If you want colors that practically glow, Kodak Ektar 100 presets for Lightroom are a solid starting point. They’re built to give you those trademark rich reds and deep blues without turning the whole frame cartoonish. The key is pairing the preset with a careful edit so every hue stays natural and sharp. Whether you shoot mountain sunsets, wide beaches, or bright city skylines, you can guide the colors so they look bold but believable.
01.
Start With the Right File
Shoot in RAW whenever possible. RAW captures the full range of tones from your camera sensor, giving you more room to work with Ektar-style edits.
A DSLR or mirrorless body such as the Nikon Z7 or Sony A7R IV will give you plenty of resolution and color depth. Keep ISO low – around 100 to 200 – to avoid noise that can muddy vibrant shades.
02.
Balance and Color Control
Begin in the Basic panel of Lightroom. Adjust white balance to fit the scene: a touch of warmth for evening light or cooler settings for midday sun. Then fine-tune Exposure and Contrast so your highlights and shadows sit where you like them. From here, head into the HSL panel to shape individual colors.
Rich Reds
Ektar film is famous for punchy reds. To get that look, nudge the Red Saturation slider up slightly while keeping Luminance moderate to avoid glowing highlights. A slight move of the Orange Hue toward red can help bring skin tones closer to that film feel if you have people in the shot.
Deep Blues
For skies and water, raise Blue Saturation and drop Blue Luminance a hair. This deepens the color without crushing detail. If your sky starts to look unnatural, use the Targeted Adjustment Tool to dial in only the areas that need it.
03.
How do you Edit Photos for rich reds and deep blues in Lightroom?
Use RAW files for maximum range, adjust white balance for accurate color, raise Red Saturation slightly, fine-tune Orange Hue for warmth, and lower Blue Luminance to deepen skies and water. Finish with a Kodak Ektar 100 preset to tie the tones together.
04.
Adjustment Table
| Step | Panel | Recommended Move | Purpose |
| White Balance | Basic | Warm for sunsets, cool for noon | Natural starting point |
| Red Saturation | HSL | +5 to +15 | Stronger reds |
| Orange Hue | HSL | Slight shift toward red | Better skin and sunset glow |
| Blue Saturation | HSL | +5 to +20 | Vivid skies |
| Blue Luminance | HSL | –5 to –15 | Deeper water and skies |
| Clarity | Presence | +5 to +10 | Adds texture without harshness |
05.
Practical Tips
Many photographers rely on polarizing filters to control reflections and deepen skies before editing. Others shoot with wide-angle lenses like the Canon RF 16mm for dramatic views. Combining these tools with Lightroom’s color grading gives your work a true Ektar-style punch.
06.
Final Touches
Finish your edit with gentle sharpening and a slight vignette to draw the eye toward the center. Compare the before-and-after view to check that reds and blues stay rich but not overdone. With practice, your photos will carry that unmistakable Kodak Ektar 100 look from edge to edge.
