Vintage Lightroom Presets 2025: Free, Mobile & Film-Style Effects

If you love the nostalgic charm of film photography, warm tones, and timeless aesthetics, then Vintage Lightroom Presets are your perfect creative tool for 2025. Whether you’re editing on Lightroom Mobile or Lightroom Classic, these presets instantly transform ordinary digital photos into elegant, film-inspired masterpieces.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best vintage Lightroom presets, how to use them, where to get free downloads, and how they can elevate your photo editing workflow with a cinematic retro touch.

What Are Vintage Lightroom Presets?

Vintage Lightroom Presets are pre-defined editing filters that apply a nostalgic or retro look to your photos. These presets replicate the tones, colors, and textures of classic film cameras such as Kodak, Fujifilm, and Polaroid. With just one click, you can create warm, moody, or faded vintage effects that evoke the feeling of the 1970s, 80s, or 90s.

Presets save time by automatically adjusting contrast, highlights, shadows, color saturation, and tone curves. They’re ideal for photographers, influencers, and content creators who want to achieve a consistent vintage look across all their photos.

Why Use Vintage Presets in Lightroom?

Lightroom is one of the most powerful tools for photo editing, and vintage Lightroom presets make it even better. Here’s why they’re worth using:

1. Instant Retro Look: Get classic film tones without complex manual edits.
2. Time-Saving: Apply consistent edits to hundreds of photos in seconds.
3. Professional Results: Perfect for weddings, portraits, travel, and street photography.
4. Customization: You can fine-tune exposure, grain, and color after applying the preset.
5. Cross-Device Sync: Use the same preset pack across desktop and mobile for seamless editing.

Types of Vintage Lightroom Presets (2025 Trends)

In 2025, photographers are exploring more creative styles of vintage editing that merge nostalgia with modern clarity. Below are the trending types of vintage presets:

1. Warm Vintage Lightroom Presets

2. Dark Vintage Lightroom Presets

3. Retro & 90s Vintage Presets

4. Old Film Lightroom Presets

5. Moody Vintage Presets

How to Install Vintage Lightroom Presets (Mobile & Desktop)

Let’s go step-by-step through how to install your vintage Lightroom presets whether you’re on mobile or desktop.

For Lightroom Mobile (Android/iOS):

1. Download your vintage preset pack in DNG format.
2. Open Lightroom Mobile and tap the “+” icon to import the DNG file.
3. Once imported, open the photo and tap on the three dots in the upper-right corner.
4. Select “Create Preset” → name it (e.g., Warm Vintage 01).
5. Your preset will now appear under User Presets — apply it to any photo instantly.
   

For Lightroom Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Download the .XMP preset files.
2. Open Lightroom Classic and go to Develop Module.
3. Click the + icon in the Presets panel → “Import Presets.”
4. Select your files, and they’ll appear in your Presets Library.

Now, every time you edit, simply apply your favorite vintage preset and adjust exposure or contrast to taste.

How to Create Your Own Vintage Preset (DIY Method)

If you want to craft your own vintage look from scratch instead of downloading, here’s a simple method:

1. Lower Contrast: Gives a soft, faded effect.
2. Increase Warmth (Temperature): Adds that nostalgic glow.
3. Adjust Split Toning: Add warm highlights and cool shadows.
4. Add Grain: Simulates old film texture.
5. Tone Curve: Create an “S” curve for soft shadows and muted blacks.
6. Desaturate Colors Slightly: Avoid overly vibrant tones.

Once you’ve got your look, save it as a Custom Preset for future use.

Best Free Vintage Lightroom Presets (2025 Edition)

Here are some of the top-rated free vintage Lightroom presets you can try in 2025:

1. Retro Warm Preset Pack – Adds soft golden highlights for portraits.
2. Moody Film Preset – Creates a cinematic film tone with deep shadows.
3. Vintage Fade – Perfect for minimalist or pastel-style editing.
4. 90s Vibe Preset – Inspired by analog cameras and Polaroid films.
5. Oleg Cricket Vintage Lightroom Preset – Artistic tones used by pro creators.

You can find these presets on trusted sources like PresetLove, FixThePhoto, and Adobe Exchange.

Lightroom Vintage Preset Tutorials & Learning Resources

If you’re new to Lightroom, don’t worry — learning how to edit vintage photos is easier than it looks.

Recommended Tutorials:

• YouTube Vintage Lightroom Preset Tutorials: Step-by-step guides by creators.
• Reddit Lightroom Threads: Community tips and free preset sharing.
• Lightroom PDF Guides: Downloadable handbooks explaining tone curves and color grading.

For a deeper learning path, check out Lightroom for Beginners 2025 — an ideal start to mastering editing fundamentals before diving into creative styles.

How to Use Vintage Presets Effectively

To make the most out of your vintage Lightroom presets, remember these pro tips:

1. Shoot in RAW: This gives you better color and detail control when applying presets.
2. Adjust Exposure & White Balance: Presets aren’t one-size-fits-all — tweak settings to match your photo.
3. Don’t Overdo Grain: Subtle texture is cinematic; too much looks artificial.
4. Use the Brush Tool: Refine areas like faces or skies after applying the preset.
5. Experiment: Combine warm and dark vintage tones for unique results.

Lightroom Mobile vs Desktop for Vintage Edits

Wondering which version works better for vintage editing? Here’s a quick comparison:

Feature	Lightroom Mobile	Lightroom Desktop
Ease of Use	Simple & beginner-friendly	Advanced customization
Preset Support	DNG format	XMP format
Editing Power	Basic tone & color tools	Full tonal curve and masking tools
Ideal For	Instagram users, travel creators	Professional photographers

Both versions allow vintage preset import, but for detailed adjustments, Lightroom Classic remains the best choice.

Why Vintage Presets Are Still Trending in 2025

The rise of retro and analog aesthetics in social media has made vintage presets timeless. Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok favor this nostalgic aesthetic that blends emotion with artistry.

People love how these presets make digital photos feel authentic, emotional, and cinematic — reminding us of the days when photos weren’t just sharp, but soulful.

Final Thoughts

Vintage Lightroom Presets 2025 are more than just filters — they’re storytelling tools that add emotion, nostalgia, and timeless charm to your photos. Whether you’re using Lightroom Mobile, Classic, or CC, the right preset pack can completely redefine your editing style.

From dark cinematic tones to warm retro vibes, the vintage aesthetic continues to dominate photography in 2025. So go ahead — download a few free presets, experiment with your own adjustments, and watch your photos transform into works of nostalgic art.