Use .xmp presets without Lightroom
Yes — you can use Lightroom and Camera Raw .xmp develop presets without Lightroom. Lightframes is a free, open-source photo editor that runs in your browser, imports .xmp files and .cube LUTs, and never uploads your photos.
Free, no account, nothing uploaded
Lightroom and Camera Raw are trademarks of Adobe. Lightframes is an independent open-source project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Adobe.
How to apply an .xmp preset without Lightroom
Open Lightframes in your browser
Go to the editor and open one or more JPEG, PNG or camera RAW files (or a whole folder). They appear in the filmstrip. Nothing is uploaded — files are read from your disk and processed on your device.
Import your .xmp preset
Open the Presets tab and click Import. Choose a .xmp file from Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, or Adobe Camera Raw. You can also import .cube LUTs or Lightframes JSON presets. The preset name comes from the file when available.
Apply to one photo or a batch
Click the preset to apply it. Use the Intensity slider (0–100%) to blend the look. Select several photos in the filmstrip to apply the same preset and intensity to all of them at once.
Fine-tune and export
Adjust exposure or white balance if needed, then export JPEG, PNG or WebP for one photo or the whole selection (ZIP for batches). Copy/paste edits between photos works too — see the batch photo editor guide.
Also supported in the same editor
.cube LUTs
Import 3D LUTs as presets with the same intensity control — useful for film looks sold as .cube files.
Camera RAW
Decode RAW files with LibRaw in WebAssembly, apply presets, and export developed JPEGs without desktop software.
Batch workflow
Copy edits, paste to a selection, apply presets to many photos, and export a ZIP in one go.
Which XMP / Lightroom settings Lightframes imports
Lightframes maps develop settings from .xmp sidecars and preset files onto its own sliders. This table reflects the actual import code — we do not claim support for settings that are ignored.
| Setting | Imported from .xmp | Not imported | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, blacks | ✓ | — | — |
| Temperature and tint (relative values; Kelvin approximated) | ✓ | — | — |
| Vibrance and saturation | ✓ | — | — |
| Texture, clarity, dehaze | ✓ | — | — |
| Tone curve (master and red, green, blue channels) | ✓ | — | — |
| HSL hue, saturation and luminance (8 colour bands) | ✓ | — | — |
| Colour grading wheels (or legacy split toning) | ✓ | — | — |
| Sharpening, luminance and colour noise reduction | ✓ | — | — |
| Post-crop vignette (amount and midpoint) | ✓ | — | — |
| Grain (amount and size) | ✓ | — | — |
| Camera profiles (Adobe Color, etc.) | — | ✓ | Ignored — your photo keeps Lightframes’ default rendering |
| Lens corrections (profile, distortion, CA) | — | ✓ | — |
| Calibration / camera-specific colour matrices | — | ✓ | — |
| Local adjustments (masks, brushes, gradients) | — | ✓ | — |
| Transform, defringe, red-eye and other panels | — | ✓ | — |
| Legacy `.lrtemplate` preset format | — | ✓ | Export or convert to .xmp first |
What to expect
- An imported preset usually looks close but not always identical to Lightroom, because profiles, lens fixes and masks in the XMP are skipped.
- Presets you bought on Etsy or Gumroad are almost always .xmp — they work here. Mobile-only preset packs tied to Adobe’s cloud need Lightroom or a desktop .xmp export.
- The editor interface is in English. The site is available in English and Spanish.
Questions
Is Lightframes free?
Yes. The editor is free and open source under the MIT licence. No account or subscription is required.
Are my photos uploaded when I use .xmp presets?
No. Photos and presets are processed in your browser. Files stay on your device and are not sent to a Lightframes server.
Does it work with DNG files and sidecar XMP?
Yes for editing DNG and other RAW formats supported by LibRaw. Import presets via Presets → Import (.xmp file). Lightframes does not auto-read a separate sidecar next to your RAW; load the .xmp preset manually.
Can I use old `.lrtemplate` Lightroom presets?
No. Only .xmp develop presets are read. Convert or re-export them as .xmp from Lightroom or Camera Raw, or ask the seller for an .xmp version.
Do Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC presets both work?
Yes, when they are saved as standard Camera Raw .xmp develop presets — the format both apps use for syncable develop presets.
Can I use mobile Lightroom presets without the app?
Only if you have the .xmp file on disk. Presets locked inside Adobe’s mobile/cloud library cannot be imported here without exporting them as .xmp from a desktop Adobe app.
Will the look match Lightroom exactly?
Often very close for tone and colour sliders, but camera profiles, lens corrections and local edits in the XMP are not applied, so differences are normal.
Can I apply a preset to many photos at once?
Yes. Select multiple photos in the filmstrip, apply a preset, set intensity, and export them together — including ZIP batch export.
Related guides
- Photo presets tool page
- Free presets & LUTs pack
- Free Lightroom alternatives
- Apply .cube LUTs
- Batch photo editor
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