After Dark – Foundations Astrophotography Lightroom Presets
After Dark – Foundations Astrophotography Lightroom Presets
After Dark – Foundations is a free pack of astrophotography Lightroom presets designed to give Milky Way and night-sky images a clean, natural starting point. Built from real-world editing workflows, these presets help you achieve balanced contrast, accurate color, and controlled noise without heavy-handed effects.
Formerly known as Astrophotography Lightroom Presets Vol. 1 – now refreshed and renamed as part of the After Dark preset series.
About Your Instructor
Hi, I'm Justin - the photographer behind TEN SIX Photography!
I’m a landscape and astrophotographer who teaches workshops, courses, and practical editing workflows for photographers who love big night skies and wild places.
After Dark – Foundations started as my original Astrophotography Lightroom Presets Vol. 1 pack – the same core look I use on my own Milky Way images. This updated version keeps everything that worked, adds AI-powered refinements, and gives it a new home in the growing After Dark preset series.
If you enjoy this pack, keep an eye out for future releases and deeper-dive education on capturing and editing the night sky.
Ready to try the After Dark – Foundations presets?
Download the free astrophotography Lightroom presets pack, drop them into your next Milky Way edit, and see how much easier it feels to bring your night-sky images to life.
You’ll get a direct download link by email, along with occasional updates on workshops, tools, and new resources. No spam, ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What software do I need for these astrophotography Lightroom presets?
The pack is designed for Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Lightroom (the cloud version). You can also sync the presets to Lightroom Mobile through your Adobe account. As long as your version supports .xmp presets, you’re good to go.
Are these really free?
Yes. After Dark – Foundations is a completely free download. In return, you’ll join my email list where I share upcoming workshops, new tools, and practical tips for landscape and astrophotography.
Will these presets work on every Milky Way photo?
No preset pack can guarantee perfect results on every single file. These presets are built for typical Milky Way and night‑sky images with a reasonably exposed foreground. Think of them as a smart starting point – you’ll still want to adjust them to match your lighting, gear, and personal style.
Can I use them on JPEG files?
Yes, they’ll work on JPEGs, but you’ll always get the best results from RAW files because they hold much more detail in the shadows and highlights. If you’re shooting JPEG only for now, that’s okay, this pack can still help improve your edits.
Do these presets generate or fake stars using AI?
No. The AI components are there to help Lightroom identify areas like the sky or foreground more quickly, so masks can be applied faster and more accurately. The presets don’t invent new stars or alter the reality of your scene – they simply help you reveal the detail that’s already in your file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What software do I need for these astrophotography Lightroom presets?
The pack is designed for Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Lightroom (the cloud version). You can also sync the presets to Lightroom Mobile through your Adobe account. As long as your version supports .xmp presets, you’re good to go.
Are these really free?
Yes. After Dark – Foundations is a completely free download. In return, you’ll join my email list where I share upcoming workshops, new tools, and practical tips for landscape and astrophotography.
Will these presets work on every Milky Way photo?
No preset pack can guarantee perfect results on every single file. These presets are built for typical Milky Way and night‑sky images with a reasonably exposed foreground. Think of them as a smart starting point – you’ll still want to adjust them to match your lighting, gear, and personal style.
Can I use them on JPEG files?
Yes, they’ll work on JPEGs, but you’ll always get the best results from RAW files because they hold much more detail in the shadows and highlights. If you’re shooting JPEG only for now, that’s okay, this pack can still help improve your edits.
Do these presets generate or fake stars using AI?
No. The AI components are there to help Lightroom identify areas like the sky or foreground more quickly, so masks can be applied faster and more accurately. The presets don’t invent new stars or alter the reality of your scene – they simply help you reveal the detail that’s already in your file.
Ready to try the After Dark – Foundations presets?
Download the free astrophotography Lightroom presets pack, drop them into your next Milky Way edit, and see how much easier it feels to bring your night-sky images to life.
You’ll get a direct download link by email, along with occasional updates on workshops, tools, and new resources. No spam, ever.