Lightroom Preset Viewer

PixelPeeper was made to reverse-engineer Lightroom edits from JPG files, but it also understands XMP files.

If you have XMP presets that you'd like to visualize, but you don't have a Creative Cloud subscription, PixelPeeper will help you.

Grab a XMP file, go to the My Presets page (requires an account), drop the file onto the browser window (as shown above) and you'll see all the settings that preset would make, in a familiar, Lightroom-like interface.

Turn JPG Files into Lightroom Presets

With PixelPeeper, you can copy a preset from a photo to another photo.

When you find a photo with metadata, you can download it as a preset, import it to Lightroom and apply to your own photos.

Preset Finder

If you need to find out which preset was used on the given photo, our Lightroom Preset Finder feature will help you.

Whether you want to know which presets other photographers use or you'd simply like to know which one of your own presets you used in the past on the given photo, Preset Finder has you covered.

Upload your presets to PixelPeeper and drop a JPG image. Present Finder will:

scan all your presets
show you which ones match the settings in JPG (ordered by confidence score).

What is an XMP Preset File?

XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform) is an Adobe-developed standard for storing metadata in files. In the context of Lightroom, XMP files contain all the editing adjustments you've made to a photo — essentially a recipe that can be applied to other images.

An XMP preset file typically includes:

Basic adjustments: Exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, blacks
Tone curve: Custom curves for overall and per-channel adjustments
HSL/Color: Hue, saturation, and luminance adjustments for individual colors
Split toning/Color grading: Shadow and highlight color tints
Detail: Sharpening and noise reduction settings
Lens corrections: Profile-based or manual corrections
Effects: Vignette and grain settings
Calibration: Camera profile and calibration adjustments

When you export a photo from Lightroom with metadata included, these XMP settings are embedded in the JPG file itself. This is what allows PixelPeeper to read and visualize the exact edits that were applied.

How to Export Lightroom Photos with Presets Embedded

To ensure your Lightroom edits are readable by PixelPeeper (and preserved for your own reference), follow these steps when exporting:

Open the Export dialog: In Lightroom, select your photo(s) and go to File → Export (or press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + E).
Choose your file settings: Select JPEG as the file format. Quality of 80-100 is recommended to preserve detail.
Enable metadata export: In the Metadata section, select “All Metadata” or at minimum ensure “Include Develop Settings in Metadata” is checked. This embeds the XMP data into the exported file.
Export and verify: After exporting, upload the file to PixelPeeper to confirm the Lightroom edits are visible.

Note: Some export presets or workflows may strip metadata. If you don't see Lightroom edits in PixelPeeper, double-check your export settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Lightroom subscription to use PixelPeeper?

No! PixelPeeper works independently of Adobe Lightroom. You can view XMP presets and Lightroom edits embedded in photos without having Lightroom installed or a Creative Cloud subscription.

Can I import the downloaded preset into Lightroom Mobile?

Yes, but it requires a few extra steps. Lightroom Mobile uses DNG files for preset import. Check out our guide on how to add presets to Lightroom Mobile for detailed instructions.

Why can't I see the Lightroom edits in some photos?

Not all photos contain XMP metadata. The edits are only visible if the photo was exported from Lightroom with the "Include Develop Settings" option enabled. Photos from social media, stock photo sites, or other sources typically have this metadata stripped.

What's the difference between XMP presets and LUT files?

XMP presets are Lightroom-specific and contain detailed editing parameters that can be adjusted after applying. LUTs (Look-Up Tables) are color transformation files used across various software but are fixed — you can't adjust individual parameters. PixelPeeper works with XMP presets, not LUTs.

Can I upload my own XMP preset files directly?

Yes! Go to the My Presets page (requires an account), and you can upload XMP files directly to visualize their settings and use them with the Preset Finder feature.

Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page.