Profiles convert raw data into an image or apply a style to an image. They are camera-specific; they can only be used with images taken with the same camera used to create the profile. Profiles are stored in two types of files: DCP and XMP.

  • DCP or Digital Negative Camera Profiles, convert raw image data into a color space, such as ProPhoto RGB or AdobeRGB, with a particular tone and color. They can adjust the white balance for infrared photography beyond the raw editors’ normal color temperature range. You can download free DCP profiles for your camera in the Infrared Profile Pack.
  • XMP or enhanced profiles can build new styles on top of DCP profiles. In infrared photography, we use XMP profiles to swap colors. You can learn more about XMP profiles in the Lightroom Infrared Color Swap Profiles. Only Adobe Raw editors support XMP profiles.

Automatic Profile Installation

Info Automatic installation of profiles into any Adobe desktop raw editor supports all Adobe desktop raw editors: Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop Camera Raw. Restart applications to load newly imported profiles.

Lightroom

Follow these instructions to install profiles into Lightroom (desktop) and Lightroom Mobile for Android or iOS. Profiles will automatically sync to your Lightroom mobile devices in a few minutes.

  1. Open Lightroom (not Classic) on the desktop.
  2. In the File menu, select Import Profiles & Presets….
  3. Select the .zip file containing your profiles or select the individual .dcp and/or .xmp files.
  4. Click the Import button.
  5. Lightroom will place the profiles in the correct location.
  6. Repeat the import process until you have imported all of the .zip, .dcp, and .xmp files.
  7. Restart Lightroom.

Warning: Apple iOS devices cannot load profiles directly. Install your profiles with Lightroom Desktop, and they will sync to Lightroom mobile on your iOS devices via your Adobe Cloud account.

Lightroom Classic

Follow these instructions to install profiles into Lightroom Classic.

  1. Open Lightroom Classic.
  2. In the File menu, select Import Develop Profiles and Presets….
  3. Select the .zip file containing your profiles or select the individual .dcp and/or .xmp files.
  4. Click the Import button.
  5. Lightroom Classic will place the profiles in the correct location.
  6. Repeat the import process until you have imported all of the .zip, .dcp, and .xmp files.
  7. Restart Lightroom Classic.

Photoshop Camera Raw

Warning: Photoshop Camera Raw can only import profiles contained in a zip file. To import individual DCP or XMP files, use Lightroom or Lightroom Classic.

  1. Open Photoshop.
  2. Open Camera Raw either by opening a raw image or opening any image and selecting Camera Raw Filter… from the File menu.
  3. In Camera Raw, to the right of the Profile drop-down selector is the Profile Browser icon. This icon is three squares and a magnifying glass. Click the Profile Browser icon.
  4. To the right of Profile, click the three dots for More profile options.
  5. Select Import Profiles & Presets….
  6. Select the .zip file containing your profiles. (Camera Raw can only import profiles in zip files.)
  7. Click the Open button.
  8. Close Camera Raw.
  9. Restart Photoshop.

Photoshop Elements

Follow the Manual Profile Installation.

DxO PhotoLab

DxO PhotoLab only supports DCP profiles. It does not support XMP profiles.

Installation

  • In the PhotoLibrary, select an image to edit. Open in Customize.
  • Select the Color tab, the three circle icon button near the top of the right side column.
  • Open the Color/B&W Rendering module.
  • In the Type field, select DCP Profile.
  • In the Rendering field, select Import DCP profile....
  • Select the DCP file to import.

Usage

  • Open the RAW White Balance module.
  • Select the Pick color tool. Then point to a neutral (white or gray) subject in your image.

Exposure X

Exposure X only supports DCP profiles. It does not support XMP profiles.

  1. Open Exposure X.
  2. Open a raw image.
  3. In the Basic panel, in the Profile drop-down selector, normally set to Standard, select Import.
  4. Select the .dcp profile to import.
  5. The profile will appear in the Profile dropdown selector.

Skylum Luminar

Skylum Lumninar only supports DCP profiles. It does not support XMP profiles.

  1. Open Luminar
  2. Open a raw image.
  3. Expand the Develop panel.
  4. Select the Profile dropdown selector, which normally shows Luminar Default.
  5. Select Add Custom DCP....
  6. Select the .dcp file to import.
  7. The profile will appear in the Profile dropdown selector, under Custom Profiles.

Manual Profile Installation

Info Manual profile installation only applies to Adobe Raw editors. Once manually installed, profiles are available to all Adobe Raw editors, including Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop Camera Raw, and Photoshop Elements.

DCP Profiles in MacOS

  • Open the Finder.
  • Use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + G to display the Go to the folder dialog, then paste the following path.
    • ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/CameraProfiles/
  • Drag or copy .dcp files into this location.

You can organize large numbers of profiles in the CameraProfiles folder by placing them into sub-folders. This does not affect how profiles are displayed in the Profile Browser within the raw editor.

XMP Profiles in MacOS

  • Open the Finder.
  • Use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + G to display the Go to the folder dialog, then paste the following path.
    • ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings/
  • Drag or copy .xmp files into this location.

You can organize large numbers of profiles in the Settings folder by placing them into sub-folders. This does not affect how profiles are displayed in the Profile Browser within the raw editor.

DCP Profiles in Windows

  • Open Windows Explorer (the file explorer, not the browser).
  • Paste the following path into Windows Explorer address bar:
    • C:\Users\%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\CameraProfiles\
  • Drag or copy .dcp files into this location.

You can organize large numbers of profiles in the CameraProfiles folder by placing them into sub-folders. This does not affect how profiles are displayed in the Profile Browser within the raw editor.

XMP Profiles in Windows

  • Open Windows Explorer (the file explorer, not the browser).
  • Paste the following path into Windows Explorer address bar:
    • C:\Users\%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings\
  • Drag or copy .xmp files into this location.

You can organize large numbers of profiles in the Settings folder by placing them into sub-folders. This does not affect how profiles are displayed in the Profile Browser within the raw editor.

Find Folder with Lightroom Classic

You can also use this method to find the profile location for your operating system using Lightroom Classic.

  1. Open Lightroom Classic.
  2. Open Preferences.
    • macOS: Select Lightroom Classic menu, Preferences, or use keyboard shortcut Command + , (comma).
    • Windows: Select Edit menu, Preferences, or use keyboard shortcut Ctrl + , (comma).
  3. Select the Presets tab.
  4. In the Location group, select the Show Lightroom Develop Presets button. This should open a folder window in the following location.
    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/
    • Windows: C:\Users\%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\
  5. Within the CameraRaw folder, there are two key folders; CameraProfiles and Settings.
  6. Copy all of the .dcp files for your camera into the CameraProfiles folder.
  7. Copy all of the .xmp files for your camera into the Settings folder.
  8. Close Lightroom Classic.

Troubleshooting

Help: If you do not see these profiles for your camera, ensure that you have copied the correct profiles for your camera to the correct location. Restart Lightroom or Photoshop. The article Where are my profiles? can help troubleshoot.

This Page

You may also enjoy