Feature summary | Adobe Camera Raw (October 2020 release)

Last updated on Jan 10, 2022

Learn about new features and enhancements in the October 2020 release of Adobe Camera Raw (version 13.0)

Faster local adjustments editing with all new GPU support

Experience faster editing while using the Adjustment Brush, applying Graduated Filter or Radial Filter, and adjusting sliders for all local corrections.

Control shadows, midtones, and highlights with Color Grading

Achieve the perfect mood to fit your creative visions with powerful color controls for shadows, midtones, and highlights or adjust the overall color of your image.

Support for new cameras and lenses

Find newly added cameras and lenses in the full list of supported profiles.

Show or hide edit panels based on your needs

Easily show or hide Edit panels with the new Edit Panels to Show option. There is also a Compact Layout Preferences option to further customize your workspace.

New Color Grading for more color control

Camera Raw now offers a robust color grading tool - three-way color wheels - which provide powerful color controls for shadows, midtones, and highlights at the same time. You can also adjust the overall color of your image using the Global control. Color Grading replaces Split Toning and provides more control to adjust colors in your image. Take your images to new creative heights by adjusting the color wheels in any combination to create subtle, vivid, complementary, or contrasting looks.

To use Color Grading controls, follow these steps:

Open a photo in Camera Raw. The Edit tool in the right panel is selected by default.

The Camera Raw Edit panel in Photoshop
In the Edit panel, click the Color Grading drop-down.

The Color Grading controls in Camera Raw
You'll notice that there are three color wheels - one of each for shadows, midtones, and highlights. Move the desired slider to change the color tint. You can also adjust the Luminance slider that is present below each color wheel to adjust the luminance of the respective color tints.

The three color wheels to adjust Shadows, Midtones, Highlights in your photo

Note:

A dot indicator is displayed against the color wheels if the respective color wheel has edits.
Adjust the Blending slider to set the degree of overlap between shadows and highlights. Drag the slider towards the right to maximize the overlap and drag it to the left to minimize the overlap. Set the Balance slider to balance the effects between shadows, midtones, and highlights. You can also use the Balance slider to control the amount of shadows and highlights. Values greater than 0 will increase the effect of highlights and values less than 0 will increase the effect of the shadows.

Note:

The Color Grading panel replaces the Split Toning panel. To replicate the effect of Split Toning, simply set the Blending slider to 100 and adjust Shadows and Highlights.
You can also click the color wheel icons in the top row to view the sliders individually.

Click these icons to view the individual color wheels for Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights
The last color wheel icon in the top row allows you to access the Global color wheel slider. This slider lets you change the overall color of the photo without affecting your previous color adjustments for shadows, midtones, or highlights.

The Global slider to help adjust the overall colors in your photo

GPU support for faster local corrections editing

Experience smoother and faster rendering of edits while applying Linear and Radial Gradients, painting with the Brush Tool or adjusting multiple sliders for local corrections while GPU acceleration is turned on.

The GPU setting in Camera Raw Preferences dialog box

Customize your workspace

Show or hide Edit panels easily

You can now choose to display only those Edit controls that you need in your workspace. There is also a Compact Layout option in Camera Raw Preferences.

Open a photo in Camera Raw. You'll notice that the Edit tool is selected by default and displays all the Edit controls.

The Edit panel in Camera Raw
To customize the Edit panel, Command-click (on macOS)/right-click (on Windows) and select Edit Panels to Show.

The Edit panel context menu
In the Edit Panels to Show dialog box, you can deselect those panels that you don't need. You can always bring them back if you want to, from the same dialog box.

Deselect those panels to hide them from the parent Edit panel

Layout options

Camera Raw now provides a Compact Layout option, apart from the Normal Layout. To view this option, go to the General tab in Camera Raw Preferences and select Use compact layout. You can also Command-click (on macOS)/right-click (on Windows) to view the Compact option under Layout.

Other enhancements

Enhanced Zoom

Now get greater control over zoom levels with Box zoom. Draw a box on an image while pressing the Ctrl on Windows or Command on macOS to zoom in your preferred selected area.