Feature summary | Lightroom Classic (October 2022 release)

Learn about major new features and enhancements in the October 2022 release of Lightroom Classic (version 12.0).

Seamlessly remove unwanted spots using Content-Aware Remove

Starting with the October 2022 release of Lightroom Classic (version 12.0), you can achieve the best results by practicing ultimate image control on your photos. The new Content-Aware Remove tool in the Healing panel lets you remove unwanted spots and objects in a photo. 

  1. Select the photo you want to retouch. In the Healing panel, select Content-Aware Remove

  2. Define the Size and Opacity of the brush to make a selection.

  3. Click and drag the brush over areas you want to heal using the Content-Aware Remove tool. Lightroom Classic will analyze and fill the selection with the best-suited content from other parts of the photo. 

    Alternatively, if you wish to manually change the sampled area that is selected by default, you can:

    macOS: Press Cmd + drag an area on the image while a Content-Aware Remove spot is selected.
    Windows: Press Ctrl + drag an area on the image while a Content-Aware Remove spot is selected.

  4. To remove all the adjustments made using the controls, select the Reset button from the menu.

For more details, see Lightroom Classic Healing tools.

Automatically select people, objects, and backgrounds

Reimagine editing with Select People, Select Objects, and Select Background masking features in the Masking panel. Easily make precise adjustments to one or more people, objects, and backgrounds in a photo using the mask. 

Select People

Make local adjustments to one or more people in a photo. The Select People mask lets you edit specific parts of the body like skin, eyes, lips, teeth, and more.

  1. In the Develop module, open the photo you want to edit. Select Masking > People.

    Masking panel

  2. Lightroom Classic will automatically detect all the people in the photo. You can select the person in the photo you want to make adjustments to. 

  3. Select the body part(s) you would like to make adjustments to.

    Masking panel

  4. Open the mask in the Masks panel, and then select Add to further add areas to the selection or Subtract to erase areas of the automatic selection.

  5. Use the editing sliders in the right panel to make adjustments to the selection. 

Select Objects

Select Objects lets you make precise local adjustments to one or more objects in a photo.

  1. In Lightroom Classic, open the photo you want to edit. Select Masking > Objects.

  2. Do one of the following to make a selection:

    • Brush Select: Roughly brush over the object you want to select.
    • Rectangle Select: Make a box over the object you want to select.

  3. Lightroom Classic will analyze the object based on your selection and automatically create a mask. 

    Masking panel

  4. Open the mask in the Masks panel, and then select Add to further add areas to the selection or Subtract to erase areas of the automatic selection.

  5. Use the editing sliders in the right panel to make adjustments to your selection. 

Select Background

Select the background in your photo in just one click and make adjustments to enhance just the selected part. Use the Select Background mask to automatically select the background and make complex adjustments using the editing controls. 

  1. In Lightroom Classic, open the photo you want to edit. In the right panel, select Masking > Background.

  2. Lightroom Classic will run an analysis and automatically select the background for you. You can view the selection as an overlay (red, by default) and a mask is created in the Masks panel.

    Masking panel

  3. Once you're happy with the selection, use the editing sliders on the right to make local adjustments.

To know more about masking in Lightroom Classic, see Masking.

Support for new cameras and lenses

Check out the following articles to find newly added cameras and lenses in the full list of supported profiles:

Other enhancements

  • Make crisp adjustments to your photos using Adaptive: Portraits in Lightroom Classic. AI-powered Adaptive Presets help you enhance your photos with just a click. 
  • Experience faster data import using portable devices on Windows computers and experience a quicker display of thumbnails. 
  • Easily swap between the left and right panels in Lightroom Classic. To swap, select Preferences > Interface > Swap Left and Right panel groups. Once done, restart the Lightroom Classic app to see swapped panels.
  • Lightroom Classic will display the parent folder during import, by default, to help you efficiently organize and access photos. 
  • You can now disable the Auto-advance settings during auto-import. 

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