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Written by Md Saedul Alam
Your Vision, Retouched to Perfection
Brushes in Lightroom are game-changers. They allow you to apply targeted adjustments—like softening skin, enhancing skies, or adding texture—without affecting the entire image. But for many users, figuring out how to install brushes in Lightroom can feel like a hidden trick. Whether you’re using Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC, installing brushes is simple once you know where to look.
This guide walks you through every step, from downloading and unzipping brush files to placing them in the correct folder and activating them in Lightroom. By the end, you’ll be able to expand your editing toolkit and apply professional-grade effects with ease.
Before installing, you need brushes to install. Lightroom brushes are available from:
Brushes typically come in ZIP format containing .lrtemplate or .xmp files. Always download from reputable sources to avoid corrupted or encrypted files.
.lrtemplate
.xmp
Once you’ve downloaded your brushes, it’s time to prepare them for installation.
Most brush presets are compressed in ZIP folders. To extract them:
Inside, you’ll find brush files—usually .lrtemplate for older versions or .xmp for newer ones. These are the files you’ll move into Lightroom’s preset folder.
Now that your files are ready, let’s locate the correct folder.
To install brushes, you need to place them in Lightroom’s Local Adjustment Presets folder.
If the folder doesn’t exist, create one manually named exactly: Local Adjustment Presets.
Local Adjustment Presets
This folder is where Lightroom looks for brush presets.
Once you’ve located the folder:
After restarting, go to the Develop module, select the Adjustment Brush, and click the Effect dropdown. Your new brushes will appear in the list.
This method works for both Windows and Mac.
Lightroom CC uses a slightly different method:
Brushes will now be available under the Masking tools (Brush, Radial, Linear Gradient) in the Develop panel.
If brushes don’t appear, ensure you’ve imported the correct file type and restart Lightroom.
Once installed, brushes can be accessed via:
Click the Effect dropdown to choose a brush preset. You can adjust:
Brushes apply localized edits—perfect for skin retouching, dodging and burning, or enhancing skies.
If your brushes aren’t showing up:
Still stuck? Try reinstalling or downloading from a different source.
Installing brushes in Lightroom unlocks a new level of precision and creativity. Whether you’re retouching portraits or enhancing landscapes, brushes give you control over every pixel.
Key Takeaways:
Brushes typically use .lrtemplate or .xmp formats depending on your Lightroom version.
Paste them into the Local Adjustment Presets folder found via Preferences > Presets > Show Lightroom Presets Folder.
Yes. Restarting ensures Lightroom loads the new brush presets.
Brush presets aren’t directly installable in Lightroom Mobile, but synced profiles may carry over if using Creative Cloud.
Check file type, folder location, and ensure “Store Presets with Catalog” is disabled in Preferences.
This page was last edited on 30 July 2025, at 9:33 am
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