Sometimes some things seem very simple on the surface but are actually a little more complicated under the skin.

For instance you would assume that the default setting for a RAW image file in the Develop Module of Lightgroom would be a file that has not been altered in any way whatsoever, or that the Reset button would take you to that same unaltered RAW state.

Your assumption would be wrong. When you first open an image in the Lightroom Develop module, it will open in the Lightroom Default setting, which In the case of the Nikon D200 image of the lighthouse above, is set to +50 Brightness, +25 Contrast and +5 Blacks.

If you really want to see the image as it came out of the camera's RAW image file processor you will have to select the Zero'd image which will give you a setting of zero across the board and a straight line for the Tone Curve. It is also possible to assign the Zero'd setting to the image on import into Lightroom.

In most cases the default image is actually a very good starting point for your final image settings, but when you come across an image which has for instance a blown out sky, it is a good idea to select the Zero'd Preset and see if the image does actually have any color in the sky and then to use that as the starting point instead.

If your default setting in the Develop module is consistently off the mark for your particular camera's images, it is also a good idea to start with the Zero'd setting when building the custom Develop Preset for that camera.

One thing to remember when experimenting with images that have an initial Custom or Zero'd default setting, is that the Reset button resets to the Lightroom default. To return to your Custom Preset settings you must press the Custom Preset button and to get back to the Zero'd setting you must press the Zero'd Preset button.