How to use Smart Presets with ai masks in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom

The power of ai masks and smart presets in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom.

This tutorial shows you the power of ai masks and smart presets in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom. You can include masks in a preset and the ai masks will adapt for any photo. watch the short video and look at the steps to see this amazing technology in action and learn how to use it yourself. This tutorial is made in Camera Raw, but works identical in Lightroom.

Choose both images from Adobe Bridge. They can be Raw, jpg, png or tif files.

Step 1 Create Masks in Camera Raw

Click on the mask button from the sidebar

ACR will detect faces in the photo.

Click on the face in the sidebar

The person Mask Options will open

Choose all the different parts and (important) click the Create 7 separate masks button.

Click Create

You will now see all the different masks in the masks panel.

Step 2. Make ACR Adjustments

As you select each mask, the area of the photo will be shown in red. The red will disappear once you make changes to the sliders.

Choose hair

Slide the Hue to the left to make the hair pink. I’m making a change that is really obvious to make it easy for you to see the changes on the images. You could do any type of retouching, see another tutorial on retouching with auto masks in Camera Raw and Lightroom

Another useful adjustment is to soften skin on the face.

Choose Face Skin

If you move the Texture slider to the left, it will reduce the texture and soften the skin. Don’t move it too much or the adjustment will look artificial. This is technically not the same as blurring, although this slider can be used to add a subtle blur.

Make any other retouching adjustments you like.

Step 3. Make the preset

Click on the Presets icon on the sidebar and choose the button to make a new preset

Add a name for the preset (I called it pink hair)

Make sure you check the box next to Masking

Click ok

Step 4. Using smart Presets in Camera Raw

Choose another photo. Remember, we opened 2 in the first step.

These are of the same model, but it could be a different face. I also chose one with a hat so you can see how well these masks work.

Open presets and click on our “pink hair” mask

And just like that, all the settings are applied to the new image. The masks are smart enough to detect all the parts of the body in the new photo, even though its a different pose.

Here you can see all the masks are added. You can tweak any of the settings.

This is a little taste of the kinds of things you will learn from my brand new course.

Adobe Camera Raw 2023 For Digital Photographers. 

Includes: 54 lessons | 7 hours running time | All instructor images | Over 30 bonus presets and profiles

Masks in Lightroom and Camera RAW (in Photoshop)

Check out my brand-new course on Masking in Lightroom and Camera RAW.
If you want to master these very important image editing tools.

This new 3+ hour set of 26 tutorials will help you master the use of the new Masks in Lightroom or /and Camera RAW. Get it here

Get the course here

Colin

Follow along for more tips

Recommended for this tutorial

Learn Masks in Lightroom and Camera RAW

Make precise local adjustments in Lightroom and Camera Raw with every type of mask.

$59.99 · one-time purchase · instant download

View the course See all courses

Free for you

The Photoshop Vault

Get my free Layer Blending Modes ebook along with dozens of exclusive Photoshop goodies: actions, brushes, presets and cheat sheets.

You're on the list, so your free goodies are waiting for you in the Vault.

Get Free Photoshop Goodies Open the Vault

Camera Raw Presets. How to Create and use Presets in ACR

Photoshop Camera Raw is a powerful photo editor. Presets can easily change your photographs with a single click. This free tutorial shows... Read tutorial →

How to retouch a face in Lightroom or Camera Raw

How to retouch a portrait photo in Lightroom or Camera RAW. This Lightroom tutorial shows how to smoothen skin, whiten teeth, enhance... Read tutorial →

Add Edge Lights in Camera RAW and Lightroom, with ai Masks

How to add edge light in Camera RAW and Lightroom using new ai powered masks. Read tutorial →

How to Remove Reflections from glass in Photoshop with ai Reflection Removal

How remove reflections from glass in Photoshop, using ai Reflection removal in ACR Read tutorial →

Remove Color shadows from a face with Point Color in Photoshop

New Point Color for fixing colored shadows on faces. Read tutorial →

Easy fast way to fix edges of masks in Lightroom and Camera RAW

This tutorial shows you the fastest, easiest way to fix edges on masks in Lightroom or Camera RAW, its easy and it... Read tutorial →