A5 Deep Contrast | Bold Analog Film Preset for Lightroom Desktop & Mobile

A5 is for street and documentary photographers who want a stronger visual presence in their editing without leaving the analog color family.

For architectural photographers who want the contrast to emphasize geometry and structure.

For portrait photographers who shoot in strong, directional light and want the edit to work with that contrast rather than flatten it.

For photographers who have found the rest of the Analog Archive too subtle and want the most characterful preset in the collection before exploring the moody direction.

It adds presence without adding drama. A5 makes photos feel more substantial — more visual weight, more depth — without the heavy Color Grading or crushed blacks of moody presets.

The contrast is organic, not digital. A5 creates its depth through Tone Curve tonal separation rather than the Contrast slider. The result is analog contrast — dimensional and organic — not digital contrast, which is flat and harsh.

It works particularly well on architectural subjects. The tonal separation of A5 emphasizes line, geometry, and structure in a way that suits urban and architectural photography.

It bridges analog and moody. For photographers who find the base Analog Archive presets too clean but do not want to go fully moody cinematic, A5 is the midpoint.

1 × A5 Deep Contrast DNG file — for Lightroom Mobile on iPhone and Android

1 × A5 Deep Contrast XMP file — for Lightroom Classic on Mac and Windows

Step-by-step installation guide Lifetime access

Achieve the signature A-series chill with this professional alternative to the popular A5 filters. Designed to deliver deep shadows and a clean, cinematic film vibe, it’s the ideal tool for a modern edit with a cold vintage edge 🎞️

A5 works best on photos with inherent contrast in the scene — strong directional light, clear separation between subject and background, hard-edged subjects. On flat or even-lit photos, A5 adds depth that improves the result. On already-strong subjects, it amplifies what is there.

Note: A5 is slightly more contrasty than the rest of the Analog Archive. If applying to portraits with close-up skin detail, reduce Clarity to -12 to -15 after applying to prevent the contrast from reading as harsh on skin.

FAQ

Is A5 the same as a moody preset? No — A5 has more contrast than the clean analog presets but does not have the heavy Color Grading, deep shadow toning, or muted color palette of moody presets. It is bolder analog, not moody cinematic.

Will A5 make skin look harsh? In strong directional light, the contrast can emphasize skin texture. Reduce Clarity to -12 after applying on portrait photos to soften the contrast on skin specifically.