Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance your photo editing process in Adobe Lightroom Classic and Lightroom. From improving image quality to automating time-consuming tasks, the various AI tools for image editing have transformed how we interact with this popular software.

In this article, we'll explore five practical ways to make the most out of AI in Adobe Lightroom. Whether you're a professional photographer or a casual user, these tips can help streamline your workflow, increase productivity, and take your photo editing skills to the next level.

  1. Auto Adjustments 

The Auto Adjustments feature in Lightroom is powered by AI Sensei technology that analyzes your photo and applies adjustments to various settings such as exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and more. It can be a useful starting point for your editing process, providing a baseline that you can further refine to achieve your desired look. Here's how you can use it effectively:

  1. Open your photo in Adobe Lightroom: Import your photo into Lightroom and navigate to the Develop module where you can make adjustments.

  1. Assess the initial state: Take a moment to evaluate the current state of your photo, considering the exposure, contrast, and overall tone. This will help you better understand the changes that the Auto Adjustments feature will make.

  1. Apply Auto Adjustments: To apply the Auto Adjustments, navigate to the Basic panel on the right-hand side of the Develop module. Within the Basic panel, you will find a button labeled "Auto" located near the top of the panel. Click on this button to activate the AI-powered Auto Adjustments.

  1. Refine the adjustments: After applying the Auto Adjustments, take a close look at the changes made to your photo. Lightroom's AI algorithm will analyze the image and make adjustments based on its understanding of ideal settings. However, these adjustments may not always align with your artistic vision or preferences. This is where your personal touch comes into play.

  1. Fine-tune the settings: Use the adjustments sliders in the Basic panel to fine-tune the changes made by the Auto Adjustments. For example, if you find that the photo appears slightly overexposed, you can adjust the exposure slider to bring it back to the desired level. Similarly, you can refine the contrast, highlights, shadows, and other settings as needed.

  1. Evaluate and compare: Throughout the process, continually evaluate the changes you make and compare them to the original state of the photo. You can use the "Before/After" view in Lightroom to easily toggle between the edited version and the original to ensure that you're achieving the desired look.

  1. Save and export: Once you're satisfied with the adjustments you've made, you can save your edits in Lightroom by clicking on the "Done" or "Close" button at the bottom right corner of the screen. If you intend to share or publish your photo, you can export it in your preferred file format and resolution.

Using the Auto Adjustments feature in Lightroom provides a convenient starting point for your editing process. It saves time by automatically analyzing your photo and making initial adjustments. It’s a unique feature, which the various Lightroom competitors still struggle to replicate.

2. Intelligent Selections

Lightroom's intelligent selection tools are powered by AI Sensei technology, allowing you to make precise and accurate selections in your photos. These tools can be helpful when you want to apply adjustments or localized edits to specific areas or subjects in your images. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use these tools effectively:

  1. Open your photo in Adobe Lightroom: Import your photo into Lightroom and navigate to the Develop module where you can make adjustments.

  1. Assess the areas you want to select: Take a moment to evaluate your photo and determine the areas you want to make selections on. It could be a specific subject, an object, or any part of the image that requires localized adjustments.

  1. Use the Subject Selection tool: Lightroom offers a Subject Selection tool that can automatically detect and select the main subject in your image. To use this tool, navigate to the toolbar on the left-hand side of the Develop module and click on the "Subject Selection" icon. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "A" to activate this tool.

  1. Refine the selection: After applying the Subject Selection tool, Lightroom will analyze your image and create a selection around the detected subject. However, the automatic selection may not always be perfect. To refine the selection, you can use the adjustment handles or the refine selection options in the toolbar to add or subtract areas as needed.

  1. Apply adjustments or localized edits: Once you have made your selection, you can apply adjustments or localized edits to the selected area. For example, you can adjust the exposure, contrast, saturation, or other settings specific to the selected subject. You can find these adjustment options in the panels on the right-hand side of the Develop module.

  1. Use Range Masking for precise selections: Lightroom's Range Masking feature allows you to create masks based on color or luminosity, providing more control when making selective edits. To use this feature, navigate to the Adjustment Brush, Graduated Filter, or Radial Filter tool in the toolbar. Once you've applied the tool, you'll find the Range Masking options in the adjustment panel. Use these options to refine your selection further by defining the range of colors or luminosity that should be affected by the adjustment.

  1. Evaluate and refine: Throughout the process, continually evaluate the adjustments you've made and compare them to the original state of the photo. You can use the "Before/After" view in Lightroom to easily toggle between the edited version and the original to ensure you're achieving the desired look.

  1. Save and export: Once you're satisfied with the adjustments and localized edits you've made, you can save your edits in Lightroom by clicking on the "Done" or "Close" button at the bottom right corner of the screen. If you intend to share or publish your photo, you can export it in your preferred file format and resolution.

By utilizing Lightroom's intelligent selection tools, you can make precise and accurate selections in your photos, allowing for more targeted adjustments and localized edits. The Subject Selection tool simplifies the process by automatically detecting and selecting the main subject, while the Range Masking feature gives you control over color and luminosity-based selections. These tools, combined with your creative vision, enable you to enhance specific areas of your image with precision.

3. Enhanced Detail and Noise Reduction

Lightroom's enhanced detail and noise reduction features utilize AI technology to improve the sharpness and overall quality of your images. These tools can be particularly useful when dealing with images that have fine details or noise issues. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use these features effectively:

  1. Open your photo in Adobe Lightroom: Import your photo into Lightroom and navigate to the Develop module where you can make adjustments.

  1. Assess the image quality: Take a moment to evaluate the current state of your photo and identify any areas that may benefit from improved detail or noise reduction. Look for fine details that may appear soft or areas where noise is visible, especially in high ISO images.

  1. Apply enhanced detail: To enhance the detail in your photo, scroll down to the Detail panel in the right-hand side panel of the Develop module. You will find sliders for Sharpening and Noise Reduction.

  1. Adjust sharpening settings: Start by adjusting the Sharpening sliders. The Amount slider controls the overall strength of sharpening applied to the image. Increasing the Amount will enhance the fine details, but be cautious not to over-sharpen as it can introduce artifacts. The Radius slider affects the size of the details that are sharpened, while the Detail slider controls the emphasis on smaller or larger details. The Masking slider helps to protect smoother areas of the image from sharpening.

  1. Fine-tune noise reduction: Move to the Noise Reduction sliders in the Detail panel. The Luminance slider reduces the noise in the luminance or brightness values of the image. Increase it until you see a reduction in visible noise while maintaining good detail. The Color slider targets chromatic noise, which is often seen as color speckles in the image. Adjust it to reduce any color noise without affecting the overall color balance of the image.

  1. Use the Zoom view: While making adjustments, zoom in to a 100% or higher view to see the effect of the enhanced detail and noise reduction more clearly. This will help you make more precise adjustments and evaluate the changes accurately.

  1. Evaluate and compare: Continually evaluate the changes you make and compare them to the original state of the photo. Use the "Before/After" view in Lightroom to easily toggle between the edited version and the original, ensuring that you're achieving the desired level of detail enhancement and noise reduction.

  1. Save and export: Once you're satisfied with the adjustments you've made, you can save your edits in Lightroom by clicking on the "Done" or "Close" button at the bottom right corner of the screen. If you intend to share or publish your photo, you can export it in your preferred file format and resolution.

By utilizing Lightroom's enhanced detail and noise reduction features, you can improve the overall quality of your images by enhancing fine details and reducing noise effectively. The sharpening settings allow you to bring out more clarity and definition, while the noise reduction tools help to minimize unwanted noise artifacts. Experiment with these adjustments while keeping an eye on the image quality to achieve the desired level of detail and noise balance in your photos.

4. Facial Recognition and Tagging

Lightroom's facial recognition feature uses AI technology to automatically detect and tag faces in your photos. This can be particularly useful when managing large photo libraries, allowing you to easily search and organize images based on specific individuals. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use this feature effectively:

  1. Open your photo catalog in Adobe Lightroom: Launch Lightroom and ensure that your photo catalog is loaded, containing the images you want to work with.

  1. Enable facial recognition: To activate facial recognition, go to the Library module in Lightroom. From the top menu, navigate to Metadata > Face Detection > Enable Face Detection. Lightroom will now begin analyzing your photos to detect and tag faces.

  1. Allow Lightroom to scan your catalog: Depending on the size of your photo library, it may take some time for Lightroom to scan and analyze your images for faces. Be patient while Lightroom completes this process.

  1. Review and confirm face detections: Once Lightroom has completed scanning, it will present you with suggested face detections in your photos. To review and confirm the face detections, go to the People view in the Library module by clicking on the People icon in the left-hand panel.

  1. Name and tag faces: In the People view, you'll see the detected faces with suggested name tags underneath. Lightroom will attempt to match similar faces and prompt you to assign a name to each person. To tag a face, click on the suggested name tag or create a new name tag by typing it in. As you assign names, Lightroom will start building a database of recognized individuals.

  1. Review and adjust face detections: As you progress, review the face detections carefully. Lightroom may not always be accurate in its suggestions, especially when dealing with similar-looking individuals. Make any necessary adjustments by clicking and dragging the face boundary to refine the detection.

  1. Group and organize people albums: Once you have tagged individuals, Lightroom will automatically create people albums for each person. These albums act as a collection of images featuring a specific individual. You can access the people albums in the People view or navigate to the Albums panel on the left-hand side to find the individual people albums.

  1. Utilize search and filtering: With faces tagged, Lightroom's search functionality becomes powerful. You can search for specific individuals by their name in the Library's search bar. Lightroom will display images that match the search criteria, making it easy to locate and browse images of specific people.

  1. Refine and update as needed: Over time, continue to refine and update the face tags as you encounter new images or if Lightroom missed any faces during the initial scan. You can also merge and split face tags to further enhance the accuracy of the facial recognition.

By utilizing Lightroom's facial recognition and tagging capabilities, you can efficiently organize and search through your photo library based on specific individuals. The AI-powered feature simplifies the process of tagging faces, allowing you to quickly assign names and build people albums. This makes it easier to locate images of specific individuals within your collection and enhances the overall organization and management of your photo library.

5. Smart Search and Keyword Suggestions

Lightroom's smart search functionality, powered by AI, allows you to quickly search and locate photos based on keywords. The AI technology analyzes your images and suggests relevant keywords as you type, making it easier to find specific images within your photo library. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use this feature effectively:

  1. Open your photo catalog in Adobe Lightroom: Launch Lightroom and ensure that your photo catalog is loaded, containing the images you want to work with.

  1. Navigate to the Library module: Click on the Library module at the top of the screen to access the library view where you can perform searches and view your photo collection.

  1. Locate the search bar: The search bar is located at the top right corner of the Lightroom interface. It allows you to enter keywords and perform searches.

  1. Enter a keyword: Start by typing a keyword related to the images you're looking for. As you type, Lightroom's AI technology will provide keyword suggestions based on the content of your photo library. These suggestions will appear in a drop-down menu below the search bar.

  1. Select a keyword suggestion: If Lightroom suggests a relevant keyword, you can click on it to automatically complete the keyword entry. This can save time and ensure accuracy when searching for specific images.

  1. Refine the search: After entering a keyword or selecting a suggestion, Lightroom will display the images that match the search criteria in the main viewing area. You can further refine the search by adding more keywords, applying additional filters, or adjusting the search options in the Library Filter bar.

  1. Evaluate the search results: Take a moment to review the search results and browse through the images that match your search criteria. You can view the images in different display modes, such as grid view or loupe view, to get a closer look at the search results.

  1. Modify the search: If the initial search results are not what you were looking for, you can modify the search by adjusting the keywords or applying additional filters. Experiment with different combinations of keywords and filters to narrow down the search results to your desired images.

  1. Save search presets: If you frequently perform specific types of searches, you can save search presets in Lightroom for quick access. This allows you to easily repeat a particular search with the click of a button, saving time and effort.

  1. Combine search criteria: Lightroom's search functionality goes beyond keywords. You can combine multiple search criteria, such as keywords, metadata, ratings, flags, or even camera settings, to perform more complex searches and find specific images based on various attributes.

By utilizing Lightroom's smart search and keyword suggestion capabilities, you can efficiently locate specific images within your photo library. The AI-powered suggestions make it easier to assign relevant keywords and quickly search for images based on specific content or criteria. This streamlines your workflow, enhances organization, and saves time when managing and searching through a large collection of photos.

By leveraging these AI-powered features in Adobe Lightroom, you can streamline your editing workflow, enhance image quality, improve organization, and save time in your post-processing tasks.