collecting photos of looks you like, and trying to recreate the look is a well established and great way to learn and create presets. Playing around with the different tools to recreate or match a look is a great way to learn how to create a preset. What you might not have realized, is that when you apply any of the bundled or [community presets](/presets) in Darkroom, you can inspect all the tools to see and learn exactly what tools and specific edits where used to achieve that look! Dissecting or recreating presets offer a fantastic learning opportunity. By understanding the adjustments and choices made in a look, you can gain deeper insights into advanced color grading techniques.

<PresetCollection
  ids={[
    "3F462B06-F723-4980-B9A2-922D82937077", // Asteroid City
    "302D9C13-78B0-4EF8-9FC1-526B33CA10F4", // Natura, Fujifilm Natura 160, @sangsara
    "86649FC4-FD3E-4E10-8620-B465603B3AFD", // Tatton
    "C8517D31-9B7C-419F-9099-4FB27D098020", // Fuji CC, Fuji Classic Chrome
    "3DA1FC4C-7412-4E19-BFBC-80F32E3FA8C2", // FR4, Fujifilm’s Provia 400X
    "58C17CF3-5BC8-41D6-87EB-37287BDAA846", // Verve 1, @MyPhotoYear
    "D9E6C4FC-D46F-474F-A8F3-02342688C3F3", // AV4, Agfa Vista 400 film
    "84CC2037-304A-42F7-9238-291AEBB516A7", // FF Acros
    "949D7035-0C93-409D-AD85-A7F593423B75", // CPB, Cross Process
    "D18C89AD-19ED-4606-AE96-E8DF4915F045", // Kodachrome, @mattmaber
    "76A19AA8-BAE3-43DC-8AD6-80D34C879EC1", // Classic Negative, Fuji Classic Negative, @LenzAtemporal
    "623D7699-F49A-4420-83F8-2E984171FC8D", // VSCO A9, @tony_martinez
    "ED03B6BA-EAEE-4DEF-9D9E-C1B5AFF2EF31", // Portra, @mattcorkum
  ]}
  presets={presets}
/>

### Create an opinionated first preset

Start by making bold and significant changes. Don't be afraid to push the limits of each tool. Sometimes the most unique and personal presets come from unexpected tweaks and adjustments. Often, we tend to make subtle changes that are not distinctive enough. Once you have an opinionated starting point, it becomes easier to gradually tone it down where necessary.

While it is possible to create a single preset that works on any photo, it can limit your ability to enhance the colors in the photo. That's why we recommend starting with a specific look that you like, and then consider creating variants of that preset that work well for bright/dark or flat/contrasty photos. Having a naming system, which we will discuss later in this guide, allows you to easily identify which preset works best for different photos.

### Tools to use in Darkroom

When creating your own presets in Darkroom, it is recommended to primarily use the curves, color grading, selective color, and masks tools for making adjustments. These tools offer a wide range of flexibility and control over the editing process. Use the Selective Color tool to make the blues in a summer sky more vibrant, or employ Masks to subtly darken the background in a busy street scene. By excluding basic adjustments like brightness, contrast, blacks, and whites from your preset, you enable yourself and others to freely apply the preset and separately make photo specific lighting adjustments.

If you don’t do this, your presets adjustments either won’t be applied, as the adjustments already made to the photo are prioritized and will be kept. Or, if you first apply the preset and then make adjustments the additional changes will have less available range.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2024-03-12-tools.jpg"
  alt="4 core preset tools: curves, color grading, selective color, masks"
  width="2001"
  height="1015"
  wide
/>

1. **[Curves](/blog/2015-06-curves-part-1-of-2)** We recommend by starting with this tool first, as it allow you to adjust the basic lighting, by brightening or darkling the whole image. As well as adjust contrast by manipulating the light and dark areas of an image separately. You can create deeper blacks, brighter whites, and everything in-between, giving you more control over the overall tone and mood of the photo. And with curves support for individual colors curves can also be used to tweak colors and color casts. By adjusting the curves for individual color channels (like red, green, and blue), you can correct color imbalances and enhance tones in a way that's often more precise than using the selective color tool.
2. **[Color Grading](/blog/2022-12-12-color-grading)** wheels make it easy to visually adjust the balance of colors overall, or in your shadows, mid-tones, and highlights specifically. By simply dragging a point around the wheel, you can add or reduce specific colors in these tonal ranges. This is super handy for creating a balanced or stylized look, with the ability to make the whole photo, or just the shadows, look warmer or cooler.
3. **[Selective Color](/blog/2015-08-color-tool)** enable quick control over individual color regions, giving you the ability to adjust their brightness, saturation and shift their hue. Want to make those blues pop in the sky, or shift them to teal, or make the grass seem more green and saturated. Be careful when using the red and orange tones as they tend to significantly impact skin colors.
4. **[Masks](/blog/2022-04-masks)** are a pretty advanced and powerful way for you to layer different color adjustments on top of each other. This means you can have one set of color adjustments for the background and a different set for the subject, all within the same preset. It's like having multiple presets in one. By adjusting colors in specific areas, you can guide the viewer's eye and create a sense of depth. For instance, you might want to desaturate the background while keeping the subject in full color, drawing attention to them.

### Add subtle effects for visual interest

Vignettes, [grain](/blog/2021-07-improved-grain), masks, and even [clarity](/blog/2021-05-clarity) can add subtle yet impactful effects to your photos, enhancing visual interest and directing the viewer's attention. Experiment with vignettes and masks to darken the edges of the frame slightly, drawing the eye towards the central subject. Or consider applying grain to compliment your overall editing style to gain a more vintage look. These elements can add a unique touch to your photos and contribute to the cohesive look you're aiming for.

Remember, the process of identifying your editing style and making creative choices is subjective and personal. It's about expressing your unique vision and creating a visual language that reflects your aesthetic preferences and mood. Enjoy the exploration and experimentation as you develop your editing style in Darkroom.

---

## Testing and iterating on your preset

Continuously experimenting, evaluating, and refining your preset is the only way to truly make it your own, versatile, and over time, gain enough confidence to share it with others.

### Update your preset

Once you have your first pass on a set of edits that you like, and you have created a preset of those edits, you will likely want to update your preset whenever you make follow up edits. We have tried to make this as easy as possible. So when you have created and applied a preset, and  make any subsequent changes we will indicate that your preset can be updated by showing dot • in front of the name. To actually update it, tap the ••• preset action icon, and use the available Update button to update your preset.

### Preview and Compare

To create a high-quality and somewhat broadly effective preset in Darkroom, it is crucial to preview and compare your edits throughout the preset development process on a wide range of photos. By doing so, you can iteratively refine the preset and evaluate its impact on your photos.

***Tip:*** You can tap-and-hold on your photo to quickly see the original unedited image. Enabling you to quickly visually compare what your edits are doing compared to the original photo.

<MediaDiff
  originalSrc="/assets/images/posts/2024-03-12-dino-reichmuth-unsplash.jpg"
  originalAlt="Before"
  modifiedSrc="/assets/images/posts/2024-03-12-dino-reichmuth-unsplash-edited.jpg"
  modifiedAlt="After"
  width="2000"
  height="1414"
  caption="Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash, Asteroid City preset by Jeff Dlouhy"
/>

By continuously previewing and comparing your preset, you can ensure that it delivers the desired visual style and maintains a cohesive look across a range of photos. This iterative process allows you to fine-tune the preset settings, ensuring that it achieves the intended effect while preserving the original qualities of the photos.

***Tip:*** To help in this process it can be useful to create a specific album with photos to test on. And to now end then export a few photos with the preset applied into a separate album. This way you can look through both originals, and previous version to compare changes made over time.

### Ensure compatibility with different subjects and skin tones

When applying your preset to different photos, it's important to ensure compatibility with various subjects and specifically skin tones. Each photo may have unique characteristics that require adjustments to achieve optimal results. Pay attention to how your preset affects different types of photos, such as landscapes (sky, water, vegetation), portraits (skin tones), or still life shots. Skin tones are specifically very important, so make adjustments if necessary to maintain a natural and pleasing appearance. Be careful not to brighten or darken skin tones (near orange) specifically as that can easily cause unintended results.

---

## Naming, sharing and gathering feedback

It can take a bit of time to develop a preset. It’s actually very good practice to just leave it be for a while to then come back to it with a fresh set of eyes. Either way, have fun with the process, don’t feel the need to rush it.

### Name your preset

By now we are pretty sure you have already given your preset a name as you have been developing it. You might have noticed that giving it a short name has helped as there aren’t a lot of characters available.

For the presets bundled with Darkroom we developed a naming convention. Perhaps you will find it useful. This can be especially useful if you want to develop a set of presets. But if you want to develop presets that stand on their own you can also just give them fun short names.

So, what are these Darkroom preset names; C100, I250, etc? The letter (C) represents the set name (Cinematic). The first number represents the main variant (C100), the second number a subtler or stronger sub-variant (C110).

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2023-07-25-share.jpg"
  alt="Share your custom presets with anyone quickly and easily using a simple link"
  caption="Share your custom presets with anyone quickly and easily using a simple link"
  width="1800"
  height="1800"
/>

### Share to gather constructive feedback

To Share your preset, tap the ••• preset action menu, and use the Share option you will find in the Preset actions options. When you do that we will upload your preset and create a unique URL, which you can then share with anybody.

To further refine and improve your preset, it can be valuable to seek feedback from others. Sharing your preset with the Darkroom community or trusted peers can provide valuable insights and constructive criticism. By gathering feedback, you can identify areas for improvement, address potential issues, and enhance the overall quality and usability of your preset. Embrace the opportunity to collaborate and learn from others to create a preset that resonates with a wider audience and contributes to the Darkroom community.

***Tip:*** Once a preset is shared, you have the flexibility to un-share it, make updates, and share it again, ensuring that all users have access to your latest changes.

---

In conclusion, creating your own presets in Darkroom allows you to establish a unique and consistent editing style for your photos. By inspecting and learning from existing presets, using the recommended edit tools, and identifying your preferred aesthetic and mood, you can craft presets that reflect your personal vision. So go ahead, unleash your creativity, and develop presets that bring your photos to life in a distinctive and captivating way.


Learn how to create and develop your own unique preset and share it with the community.

Create your own custom preset


If you're a lover of photography and enjoy editing your photos, you've probably heard of both Darkroom and VSCO. These two apps have become quite popular in the photography world over the years, and both offer some unique features. In this post, we'll take a look at the differences between both apps, and help you decide which one is best for you.

For one, most people now use their iPhone as their primary camera. Darkroom is built directly on top of Apple's iCloud Photo Library, so all of your photos are ready for you to start editing in Darkroom immediately after capture. We even [integrate with popular camera apps](https://darkroom.co/integrations) to make the workflow from capture to edit as flexible, quick, and smooth as possible. So, you won't have to import or upload anything, and you won’t have to manage separate libraries. In contrast, VSCO requires you to import and upload every photo you want to edit into their separate library.

Additionally, Darkroom is exclusive to Apple devices, while VSCO is available on Android. So if you're an Android user, you're out of luck with Darkroom. On the other hand, if you're an Apple customer, which many mobile photographers happen to be, Darkroom has an [award winning](https://darkroom.co/blog/2020-07-apple-design-award) interface across devices that is focused on reducing clicks and taps and increasing workflow efficiency, making it ideal for those who want to be able to edit photos efficiently on the go.

Ultimately, the choice between these two apps depends on your personal preferences and needs. The good news is that both apps offer trials, so you can test them out before committing to a purchase. So whether you're a professional photographer or just someone who loves taking photos, both apps offer their own unique features and benefits. The choice is yours!

---

Let’s briefly introduce both applications.

## Darkroom

We're a small, independent business that's been around since 2015. From the beginning, we've prioritized creating an exceptional photo editing experience on Apple's platforms that's optimized for people on-the-go. We were thrilled when Apple recognized our efforts by awarding us the prestigious [Apple Design Award](https://darkroom.co/blog/2020-07-apple-design-award). Now, you can use Darkroom on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro and take advantage of the seamless integration with Apple's iCloud Photo Library and many other unique Apple platform functionalities.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/main/devices.jpg"
  alt="Darkroom is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro"
  caption="Darkroom is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro"
  width="4200"
  height="2100"
  wide
/>

## VSCO

VSCO, which stands for Visual Supply Company, has been a favorite among mobile photographers since its launch in 2011, and is a heavily venture capital backed company. As a pioneer in the mobile photography field, they have always focused on providing a complete photography workflow on mobile, from capture to editing to sharing. It's known for its signature filters, which emulate the look of classic film cameras, and its minimalist, intuitive interface. In recent year it has incredibly focussed on building out it’s own social sharing platform. Available on both Android and iOS platforms, they have a wide and diverse user base all around the world. It’s a great choice for those seeking a straightforward, user-friendly editing experience with a wide variety of filters to choose from.

---

## How do they compare?

Let's delve deeper into the comparison between Darkroom and VSCO. We'll take a closer look at differentiating of features in both apps, and pricing to help you decide which app might be the best fit for your photo editing needs. Let’s get started.

### Filters & Presets

Filters or presets are a popular feature in photo editing apps, and both apps offer a wide range of options. As already mentioned, VSCO is in particular known for its filter that emulate popular analog film stocks from yesteryear. It’s important to know that most and their best filters are behind their paywall, and that you can’t download or install additional community made presets.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2023-07-25-preset-discover.jpg"
  alt="Darkroom Community Preset Discovery"
  caption="Darkroom has community presets discovery, so you can easily explore and instaall thousands of free creative community presets shared by talented photo editors from around the world."
  width="2600"
  height="2600"
/>

This is in contrast to Darkrooms presets. Although Darkroom provides a set of professional created premium presets as part of [Darkroom+](/darkroom+), it also allows you to create your own presets, and offers a free option to share them. As such Darkroom has thousands of quality community presets for you to discover, and install for free. Which includes many presets emulating analog film, but also many other independent and creative presets.

### Community and Sharing

VSCO has a large and active creative community, they provide a closed social platform for their users to discover and share creative content. The app's curated feed showcases inspiring photography from around the world, fostering a sense of community among its users. VSCO Grid allows you to showcase your portfolio and gain exposure within the photography community.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2022-10-preset-sharing-manage.jpg"
  alt="Share your custom presets with anyone quickly and easily using a simple and accessible link"
  caption="Share your custom presets with anyone quickly and easily using a simple and accessible link"
  width="1800"
  height="1800"
/>

Darkroom is focussed on being the most efficient and privacy first photo editor. Darkroom does offer preset sharing, and has built a platform for people to discover all presets the community has shared. But we have also chooses to not do certain things, and instead to deeply integrate with partner companies focussed on being the best in their respective fields. For example, we have partnered with [Leica](https://leica-camera.com/en-int/photography/leica-fotos) and [Halide](https://halide.cam), to provide you the best and most convenient ways to capture your photos. Similarly we are huge fans of [Glass](https://glass.photo), who have built an independent world class sustainable home for photographers online.

<DownloadNudge />

### Advanced Editing Tools

When it comes to editing tools, both apps offer a range of features. However, Darkroom may be a better choice for those who want more creative control over their edits. Darkroom offers more advanced tools, such as color grading, masks adjustments and curves, state of the art highlight and shadow recovery, allowing you to fine-tune your edits to a greater degree. Not to speak of the many library management features such as flag & reject, album & folder creation and search, which VSCO simply doesn’t have.

VSCO, on the other hand, has a more simplified approach to editing. The app primarily offers a range of presets that you can apply to your photos, as well as basic editing tools such as exposure, contrast, and saturation. This makes VSCO a good choice for those who only want to quickly edit their photos without spending too much time on it.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2023-06-13-mask-previews.jpg"
  alt="Mask preview thumbnails on Mac and iPhone"
  caption="Mask previews thumbnails on Mac and iPhone"
  width="2048"
  height="1175"
/>

**[Advanced Masking](/blog/2022-04-masks)** — Darkroom has advanced masking options that allow you to edit specific parts of your photo with precision. You can use smart masks powered by AI and machine learning to easily select and edit just the foreground or background, the skin or hair on a portrait. Additionally, linear and radial masks are available, and you can even make selections based on depth, luminance, and color ranges. These features are nearly identical in both apps and can help you achieve the perfect edit for your photos!

**[Shadow & highlight Recovery](/blog/2022-11-03-highlights-shadows)** — Our shadow and highlight recovery tools are at the cutting edge of the industry – for both JPGs and RAWs. And we don't say that lightly! We're a small, independent business, and we put our hearts and souls into making sure every feature is the best it can be. We don't cut corners or settle for "good enough." If we think it's worth doing, we do it right.

<MediaDiff
  originalSrc="/assets/images/posts/2022-10-hs-mountains-before.jpg"
  originalAlt="Before"
  modifiedSrc="/assets/images/posts/2022-10-hs-mountains-after.jpg"
  modifiedAlt="After"
  width="1498"
  height="1000"
  caption="Our spatially aware algorithms ensure your shadow edits will not effect the midtones and highlights, and vice versa."
/>

**[Color Grading](/blog/2022-12-12-color-grading)** — We aren't afraid to try new things and incorporate tools from other domains like video editing. One example of this is our color grading feature. It provides a compact and intuitive interface that makes it easy to develop a unique look for your photo. If you're looking for a photo editing tool that's both powerful and easy to use, give us a try!

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2022-12-06-wheels-iphone.jpg"
  alt="With the global color wheel, you can essentially edit your photo as if you wearing a pair of tinted sunglasses and it makes everything look like the sunset"
  caption="With the global color wheel, you can essentially edit your photo as if you wearing a pair of tinted sunglasses and it makes everything look like the sunset"
  width="2500"
  height="2537"
/>

### Non-Destructive Editing

Darkroom uniquely offers non-destructive editing, which means you can edit photos without altering the original image. This feature is important because it allows you to freely experiment with different editing options and revert to the original image or any specific edit if needed. Image editors like VSCO, but also apps like Snapseed, or Pixelmator, permanently alter the original image with your edits, making it impossible to undo specific edits as every steps is destructively processed. So, whether you're a professional photographer or just someone who loves taking pictures, non-destructive editing is a great feature to have.

### Native to Apple

Darkroom started off on iPhone, expanded to iPad, then came to the Mac, and is even available in Vision Pro with our compatible iPad app. Each version is tailored specifically to that platform. We owe a lot of our success to Apple, who made a wealth of technology and tools available to us as an independent software developer. We love the Apple software ecosystem, and we prioritize deep integration with it to provide super-tight and efficient workflows that seamlessly integrate with the system and other software. In fact, we use cutting-edge technology like Metal hardware-accelerated rendering, and leverage Apple's AI and machine learning advances, and specific features like Shortcut Automation to provide a level of platform integration that many other photo editors don’t match.

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2021-shortcuts-iphones.jpeg"
  alt="Processed, Cropped, Framed, & Watermarked Photos Right in Your Shortcut Workflows!"
  caption="Processed, cropped, framed, & watermarked photos right in your Shortcut workflows!"
  width="1200"
  height="1132"
/>

---

## Pricing Comparison

To be direct, the subscription plan for Darkroom is a lot more affordable than VSCO’s, specifically if you want access to all their premium features, in which case it’s nearly twice as expensive. They do provide a more limited option, but well it’s limited. Darkroom also offers a one-time purchase option, and a very feature rich free tier. In contrast, VSCO only has one yearly subscription plan. So if you're looking for a powerful photo editor that won't break the bank, some flexibility, and is easy to try, Darkroom is definitely worth considering!

<Pricing />


Comparing Darkroom and VSCO, providing an overview of each app and their key differences, features, and pricing.

Comparing Darkroom & VSCO

Light and faded like a cozy pair of jeans from the 80s by <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

MEM3

By <a href="https://twitter.com/darkhorse166">Norman Ma</a>


A Little Punch

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a> emulating Fujifilm Natura 160


Natura

By <a href="https://twitter.com/linuskuner">Linus Kuner</a>

🏠

Emulating Fujifilm by <a href="https://www.pixelfactory.agency">Manuel Babolin</a>

FF VELVIA Vivid 

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a> emulating Fujifilm Provia 400X


Inspired by Wes Anderson's recent movie "Asteroid City". By <a href="https://jeffd.org">Jeff Dlouhy</a>

Asteroid City

By <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_harper/">Simon Harper</a>

Vice

Bright highlights, faded shadows, detailed and rich browns. Emulating the VSCO M5 preset.


MT300

FF CLASSIC CHROME

By <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshCalvetti">Josh Calvetti</a>

Heart-Shaped Sunglasses

Give your shots a little west coast beach look, bright vibe, bold water and skies.

Capitola

By <a href="https://twitter.com/MyPhotoYear">MyPhotoYear</a> for subway and metro type moody scenes

Verve 1

Add warmth, color, and film vibes in a single tap with this emulation of the E1 filter in VSCO by <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

Gloriously warm and dusty sunset days by <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

MEM4


Vibrant vintage look, giving your shots a bright and colorful feel.


MA100

By <a href="https://twitter.com/tony_martinez/">Tony Martinez</a>

VSCO A9

FF CLASSIC NEGATIVE

A warm and colorfull preset by our friends at <a href="https://glass.photo/" target="_blank">Glass</a> that will give your shots a pop.
    

Glass Pop

🌞

Golden

By <a href="https://twitter.com/LenzAtemporal">Jonathan Lenzmeier</a> emulating Fujifilm Cross Process

Classic Negative

By <a href="https://www.pixelfactory.agency">Manuel Babolin</a>

FF ETERNA CINEMA

Emulating Fujifilm black and white by <a href="https://www.pixelfactory.agency">Manuel Babolin</a>

FF ACROS

Warm summer summer look, with red tones and punchy shadows.

MT100

A quick and subtle tune-up for your food photos by <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

Clean Plate

By <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidAddison1">David Addison</a>

Tatton

By <a href="https://twitter.com/miekd/">Maykel Loomans</a>

Loomono Profil 400

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a> emulating Cross Process

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a> emulating the venerable Kodak TRI-X 400 look.

TX400

Moody colors and a subtle contras bump, emulating the VSCO A9 preset.


MT200

A heavier and more opinionated vintage film emulation by <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

MEM1

FF PROVIA Standard

Loomono Profil 800

FF ASTIA Soft

A saturated, warm, and grainy look that will give your shots a vintage feel.

🎞️A

Loomono Profil 200

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a> emulating Fujifilm Classic Chrome

Fuji CC

Great for all lighting conditions. Warm tones for portraits, strong saturation for landscapes. Typical of Kodak films.


Kodak UltraMax 400

By <a href="https://twitter.com/mattmaber/">Matt Maber</a>

KodaChrome 25

Hozier

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a> emulating Agfa Vista 400 film

FF ETERNA Bleach Bypass

By <a href="https://twitter.com/mattcorkum/">Matt Corkum</a>

Portra

Magenta Boogaloo by <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

MEM2

By <a href="https://behzod.com/">Behzod</a>

Palm - Light

✨ Polaroid 600

By <a href="https://sangsara.net/about/">Brandon Lee</a>

Koji

FF MONOCHROME


Today we’re excited to launch [Darkroom](http://usedarkroom.com): A powerful, efficient photo editor for mobile photographers. It’s [available for free on the iOS App Store](https://appsto.re/us/AbG04.i).

<YoutubeEmbed id="SMiNYJOv_yQ" />

## Why another photo editor?

Last summer, Matt ([@brownthings](http://instagram.com/brownthings)) and I ([@m](http://instagram.com/m)) met over coffee to talk about a prototype I had been building and our experiences as mobile photographers. We were both frustrated by our lack of control over the editing process, and the amount of work involved. We knew we could do better.

For starters, filters didn’t always fit our images. They might capture the right tone in the shadows but not the highlights; adjustments were either hard or impossible. As a result, we ended up picking from a limited set of looks that lead us to filter fatigue. We wanted a way to define the precise tone and effect on our images.

Our insight was that mobile filters were developed using desktop tools. What if the same tools existed on a mobile app?

Darkroom is our answer. By putting the tools used to make filters in an app, we’ve turned static filters to jumping off points for editing. For the first time, you can capture the perfect tone, and you can create your own filters. The editing tools we offer are carefully chosen and powerful. Everything about Darkroom is designed to be fast and get out of your way.

In distilling photo editing to its essentials, we’ve built the fastest, most powerful photo editing app on iOS. Along the way, we’ve eliminated the import flow, added infinite history, and built a foundation for the future.

---

## What makes Darkroom different?

### Skip the import
One of Darkroom’s best features is something you don’t see — speed. We scrapped the slow, multi-tap import process, so all your photos are ready to edit right away.

### Make your own filters
Edit existing filters and make them fit your style. Capture that beautiful edit in a custom filter and quickly apply it in the future.

### Capture the perfect tone with Curves
Darkroom is built around powerful editing tools like Curves that gives you raw access to RGB channels.

### Never worry about experimenting
With infinite history, every edit is always saved. Recall back to any time in your edits, or reset all the way to the beginning.

Last but not least, have fun with it!

---

## Get Darkroom

To try out Darkroom, [head over to the App Store](https://appsto.re/us/AbG04.i). It’s is free to download, and Curves costs just $2.99. You can also learn more at [usedarkroom.com](http://usedarkroom.com/).

Follow us on [@usedarkroom](http://twitter.com/usedarkroom) on Twitter and [@usedarkroom](http://instagram.com/usedarkroom) on Instagram. Hashtag is #darkroomapp.

We can’t wait to hear what you think of the app. We’ll be writing more about how we built Darkroom and what we’ve got planned in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

<Figure
  src="/assets/images/posts/2015-dr10-end.jpeg"
  caption="Photo from a hike near Trolltunga, Norway where Darkroom was born"
  width="2560"
  height="1600"
/>

_The Darkroom Team_


Today we’re launching Darkroom: A powerful, efficient photo editor for mobile photographers. It’s available today on the iOS App Store.

Introducing Darkroom

Why another photo editor?

What makes Darkroom different?

Skip the import

Make your own filters

Capture the perfect tone with Curves

Never worry about experimenting

Get Darkroom

Latest Posts

Create your own custom preset

Comparing Darkroom & VSCO