What do I need to copy a preset from a photo to another photo?
To copy a preset from a photo, you’ll need a JPEG file with XMP and Exif data. For JPEG files exported from Adobe Lightroom, there’s an option to embed metadata in the file. If selected, Lightroom will include the information about all the edits made to the photo.
You can then use PixelPeeper to extract and copy the preset from the photo. Simply drag the file onto the PixelPeeper window, download the preset file (XMP), import it to Adobe Lightroom and apply it to your own photos.
Here’s how it looks:
See also: How to Find Photos with EXIF and Lightroom metadata and FAQ.
Here’s a more detailed walkthrough on how to extract and copy a preset from a JPEG and import it to Lightroom:
Recover presets from a photo
PixelPeeper has helped many photographers recover their lost presets from JPEG files. Whether due to a bug in Lightroom, a stolen laptop or a fresh macOS/Windows install - sometimes the preset files will get lost. The only way to recover them is to extract and copy them from your JPEG files. PixelPeeper can do it for you, provided that the metadata is included.
Just be sure to select the “Full XMP settings” when downloading presets from PixelPeeper - this will give you the complete set of edits.