Finally!! a Lightroom Tool that actually IMPROVES Image Quality!

Mark Denney
10 May 202315:13

TLDRThe video discusses the importance of image quality and how advancements in post-processing tools, specifically Adobe Lightroom's new features, are changing the game. The host tests Lightroom's new denoise AI tool on a high ISO photo taken in the Blue Ridge Mountains, noting the impressive noise reduction and detail preservation. They also highlight the tool's ability to enhance colors that were previously washed out. Additionally, the update includes a curve tool for masks, a feature that allows for more precise adjustments and is considered a powerful addition. The video also mentions the convenience of the new visual indicators for edited sections in the software, which improve workflow efficiency. The host concludes that while they are not sure if Lightroom's new tool is the best on the market, it is a significant improvement over previous versions.

Takeaways

  • 📷 **Image Quality Redefined**: The definition of image quality has evolved with advancements in post-processing, raising the question of its importance in the age of editing tools.
  • 🔍 **Content-Aware Tool**: Adobe Lightroom's new Content-Aware tool significantly improves on previous options for cloning and healing areas in a photograph.
  • 🌟 **Noise Reduction**: Lightroom's denoise AI tool preserves fine details and enhances colors, offering a substantial improvement over previous noise reduction methods.
  • 🔄 **Before and After Comparison**: The video provides a clear comparison between old and new noise reduction techniques, showcasing the AI tool's ability to maintain image sharpness.
  • 🎨 **Color Enhancement**: The AI tool not only reduces noise but also appears to enhance colors, particularly in areas that were previously lacking vibrancy.
  • 📈 **Curves in Masks**: The introduction of a curve tool within the mask section of Lightroom offers powerful new ways to adjust specific areas of an image.
  • 📐 **Sky Selection and Adjustment**: The ability to select and adjust the sky separately, including color grading and contrast, provides more control over the final image.
  • 📌 **Edit Indicators**: The update includes visual cues like dots and eyeballs to indicate where edits have been applied, streamlining the editing process.
  • 🔧 **Organization and Efficiency**: New features allow for better organization of edits and faster toggling between different sections of the editing process.
  • 🚀 **Significant Leap**: The update represents a monumental leap in image editing capabilities within Lightroom, offering users more control and better results.
  • 📚 **Learning Opportunity**: The video serves as an educational resource for photographers looking to improve their post-processing skills with the latest Lightroom tools.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of discussion in the transcript?

    -The main topic of discussion is the new features and improvements in Adobe Lightroom's latest update, particularly focusing on the new denoise AI tool and its impact on image quality.

  • What are the two major issues with Lightroom that Adobe addressed in the update?

    -The two major issues addressed are Lightroom's previous inability to effectively clone or heal areas of a photograph and its difficulty in cleaning up noisy photographs without losing fine details.

  • How does the new Content-Aware tool in Lightroom differ from previous options?

    -The new Content-Aware tool works better than previous options, providing improved functionality for cloning or healing areas of a photograph.

  • What ISO level was used in the example photograph, and why was it chosen?

    -The ISO level 25600 was used in the example photograph to demonstrate the noise reduction capabilities of the new denoise AI tool in challenging conditions.

  • How does the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom enhance image details and colors?

    -The denoise AI tool not only reduces noise but also seems to enhance small details and improve color accuracy, making them more vivid and noticeable in the processed image.

  • What is the significance of the new curve tool available within the mask adjustments in Lightroom?

    -The curve tool is a powerful feature that allows for more precise and nuanced adjustments to specific areas of an image, such as the sky or ground, enhancing the user's ability to fine-tune their edits.

  • What is the limitation of the new denoise AI tool in terms of file formats?

    -The new denoise AI tool is only available for RAW files and cannot be applied to JPEG, TIFF, or PNG formats.

  • How does the new update help users keep track of their edits within Lightroom?

    -The update introduces visual indicators, such as dots and eyeballs, that show which sections have been edited, helping users to stay organized and quickly identify areas with applied adjustments.

  • What is the general consensus on the performance of the new noise reduction tool compared to previous versions?

    -The new noise reduction tool is considered a substantial improvement over previous versions, offering better noise reduction while preserving fine details and enhancing colors.

  • What additional tools were introduced in the new Lightroom update that are beneficial for photographers?

    -In addition to the denoise AI tool, the update includes a curve tool for mask adjustments, visual indicators for edited sections, and the ability to turn off individual sections for easier organization and review.

  • How can users provide feedback or ask questions about the discussed features in the video?

    -Users can leave their questions in the comments section of the video, and the author will do their best to respond and engage with the audience.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Image Quality and Lightroom's New Denoise AI

The speaker discusses the relevance of image quality in the context of advanced post-processing tools. They explore the definition of image quality and how it relates to the smallest details in a photograph. With the evolution of post-processing, particularly Adobe's Lightroom updates, there's a debate on whether high image quality is still paramount. The speaker highlights two significant improvements in Lightroom: a content-aware tool for cloning and healing, and a new denoise AI feature that preserves fine details and color accuracy even in high ISO photographs. They demonstrate the effectiveness of the new tool using a noisy image captured at ISO 25600, comparing it with the previous noise reduction method and showcasing the superior detail and color enhancement of the new AI tool.

05:01

🎨 Color Enhancement and Detail Preservation in Lightroom

The video script emphasizes the impressive color preservation and detail sharpening capabilities of Lightroom's new noise reduction feature. A comparison between the enhanced and original images at high ISO levels showcases the AI's ability to recover lost details and colors. The speaker also compares the old and new noise reduction methods, highlighting the substantial improvement in maintaining fine details and reducing noise. Additionally, they introduce other new features in Lightroom, such as the curve tool for masks, which allows for more precise adjustments and creative control over specific areas of an image.

10:01

🛠️ Advanced Editing Tools in Lightroom's Latest Update

The speaker outlines additional useful tools included in Lightroom's recent update. They demonstrate the ability to adjust the sky and ground separately using masks, with new options to fine-tune colors and contrast. The RGB curve tool is now available within the mask feature, offering powerful control over specific areas of an image. The update also introduces visual indicators, such as colored dots and eyeballs, to help users keep track of edited areas and toggle adjustments on and off for individual sections. These new features aim to streamline the editing process and provide more precise control, making it easier for users to apply targeted adjustments and maintain organization while editing.

15:03

📅 Conclusion and Engagement Invitation

The speaker concludes the video by summarizing the significant improvements in Lightroom's new update, particularly the AI denoise tool and the additional editing features. They invite viewers to share any questions in the comments section and promise to respond promptly. The speaker also encourages viewers to like the video, subscribe to the channel if they haven't already, and tune in for the next video, which will be released the following Wednesday.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Image Quality

Image quality refers to the level of accuracy with which imaging systems capture, process, store, compress, transmit, and display the signals that form an image. In the context of the video, it relates to the smallest details of a photograph and is a critical aspect when evaluating the effectiveness of post-processing tools like Adobe Lightroom.

💡Post-processing

Post-processing is the process of editing and enhancing a photograph or video after it has been captured. The video discusses the advancements in post-processing and questions whether image quality still matters with the availability of powerful editing tools.

💡Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a popular photo editing software used for organizing, editing, and publishing photos. The video focuses on improvements made to Lightroom, particularly the new denoise AI tool, which is a significant update that enhances the software's capabilities.

💡Content-Aware Tool

The Content-Aware tool in Adobe Lightroom is a feature that allows users to remove unwanted objects from a photo by automatically filling in the removed area with surrounding content. The video mentions that Adobe has improved this tool, making it more effective than previous versions.

💡Noise Reduction

Noise reduction is the process of minimizing the amount of noise (unwanted graininess or random variation) in a digital image, often caused by high ISO settings. The video demonstrates the effectiveness of Lightroom's new denoise AI tool in reducing noise while preserving image details.

💡Denoise AI Tool

The Denoise AI Tool is a new feature in Adobe Lightroom that uses artificial intelligence to reduce noise in images. The video provides a comparison between the old and new noise reduction methods, highlighting the AI tool's ability to maintain detail and color accuracy.

💡ISO Level

ISO level refers to the sensitivity of a camera's sensor to light. A higher ISO level can result in better performance in low-light conditions but may also introduce more noise into the image. The video uses an ISO level of 25600 to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new denoise AI tool.

💡Detail Preservation

Detail preservation is the ability of an editing tool to maintain the fine details of an image while making adjustments, such as noise reduction. The video emphasizes that the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom significantly improves detail preservation compared to previous methods.

💡Color Enhancement

Color enhancement is the process of improving the color quality of an image, making it more vibrant and accurate. The video shows how the new denoise AI tool not only reduces noise but also enhances colors, particularly in areas with high ISO levels where colors may be washed out.

💡Curve Tool

The Curve tool is a powerful feature in photo editing software that allows for precise adjustments to the tonal range and color balance of an image. The video discusses the introduction of the Curve tool to the mask section in Lightroom, which provides greater control and flexibility when making adjustments.

💡Masking

Masking in photo editing is the process of selecting specific areas of an image to apply targeted adjustments. The video highlights new features in Lightroom that make it easier to identify and toggle adjustments applied to masked areas, improving the organization and workflow for editors.

Highlights

The new Lightroom update addresses two major issues: the inability to clone/heal and the difficulty in reducing noise without losing fine details.

Adobe's Content-aware tool significantly improves on previous options for cloning and healing in Lightroom.

The new Denoise AI tool in Lightroom effectively reduces noise while preserving image details.

The Denoise AI tool operates best on RAW files and not on JPEG, TIFF, or PNG formats.

The tool seems to enhance small details and may even add a slight sharpening effect to the image.

Color preservation and enhancement are notable features of the new noise reduction tool.

The update introduces a curve tool for masks, allowing for more precise adjustments and effects.

The new update includes visual indicators (eyeballs and dots) to show which sections have been edited.

The ability to toggle individual sections on and off streamlines the editing process.

The 'Select Sky' feature allows for easier adjustments to the sky in a photograph.

The update represents a monumental leap in image quality improvement over previous versions of Lightroom.

The video provides a detailed comparison between the old and new noise reduction methods.

The new update also includes improvements to the HSL and color grading sections for more nuanced color adjustments.

The video demonstrates how the new tools can be used to enhance specific areas of a photograph, such as the sky or ground.

The presenter suggests that while the new noise reduction tool is impressive, it may not be necessary for all photographers.

The video concludes that the new Lightroom update offers substantial improvements and new tools that are highly beneficial for photographers.