Quartz 10 Experimental | Cross-Processed Film Preset for Lightroom Mobile & Desktop

Q10 is for creative and artistic photographers who deliberately use bold colour as a visual statement — photographers for whom the unexpected colour quality of Q10 is the point rather than a limitation.

For photographers whose work is explicitly experimental — creative portraits, artistic lifestyle, fashion work where the visual identity of the edit is as important as the subject.

For photographers who have worked through the Quartz Archive and want its most extreme, most distinctive expression.

• Velvet Shadow Lift Q10 specializes in "lifted blacks," turning harsh shadows into a smooth, charcoal-colored haze that adds instant depth and a high-end matte finish.

  • Ethereal Light Softening It creates a subtle "bloom" effect on highlights, making skin tones look incredibly soft and neutralizing any digital harshness.

  • Monochromatic Color Restraint The palette is pulled into a tight, neutral spectrum, making it the perfect choice for a clean, minimalist, and luxury-focused portfolio.

  • Textural Sophistication By reducing global contrast while protecting micro-details, Q10 emphasizes the quality of fabrics, the grain of paper, and the softness of light.

1 × Q10 Experimental DNG file — for Lightroom Mobile
1 × Q10 Experimental XMP file — for Lightroom Classic
Installation guide
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This preset captures the aesthetic of high-end medium format film prints on heavy matte paper. It is the professional answer for photographers who want their work to feel tactile and artistic. By emulating the expanded shadow detail and the characteristic "flat" tonal curve of professional archival emulsions—known for their ability to render soft light with a poetic, dreamy quality—Q10 ensures your photos feel like a heritage gallery piece. It transforms digital files into frames that possess the quiet, expensive soul of a curated art book.

Step 1 — White balance first. Set Temperature to 5,000-5,400K for a neutral starting point. Q10's colour shifts are strong enough that white balance has more influence on the final result than with any other preset in the collection — a warm starting point produces a different result than a neutral one. Test both on your subject before committing.

Step 2 — Apply Q10 Experimental. The maximum cross-processed colour shifts, bold tonal character, and film grain apply simultaneously.

Step 3 — Assess carefully per photo. Q10 produces the most variation between photos of any preset in the collection. Photos with strong subject matter and correct exposure produce the most compelling results. Photos that are flat, overexposed, or compositionally weak will have their problems amplified.

Exposure: start at 0 and adjust. Q10's tonal character changes the perceived brightness more than the softer presets — what looks correctly exposed before applying may need adjustment after.

Portrait photography with Q10: Q10 is primarily for creative and artistic photography rather than natural portrait work. For portraits at reduced strength (68-72%), the unexpected colour creates a distinctive creative quality. Add Orange Luminance +10 after applying to keep skin present within the bold colour shifts.

On phone photos: 73-76% strength. The computational colour of phone cameras interacts unpredictably with Q10's maximum shifts — reduce strength and assess per photo.

Is Q10 too bold for professional photography? Q10 is calibrated for creative and artistic contexts where bold, unexpected colour is the deliberate aesthetic. For professional photography where natural colour rendering or controlled editorial quality is expected, Q1 through Q8 are more appropriate. Q10 is for work where standing out is the explicit goal.

What is the difference between Q10 and Q7 Vibrant Bold? Q7 is vivid and energetic — bold colour with energy and vibrancy. Q10 is experimental and singular — the colour shifts go further into unexpected territory. Q7 for maximum vibrancy, Q10 for maximum distinctiveness and creative expression.

Can I use Q10 for travel photography? Yes for travel photography where a bold creative interpretation is the goal — editorial travel content with a strong distinctive identity. For natural travel photography, Q1, Q4, or Q8 are more appropriate.