Exploring Lightroom's New Masking Tools

Adobe has launched a redesigned and more powerful way to make selective adjustments — collectively referred to as Masking — which can be accessed via the new Mask Button. The new masking feature allows you to create multiple masks, including color and luminance ones. The masks then allow you to make precise adjustments to specific parts of a photo. Using the power of AI-based machine, we now have two entirely new ways to create masks called Select Subject and Select Sky, which do exactly what their names suggest. Clicking Select Sky will use the AI technology to create a smart selection mask based on the sky in the photo. Of course, using Select Subject will engage the new AI capabilities of Lightroom to analyse the image and automatically mask the main subject of your image. How easy is that! 

The focus of this 90-minute photography clinic is a basic overview of the new Lightroom Masking features. The topics covered in the session include: 

• Masking Basics – Creating a New Mask
• Using the Brush Tool
• Using the Linear Gradient
• Using the Radial Gradient
• Add and Subtract From Masks
• How to Use The Intersect Feature
• Select Subject
• Select Sky
• Luminance Range Masking Explained
• Color Range Masking Explained

There are infinite possibilities with how and where you can use the Masking tools, and it makes a very powerful addition to your post photo editing workflow.