Lightroom Classic to Photoshop: AI Masking Part 2
Mastering Masking in Adobe Lightroom Classic: AI and Manual Masking Tools Explained
Adobe Lightroom Classic has transformed selective editing with its powerful Masking system. From AI-driven subject detection to precise manual control, masking allows photographers to make targeted adjustments without affecting the entire image.
In this detailed guide, you’ll learn how to use:
- People Masking
- Landscape Masks
- Object Masks
- Linear Gradients
- Radial Gradients
- Luminosity Range Masks
- Color Range Masks
These tools are essential for modern Lightroom workflows and are widely used by professional photographers.
Understanding the Masking Panel
All masking tools are located in the Develop module under the Masking icon (a dotted circle). You can also access it using the keyboard shortcut Shift + W.
Each mask works non-destructively, meaning you can edit, refine, or delete masks at any time without harming the original image.
Lightroom allows you to:
- Stack multiple masks
- Combine AI and manual masks
- Refine masks using Add and Subtract options
People Masking in Lightroom Classic
People Masking uses AI to automatically detect human subjects and isolate specific body features.
What People Masking Can Detect
When a person is detected, Lightroom allows you to select:
- Entire Person
- Facial Skin
- Body Skin
- Eyes (Iris and Sclera)
- Lips
- Hair
- Teeth
- Clothes
You can create separate masks for each area, allowing extremely precise portrait retouching.
Common Uses for People Masking
- Brightening faces
- Smoothing skin texture
- Enhancing eyes
- Adjusting clothing color or exposure
Best Practices
- Use subtle adjustments to maintain realism
- Zoom in to inspect mask edges
- Combine with manual brushing if needed
Landscape Masks
Landscape Masking is an AI-powered feature designed specifically for outdoor and nature photography.
Landscape Elements Lightroom Can Detect
Lightroom can automatically identify:
- Sky
- Mountains
- Water
- Ground
- Vegetation
- Architecture
- Natural Ground
Each detected element can become its own mask.
Practical Applications
- Darkening and adding contrast to skies
- Enhancing greenery without affecting other areas
- Adjusting exposure on foreground and background separately
Tips for Better Results
- Apply global adjustments first, then refine with masks
- Avoid over-saturating skies or vegetation
- Combine landscape masks with gradients for smoother transitions
Object Masks
Object Masking allows you to draw a loose selection around an object, and Lightroom uses AI to refine the mask.
How Object Masking Works
- Select Object Mask
- Brush roughly over the object
- Lightroom analyzes and creates an accurate selection
When to Use Object Masks
- Highlighting a product
- Adjusting a specific element in a scene
- Removing emphasis from distracting objects
Advantages
- Faster than manual brushing
- More precise than gradients
- Ideal for complex shapes
Linear Gradient Masks
Linear Gradients are ideal for gradual transitions across an image.
Common Uses
- Darkening skies
- Brightening foregrounds
- Adding contrast to backgrounds
How to Apply
Click and drag across the image. The center line represents full adjustment, while the outer lines control feathering.
Pro Tips
- Hold Shift to keep gradients perfectly horizontal or vertical
- Stack multiple gradients for layered effects n
Radial Gradient Masks
Radial Gradients apply adjustments in circular or oval shapes.
Best Use Cases
- Vignettes
- Spotlighting a subject
- Drawing attention to faces or objects
Invert Option
You can invert the mask to apply effects inside or outside the circle, making radial gradients extremely flexible.
Luminosity Range Masks
Luminosity Range Masks allow you to target areas based on brightness values.
Ideal For
- Editing highlights without affecting shadows
- Enhancing shadows while protecting highlights
- Refining skies or backlit subjects
How It Works
Use the range sliders to define which brightness levels are affected. The smoother slider controls the transition between masked and unmasked areas.
Color Range Masks
Color Range Masks select areas based on specific colors.
Common Applications
- Enhancing blue skies
- Adjusting skin tones
- Isolating clothing or background colors
Selection Methods
You can click on a single color or drag a box to sample multiple colors for more accurate masking.
Combining and Refining Masks
Lightroom allows masks to be combined using:
- Add (Brush, Gradient, AI)
- Subtract (Remove unwanted areas)
- Intersect (Target very specific regions)
This flexibility enables extremely advanced selective editing without leaving Lightroom Classic.
Recommended Masking Workflow
- Apply global adjustments first
- Use AI masks (People, Landscape, Object)
- Refine with gradients or range masks
- Inspect edges and fine-tune
Final Thoughts
Masking is one of the most powerful features in Adobe Lightroom Classic. Whether you’re editing portraits, landscapes, or product photos, mastering these masking tools gives you precise control, speeds up your workflow, and produces professional-quality results.
With practice, combining AI-powered masks with manual refinement will become an essential part of your editing process.
