You downloaded a preset pack and now you’re staring at a ZIP file wondering where everything goes. Photoshop has multiple types of presets, each with its own file format and installation method. Here’s the definitive guide.

Preset Types and File Formats

Preset Type Extension Where It Lives
Brushes .ABR Window > Brushes
Actions .ATN Window > Actions
Gradients .GRD Window > Gradients
Patterns .PAT Window > Patterns
Layer Styles .ASL Window > Styles
Shapes .CSH Window > Shapes
Swatches .ASE, .ACO Window > Swatches
Camera Raw Presets .XMP Camera Raw > Presets
Curves Presets .ACV Curves dialog > preset menu

Each type has a specific home, and knowing the extension tells you immediately where it belongs.

Universal Installation Method

For most preset types (ABR, ATN, GRD, PAT, ASL, CSH), the simplest method works:

Double-click the file. Photoshop opens (if it isn’t already) and imports the preset into the correct panel. Done.

If double-click doesn’t work, use the manual method:

  1. Open the corresponding panel (Window > Brushes for ABR, Window > Actions for ATN, etc.)
  2. Click the panel’s menu icon (three lines or gear)
  3. Select “Import [Preset Type]”
  4. Navigate to your file and click Open

Camera Raw Presets (XMP Files)

Camera Raw presets follow a different path since they’re part of the Adobe Camera Raw engine rather than Photoshop itself.

Automatic method:

  1. Open Camera Raw (open a RAW file or use Filter > Camera Raw Filter)
  2. Go to the Presets panel (the two overlapping circles icon)
  3. Click the three dots menu > Import Profiles & Presets
  4. Select your .XMP files

Manual method: Copy .XMP files to the Camera Raw presets folder:

  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings/
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings\

Restart Photoshop and they’ll appear in the Presets panel. Subfolders in the Settings directory become groups in the panel, which is useful for organization.

Organizing Presets

A pile of unorganized presets is almost as useless as no presets. Here’s how to keep things manageable.

Brushes

Right-click in the Brushes panel to create groups (folders). I organize mine by function:

  • Retouching (skin, healing, clone)
  • Masking (hair, edges, organic)
  • Effects (light, dust, texture)
  • Basic (round, soft, hard)

Drag brushes between groups to reorganize. Delete brushes you never use — a smaller, curated library is faster to navigate.

Actions

The Actions panel uses sets (folders) for organization. Create sets for different workflows:

  • Portrait Retouching
  • Landscape Enhancement
  • Web Export
  • Print Prep

Name individual actions descriptively. “Smooth Skin Soft” is better than “Action 12.” If an action set came with vague names, rename them before you forget what they do.

Camera Raw Presets

Camera Raw presets support folder organization natively. When you import presets, place them in descriptive subfolders within the Settings directory. These folders appear as collapsible groups in the Presets panel.

Migrating Presets Between Computers

When you move to a new machine or reinstall Photoshop, presets need to come with you.

Export method: Most panels let you export presets. Right-click a brush group > Export Selected Brushes. For actions, select the set and use the panel menu > Save Actions.

The nuclear option: Copy the entire presets folder:

  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Presets/
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [version]\Presets\

This copies everything — brushes, patterns, styles, gradients — in one shot. Paste it into the same location on the new machine.

Creative Cloud sync: If you enable preset syncing in Photoshop Preferences > General, Adobe syncs some preset types across your devices automatically. It’s not comprehensive — actions and some other types don’t sync — but it covers brushes, gradients, and swatches.

Maintenance Tips

Back up your presets regularly. A Photoshop update or preferences reset can wipe custom presets. Keep exported copies in a cloud folder.

Audit quarterly. Open each preset panel and honestly evaluate what you use. That action set you downloaded six months ago and never touched? Delete it. Clutter slows you down even if you don’t realize it.

Name everything clearly. Future you will not remember what “Cool_preset_final_v2” does. Take ten seconds to write a real name when you create or import something.

Test before committing. When you install a new preset pack, test every preset on a sample image before integrating them into your workflow. Some presets are built for specific image types and produce terrible results on others.

A well-organized preset library is a force multiplier. The time you spend organizing pays back every single editing session.