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

Mark Denney
10 May 202315:13

TLDRThe video discusses the impact of image quality in the era of advanced post-processing tools, focusing on Adobe Lightroom's new features. The host tests Lightroom's new denoise AI tool on a high ISO photograph, noting its impressive ability to reduce noise while preserving fine details and enhancing colors. The video also highlights other updates in Lightroom, such as the addition of a curve tool to the mask section, which significantly improves the editing process. The host praises the new features for their substantial improvement over previous versions and their potential to streamline and enhance photo editing.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ“ท **Image Quality Relevance**: The speaker questions the importance of image quality due to the advanced post-processing tools available that can significantly improve images.
  • ๐Ÿ” **Definition of Image Quality**: Image quality refers to the accuracy of capturing, processing, storing, compressing, transmitting, and displaying image signals, essentially the details in a photograph.
  • ๐Ÿ†• **Lightroom's New Features**: Adobe Lightroom has introduced new tools, notably the Content-Aware tool for cloning and healing, and a Denoise AI tool for noise reduction without losing fine details.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ **Denoise AI Performance**: The Denoise AI tool impressively removes noise and seems to enhance details and textures, offering a significant improvement over previous methods.
  • ๐ŸŽจ **Color Improvement**: The tool not only reduces noise but also appears to improve color representation, especially in areas with high ISO levels where colors tend to be less vivid.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ **Noise Reduction Comparison**: A comparison between old and new noise reduction methods shows a substantial difference, with the new method preserving more detail and color.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ **Additional Tools in Lightroom**: Besides noise reduction, Lightroom's update includes other useful tools like the Curve tool for masks, which provides more control and flexibility for adjustments.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š **Masking and Selection Enhancements**: The update makes it easier to select and adjust specific parts of a photo, with visual indicators for applied edits and the ability to toggle adjustments on and off.
  • โš™๏ธ **Organization and Efficiency**: New indicators for edited sections and masks help users navigate and review their work more efficiently within the Lightroom interface.
  • ๐ŸŒ **RAW File Requirement**: The advanced noise reduction is only available for RAW files, not for JPEG, TIFF, or PNG, emphasizing the importance of shooting in RAW for maximum flexibility.
  • ๐Ÿš€ **Significant Leap in Technology**: The speaker describes the improvements in Lightroom's tools as a monumental leap forward in terms of image editing capabilities.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic discussed in the transcript?

    -The main topic discussed in the transcript is the improvement of image quality through the use of Adobe Lightroom's new features, specifically the denoise AI tool and other enhancements in the software update.

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

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

  • How does the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom work?

    -The new denoise AI tool in Lightroom works by allowing users to adjust a slider for denoise levels, with the option of enhancing the image. It processes the image to reduce noise while preserving details and even enhancing certain aspects like color and texture.

  • What is the ISO level used in the example photograph in the transcript?

    -The ISO level used in the example photograph is 25600, which is a high level that the speaker typically avoids but used for demonstration purposes in the video.

  • What is the significance of the new curve tool available for masks in Lightroom?

    -The new curve tool for masks in Lightroom is significant because it provides a powerful way to apply adjustments to specific areas of an image. Curves are a versatile tool that can greatly enhance the editing process, allowing for fine-tuned control over tones and colors within a masked area.

  • How does the new update help users stay organized while editing in Lightroom?

    -The new update helps users stay organized by providing visual indicators, such as dots and eyeballs, that show which sections have been edited. This feature allows users to easily toggle the visibility of edits and keep track of the changes made to different parts of the image.

  • What is the main advantage of using the new denoise AI tool over the old noise reduction method?

    -The main advantage of using the new denoise AI tool over the old method is that it more effectively removes noise while preserving and even enhancing fine details, textures, and colors in the image, resulting in a significantly improved image quality.

  • What is the file format requirement for using the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom?

    -The file format requirement for using the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom is RAW. The tool is not available for JPEG, TIFF, or PNG files.

  • How does the new update improve the user's ability to selectively edit different parts of an image?

    -The new update improves the user's ability to selectively edit different parts of an image by introducing a mask selection tool that can be refined with a curve tool. This allows for more precise adjustments to specific areas, such as the sky or the ground in a landscape photo.

  • What is the general consensus on the improvement in noise reduction tools in Lightroom after the new update?

    -The general consensus is that the new update represents a substantial improvement in noise reduction tools within Lightroom, offering a significant leap in quality and effectiveness over previous versions.

  • What additional tools were introduced in the new Lightroom update that contribute to a better editing experience?

    -Additional tools introduced in the new Lightroom update include the ability to apply curves to masks, visual indicators for edited sections, and a content-aware tool for more effective cloning and healing.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ“ธ Image Quality and Lightroom's Advancements

The speaker discusses the importance of image quality in the context of modern post-processing tools. They define image quality and explore the idea that with advanced editing tools like Adobe Lightroom, the initial quality might be less critical. The speaker highlights two significant improvements in Lightroom: a content-aware tool for cloning and healing, and a new denoise AI tool that preserves fine details and color integrity better than previous methods. They demonstrate the effectiveness of the new tool using a high ISO photograph taken in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

05:01

๐Ÿ” Comparing Old and New Noise Reduction Techniques

The speaker conducts a detailed comparison between Lightroom's old noise reduction method and the new AI-powered denoise tool. They show how the new tool provides superior results by reducing noise while enhancing details and colors in the image. The comparison reveals a significant improvement in the quality of the enhanced image, with the new method offering a clearer, more detailed, and more colorful result. The speaker also mentions that while they don't frequently shoot at high ISO levels, having access to such a powerful noise reduction tool is highly beneficial.

10:01

๐ŸŽจ Exploring Lightroom's New Features for Enhanced Image Editing

The speaker introduces additional features in the latest Lightroom update, emphasizing the inclusion of a curve tool within the mask section, which greatly enhances the flexibility and control over image adjustments. They demonstrate how this new feature allows for more precise adjustments to specific areas of the image, such as the sky or the ground, by applying different settings to masks. The speaker also appreciates the visual cues, like dots and eyeballs, that indicate which sections have been edited, making the editing process more organized and efficient.

15:03

๐Ÿ“… Final Thoughts and Engagement Invitation

The speaker concludes the video by summarizing the significant improvements in the latest Lightroom update, particularly the AI denoise tool and the addition of curves to the mask section. They express their satisfaction with the update and its potential to improve their future work. The speaker then invites viewers to ask questions in the comments section and promises to respond promptly. They also encourage viewers to like, subscribe, and engage with the content if they found the video helpful, before signing off until their next scheduled video.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กImage Quality

Image quality refers to the level of accuracy with which different imaging systems capture, process, store, compress, transmit, and display the signals that form an image. In the context of the video, it is about the fine details of a photograph and how advancements in post-processing tools like Adobe Lightroom can affect the perception of image quality.

๐Ÿ’กPost-processing

Post-processing is the process of editing and enhancing a photograph or video after it has been captured. The video discusses how post-processing tools have advanced to the point where they can significantly improve image quality, raising the question of whether the original image quality even matters.

๐Ÿ’กLightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a popular photo editing software used for organizing, editing, and exporting photos. The video focuses on new features in Lightroom that have improved its image editing capabilities, particularly in noise reduction and detail preservation.

๐Ÿ’กContent-Aware Tool

The Content-Aware tool in Adobe Lightroom is a feature that allows users to remove unwanted objects or areas 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.

๐Ÿ’กNoise Reduction

Noise reduction is the process of minimizing the amount of random variation of brightness or color in an image, often introduced by high ISO settings in photography. The video demonstrates how Lightroom's new denoise AI tool can significantly reduce noise without compromising image details.

๐Ÿ’กDenoise AI

Denoise AI is a new tool in Adobe Lightroom that uses artificial intelligence to reduce noise in images. The video shows a comparison between the old noise reduction method and the new AI-powered tool, highlighting the latter's ability to preserve fine details and colors.

๐Ÿ’กRAW Files

RAW files are a type of image file that contains unprocessed data from the image sensor of a digital camera. The video emphasizes that the new noise reduction tool in Lightroom is only available for RAW files, not for JPEG, TIFF, or PNG formats, indicating the importance of working with RAW for advanced editing.

๐Ÿ’กMasking

Masking in photo editing is the process of selecting specific areas of an image to apply certain effects or adjustments. The video discusses new masking features in Lightroom, including the ability to use curve tools within masks and visual indicators for applied edits.

๐Ÿ’กCurves

Curves is a tool in photo editing software that allows for precise control over the tonal range of an image. The video highlights the addition of the curves tool to the masking feature in Lightroom, which gives users more control and flexibility when editing specific parts of a photo.

๐Ÿ’กColor Grading

Color grading is the process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture, video, or still image. The video touches on the possibility of applying color grading to masks in Lightroom, which would be a valuable addition for users looking to enhance specific areas of their photos.

๐Ÿ’กISO Level

ISO level refers to the sensitivity of a camera's image sensor to light. A higher ISO level can result in more noise in low-light conditions. The video uses an example of a photo taken at ISO 25600 to demonstrate the effectiveness of Lightroom's new noise reduction tool.

Highlights

The new Lightroom update includes a Content-aware tool that significantly improves on previous options.

Lightroom's new denoise AI tool offers a substantial improvement over previous noise reduction methods.

The denoise AI tool preserves fine details without turning the image into a smeared mush.

The tool seems to enhance small details and add a bit of texture or sharpening to the image.

Colors in high ISO images are preserved and even enhanced after noise reduction with the new tool.

The new update introduces a curve tool for masks, offering powerful adjustments within Lightroom.

The curve tool allows for precise control over color, tone, and contrast within specific areas of an image.

A new feature highlights which sections of an image have been edited, improving workflow efficiency.

Individual sections of the editing panel can now be toggled on and off for better organization.

The update includes a new feature that shows which areas of a photo have been masked or edited.

The new Lightroom update is a monumental leap forward in terms of image quality improvement tools.

The old method of noise reduction is compared side by side with the new AI tool, showcasing a significant difference.

The AI noise reduction tool is available exclusively for RAW files, not for JPEG, TIFF, or PNG.

The new tool processes the image and removes noise while keeping the image looking natural and detailed.

The video provides a before-and-after comparison showcasing the effectiveness of the new denoise tool.

The update also includes new features for easier editing and organization within the Lightroom interface.

The video demonstrates how the new tools can be used to adjust specific areas of an image with great precision.

The new update to Lightroom is not just about noise reduction but also introduces several other beneficial tools.