The ease of one-click editing using presets –especially on a large project, is a real time saver. You start with one image and run through your favorite presets to see which one works best. The only problem: some preset settings will overwrite the previous settings –which is what we want to happen– while others settings may still remain causing undesired results. Fortunately there is a simple solution: create a Lightroom “Reset” preset.

What about Lightroom’s Rest button?

At the bottom of the Development Module there is reset button. Clicking this button will reset your personal settings to the default values you may have created. It will not return all values to zero –unless you never created a default. Select this option if you want to return all settings to your personal default settings; otherwise, let’s get started on creating our reset preset.

Creating a Reset preset

Working in the development module, let’s start with the Basic panel and work our way down. To expand a panel, click on the the panel’s title. To reset the slider’s value to 0, either drag the slider or click on the numeric value and enter 0. Double clicking on the slider’s name will return the value to your personal default –which may not be set to zero.

Basic Panel

Your first decision is white balance. You can choose to set the white balance to Auto –which would set the tint value to 0– or select a preset from the drop-down list. The choice is yours. I like to keep mine on auto. Set the remaining values to 0.

Tone Curve

Ensure Point Curve is set to Linear.

HSL / Color / B&W

Click All to expand the panel then change each value to 0.

Split Toning

Set each value to 0.

Details

Lightroom’s Details default works well. I use the same values as a good starting point.

Lens Correction

You have a choice to make: You can place a checkmark next to each option; Enable Profile Correction; Remove Chromatic Aberration and Constrain Crop; or you can choose not to include these in your default. It’s a personal preference. I like having them set as a good starting point.

Effects

Set each amount value to 0.

Camera Calibration

Your last choice to to decide which camera profile to use. Some prefer to use Adobe Standard; others, including myself, prefer to use the camera’s Profile. Since the bulk of my work is Portrait, I choose that as my starting point. The rest of the values are set to 0.

Creating a Preset

Creating the Reset preset is simple. Staying inside the Development module, select New Preset from the Develop menu.

Name the new preset _Rest. The “_” will place the preset on top of the list, making it easier to find. Choose a folder to save your preset to. The User Preset folder is a good choice. Click the Check All button to select all of the settings. The click Create

Testing out the Rest preset

Open an image in the Development Module and make random changes or apply your favorite preset from the Preset panel. Notice the settings have changed. Applying the _Rest preset will return all values to zero.

I have a little confession: insert a huge smiley face. Adobe was kind enough to include a Zeroed preset in their Lightroom General Preset collection. Most people overlook it. My intention was teach you how to create presets and why creating a rest preset can help eliminate frustrations in the future.