Cool Preset: is this $6 stack worth it for Photography?
Quick answer
| Best for | Mobile photographers who want a consistent, cool-toned look without learning Lightroom’s sliders from scratch. |
| Skip if | You need desktop Lightroom CC compatibility, a full pack of multiple looks, or you don’t already have the Lightroom mobile app. |
| Price | $6 |
| Format | Single mobile preset file (904 KB) |
| One-line take | A dead-simple, one-click aesthetic for phone photos that fits the entire workflow into a 30-second paste. |
If that matches your workflow, check out the Cool Preset download to see the before-and-after gallery before you commit.
What you’re actually buying
Let’s be real: the biggest friction in mobile photography isn’t taking the shot—it’s the 15 minutes of fiddling with exposure, temperature, and vibrance sliders just to get a photo to look like you instead of a flat, washed-out snapshot. Cool Preset from Ana Stowell skips the learning curve entirely. For $6, you aren’t buying a course or a 50-file mega-pack; you’re buying a specific, repeatable look that you can apply to your entire camera roll in one go.
The file itself is tiny—just 904 KB—because it’s a single, focused tool. You download it, save the reference image to your phone, and use Lightroom’s “copy settings” and “paste settings” feature to stamp that exact color grade onto any photo. It’s the kind of product that respects your time: no complex installation, no plugin hunting, just a direct path from “raw phone photo” to “content-ready image.” If your feed or portfolio leans toward a cooler, slightly muted, or crisp aesthetic, this single preset does the heavy lifting for you.
Why it’s on our radar
In a market saturated with $30 “preset bundles” that give you 40 looks you’ll never use, a $6 single-preset offer is a refreshing counter-program. It’s a low-risk way to test if a specific color grade actually fits your personal brand or client work without a big financial commitment. Ana Stowell’s listing is also unusually transparent about the mechanics—she doesn’t just say “download and use it,” she walks you through the exact Lightroom mobile steps (the grey image, the three dots, the copy/paste dance). That level of hand-holding is rare in digital product listings and makes the onboarding genuinely frictionless. (Cool Preset)
The fact that it’s mobile-only is a feature, not a bug, for the target user. If you’re editing on your phone between meetings or while scrolling Instagram, Cool Preset is built for that exact pocket-sized workflow. It’s a niche, specific tool that solves a very real “I want this look but I don’t know how to dial it in” problem.
What actually matters
Before you hit buy, run through these three quick checks to make sure it fits your setup: (Cool Preset)
- You must have Lightroom CC Mobile. The preset is designed specifically for the mobile app’s interface. If you’re editing in desktop Lightroom or a different app like VSCO, this file won’t work. (Cool Preset)
- It’s a single look, not a pack. If you need a variety of moods (warm, moody, bright, etc.), this won’t cover it. It’s one specific “cool” aesthetic. If that’s the only look you want to standardize, it’s perfect. (Cool Preset)
- Check the gallery for your skin tones and lighting. Presets are heavily dependent on the base photo. Look at the before-and-afters in the Cool Preset preview and see if the color cast works with the type of photos you actually take (e.g., indoor vs. outdoor, warm vs. cool lighting).
Mid-check
If you’re ready to test the look, View on Gumroad to grab the file and start editing.
FAQ
Do I need a subscription to use Cool Preset? No. You only need the Lightroom CC mobile app. If you already have it, you’re good to go. If you don’t, you’ll need to download it (the free version works for applying presets).
Can I use this on desktop Lightroom? The listing specifically mentions the Lightroom CC mobile app and the mobile “copy/paste settings” workflow. It’s designed for phone-based editing. (Cool Preset)
What if I don’t like the look after I buy it? Digital products on Gumroad typically have specific refund policies. Check the seller’s terms on the purchase page before you buy, but at $6, the barrier to trying it out is very low.
Bottom line
If you’re tired of manually tweaking sliders on your phone and want a consistent, cool-toned aesthetic that you can apply in seconds, Cool Preset is a no-brainer at $6. It’s a small, specific tool that does one job well: it makes your phone photos look intentional without requiring you to become a colorist. If your feed needs a unified look and you’re editing on mobile, grab the preset and see how it changes your workflow.