Adobe‘s Max announcements centered on AI. The updates that followed, across Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom, are more practical. Several of the most useful changes are about light, file handling and workflow.
Adobe announced new versions of Photoshop and Lightroom at its Max conference and promoted new AI tools in both. Once the updates shipped, DPReview found a second set of features aimed squarely at photographers. Most of them sit in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and Lightroom.
Adobe’s AI push reaches beyond Max, with Photoshop and Lightroom now tied to Google Gemini. Adobe’s Google Gemini Integration for Photo Editing explains what that partnership changes for editors.
Adobe Camera Raw 19 adds light streaks and more file support
Adobe Camera Raw 19.0 is the new major version of Adobe’s raw photo editing software. The release adds support for new cameras, namely the ones on the new Apple iPhone Duo, along with several new lenses.
The Glow tool gets two new styles. Motion extends highlights in one direction, mimicking a shutter drag. Streak extends highlights in opposite directions, which resembles the look of shooting point light sources through an anamorphic lens. Adobe says the Direction and Softness controls let you set the angle and edges of the streaks. PetaPixel adds that users can also adjust length and color.
Denoise, the tool that reduces noise, previously worked only on raw files. It now works on JPEG, HEIF and HEIC, TIFF, PNG, AVIF, JPEG XL, WebP, PSD and PSB files, and output-referred DNG files. It also runs inside the Camera Raw filter in Photoshop, using the same Detail panel checkbox and Amount slider.
ACR also supports look-up tables, or LUTs, which map one set of color values to another. Video editors have used them for years. Photographers now use them to apply a consistent look without many manual adjustments. In Adobe Camera Raw 19 you can stack up to three LUTs across a whole photo, or use one per mask, and set an Amount for each.
Virtual copies arrive in Adobe Camera Raw 19 as well. They let you try several edits on the same photo without duplicating the original file. Adobe says each version can be edited on its own, saved as a separate output file, and kept between sessions.
Adobe also expanded how you handle large batches. Mark to Remove lets you flag unwanted areas across several images, then apply Generative Remove to all selected photos at once. Marks persist after you close the app. You can copy them to photos with matching framing and process them later.
Photos can also be organized into stacks. Adobe says Auto-Stack by Capture Metadata groups related shots under a single cover thumbnail, either automatically or by hand. Stacks can be labeled HDR or burst. Adobe lists support for recent Canon, Nikon and DNG-supported camera models. Photographers should check their camera model against Adobe’s current list.
The Hide Photos feature keeps the filmstrip and Grid view clear. You can hide images, or show only selected ones, for the length of a session. Hidden photos return the next time you open the app. Adobe says the feature keeps editing focused on the shots that matter.
Lens support also expanded. Adobe says the release adds more tethered cameras, newly supported camera models and more lenses. Laowa’s 50mm f/2.8 2x Ultra-Macro APO works across many mounts.
Lightroom gets a customizable interface
The biggest Lightroom change was not in Adobe’s keynote. The Creative Cloud version of Lightroom now offers a customizable interface. Users can change the color, contrast, size and style of interface elements, and build a custom panel of favorite Edit controls.
On first launch, the app offers presets for “new and existing users,” “power users,” and “longtime users.” You can adopt a preset as is or change it. Adobe says its Assisted Culling feature now makes “more accurate photo evaluation.” DPReview notes that Adobe did not quantify the improvement.
Lightroom also lets you save multiple versions of a photo, whether it is stored locally or in the cloud. White balance controls have a wider range.
Lightroom Classic adds import filters. You can now filter images during import by color label, file type or lock status. It also gets the autofocus point overlay from ACR, which works with selected cameras.
Photoshop’s interface gets a refresh
Photoshop’s keynote highlights were not the full list of changes. In a demo with Stephen Nielson, Adobe’s Senior Director of Product Management for Photoshop, DPReview’s Abby Ferguson found that the entire interface has changed. The UI is slightly darker, with revised icons, spacing and rounder elements. Nielson said the goal was to make tools easier to read, based on user feedback that the app felt cramped.
The left sidebar also changed. You no longer need to click and hold to see a tool stack. Hovering over an item reveals the full group.
The beta version of Photoshop adds two items. A new engine makes the app faster and more responsive. Users must switch it on manually. The beta also includes a Light Leak filter, which adds film-style streaks of light. Nielson said the filter uses no AI at all.
Non-AI effects like Light Leak sit alongside a growing debate over edited images. Apple’s New Tool Enhances Photo Authenticity Checks shows how the industry is responding to AI fabrication.
For photographers, the update’s most useful features are the ones that speed up daily editing. Light effects, batch cleanup, file support and tighter file organization each solve a specific problem. Those tools may matter more to working photographers than the AI features Adobe led with.
Via dpreview.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Motion and Streak Glow styles in Adobe Camera Raw 19?
Motion extends highlights in one direction, mimicking a shutter drag. Streak extends highlights in opposite directions, resembling point light sources shot through an anamorphic lens.
Which file formats does Denoise now support in Adobe Camera Raw 19?
Denoise previously worked only on raw files but now also works on JPEG, HEIF and HEIC, TIFF, PNG, AVIF, JPEG XL, WebP, PSD and PSB files, and output-referred DNG files. It also runs inside the Camera Raw filter in Photoshop.
What are virtual copies in Adobe Camera Raw 19?
Virtual copies let you try several edits on the same photo without duplicating the original file. Each version can be edited on its own, saved as a separate output file, and kept between sessions.
Do Hidden Photos in Lightroom stay hidden after closing the app?
No, the Hide Photos feature hides images or shows only selected ones for the length of a session. Hidden photos return the next time you open the app.
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