# What is difference between Presets and Mood (LUTs)?

Both **presets** and **LUTs** are tools for transforming the visual style of your image—changing its light, hue, and tone. However, they serve slightly different purposes and are applied differently.

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### 🧩 Key Differences

#### 📷 What is a Preset?

A **preset** is a saved group of edits that can be instantly applied to a photo. These include:

* Exposure
* Contrast
* White balance
* Color (HSL, curves)
* Toning
* Structure
* Sharpness
* ...and more

{% hint style="success" %}
**Example:** In **Luminar Neo**, a preset can combine various tools and even include a LUT (Mood)
{% endhint %}

**Main features:**

* Instantly applies to one or more images
* Each adjustment can be modified independently
* Offers the most flexibility for creating unique styles
* Can be saved and reused across projects

#### 🎞️ What is a LUT (Mood)?

A **LUT (Look Up Table)** is a file that remaps colors in an image to create a specific color effect or "mood".

**Main features:**

* Adjusts **color**, **contrast**, and **tone** uniformly
* Cannot be fine-tuned as precisely as presets
  * In Luminar Neo, only amount, contrast, and saturation can be adjusted
* Great for creating cinematic, vintage, or color-matched looks

{% hint style="warning" %}
&#x20;**Important:** A **preset can include a LUT**, but a LUT cannot include a preset.
{% endhint %}

### 🕐 When to Use What?

#### ✅ Use a Preset When You Want To:

* Dramatically transform the **entire look** of a photo
* Apply a consistent editing style to a series
* Standardize edits across multiple images
* Customize individual elements like structure, skin tones, light, etc.

#### ✅ Use a LUT (Mood) When You Want To:

* Apply a **precise color grade**
* Match color tones from different cameras
* Give photos a specific **color aesthetic** (e.g. cinematic or vintage)

### 📝 Summary

| Feature          | Preset                       | LUT (Mood)                             |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **Scope**        | Broad range of edits         | Color and tonal changes                |
| **Customizable** | Yes (each tool individually) | Limited (amount, contrast, saturation) |
| **Use case**     | Unique, personalized style   | Cinematic or color-matching looks      |
| **Included in**  | Can include a LUT            | Cannot include a preset                |


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