Quartz 05 Deep Cinematic | Cross-Processed Film Preset for Lightroom Mobile & Desktop

Q5 is for travel and editorial photographers who want maximum visual impact from cross-processed colour — the most cinematic, dramatically weighted expression of the Quartz Archive's philosophy.

For photographers whose content appears in editorial and commercial contexts where visual weight and distinctiveness are equally important.

The depth is dimensional. Q5's cinematic tonal character comes from Tone Curve separation — organic depth rather than flat contrast.

Cross-processing and cinematic quality are combined. Q5 is the only preset in the collection that specifically unites these two aesthetic qualities — the cross-processed colour with genuine cinematic tonal weight.

It produces the most visually impactful editorial result. For travel editorial and commercial photography where both distinctiveness and weight are required, Q5 delivers.

1 × Q5 Deep Cinematic DNG file — for Lightroom Mobile
1 × Q5 Deep Cinematic XMP file — for Lightroom Classic
Installation guide
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Q5 emulates the look of underexposed cross-processed film. In traditional darkroom photography, cross-processing (developing slide film in print chemicals) creates wild color shifts; by intentionally underexposing that film, you achieve the dense, crushed blacks and vivid color-staining seen in Q5. This look was popularized by 1990s music videos and grunge-era fashion photography, offering a gritty, raw alternative to the bright and airy aesthetic of digital sensors.

Step 1 — White balance first. Cross-processed film had unpredictable white balance responses — set Temperature to 5,000-5,400K as a neutral starting point. The colour shifts of cross-processing are built into the preset's calibration rather than the white balance, so a neutral starting point gives the shifts the most consistent foundation.

Step 2 — Exposure check before applying. Q5's deeper shadow character means that the starting exposure matters more than with lighter presets. Check that highlights are not clipping and the starting file is correctly exposed — Q5 compresses shadows, so an already-dark starting file can go too dark.

Step 3 — Apply Q5 Deep Cinematic and assess carefully. The cinematic depth and cross-processed shifts apply simultaneously. Per-photo Exposure adjustment matters — bright outdoor photos may need no adjustment, darker photos may need +0.1.

Portrait photography with Q5: Q5 is primarily calibrated for travel and editorial landscape subjects. For portrait use, reduce to 76-78% strength and add Orange Luminance +8.

On phone photos: 78-80% strength.

What is the difference between Q5 and Q9 High Contrast? Q5 has cinematic tonal depth combined with cross-processed colour — the depth and colour work together. Q9 has maximum tonal contrast as the primary quality — the strongest tonal drama in the collection. Q5 for cinematic depth with colour character, Q9 for maximum contrast editorial drama.

Does Q5 work for moody outdoor photography? Yes — Q5's combination of cross-processed colour and cinematic depth suits moody outdoor photography where both visual weight and distinctive colour are wanted.