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

Mark Denney
10 May 202315:13

TLDRThe video discusses the significance of image quality and the impact of advancements in post-processing software, specifically Adobe Lightroom's new features. The host shares their experience using Lightroom's latest update, highlighting the new denoise AI tool that impressively reduces noise and preserves details in high ISO images. A comparison is made between the old and new noise reduction methods, emphasizing the substantial improvement. Additional features like the curve tool in the mask section and the ability to toggle edits on and off for better organization are also praised. The host concludes by noting the significant leap in functionality and recommends the update for photographers seeking to enhance their post-processing capabilities.

Takeaways

  • 📷 **Image Quality Relevance**: The video discusses the importance of image quality in the era of advanced post-processing tools.
  • 🔍 **Definition of Image Quality**: Image quality is defined as the accuracy with which imaging systems handle image signals.
  • 🚀 **Lightroom Updates**: Adobe Lightroom has introduced new tools to address previous criticisms, including a Content-Aware tool and improved noise reduction.
  • 🌟 **Noise Reduction**: The new Denoise AI tool in Lightroom significantly reduces noise while preserving fine details and enhancing color accuracy.
  • 🔧 **Manual vs. AI Noise Reduction**: A comparison between old and new noise reduction methods shows the AI tool's superior performance.
  • 🎨 **Color Enhancement**: The AI tool not only reduces noise but also improves color representation, especially in high ISO images.
  • ✂️ **Cloning and Healing**: Lightroom's new Content-Aware tool allows for better cloning and healing of areas in a photograph.
  • 📈 **Curves in Masks**: The introduction of curve tools within mask adjustments provides more precise control over specific areas of an image.
  • 📌 **Edit Indicators**: New visual indicators, like dots and eyeballs, help users keep track of edited areas for better organization.
  • 🔶 **Masking Improvements**: The update includes better masking capabilities, such as the ability to invert selections for targeted adjustments.
  • 🔄 **Organization and Efficiency**: The update streamlines the editing process with features that allow toggling visibility of edits and more intuitive navigation.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the discussion in the provided transcript?

    -The main focus of the discussion is the improvement in image quality through the use of Adobe Lightroom's new features, particularly the denoise AI tool and other enhancements in the latest update.

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

    -Adobe addressed the issues of Lightroom's 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 compare to previous options?

    -The Content-Aware tool in the update works significantly better than the previous options available in Lightroom, offering improved functionality.

  • What ISO level was used in the example photograph to demonstrate the noise reduction capabilities?

    -The ISO level used in the example photograph was 25600, which is a high setting that typically results in a noisy image.

  • What is the default setting for the denoise tool in Lightroom's new update?

    -The default setting for the denoise tool in Lightroom's new update is typically around 50, but it can vary based on the last setting applied by the user.

  • What is the significance of the color changes observed after using the denoise AI tool?

    -The color changes after using the denoise AI tool indicate that not only is the noise reduction effective, but the tool also seems to enhance or restore colors that were previously muted or lost due to high ISO levels.

  • What new feature is available for masks in the latest Lightroom update?

    -The latest Lightroom update introduces a curve tool that can be applied to masks, offering more precise and powerful adjustments to specific areas of a photograph.

  • How do the visual indicators, such as dots and eyeballs, help in the editing process in Lightroom?

    -The visual indicators help users to quickly identify which sections of the photo have been edited, allowing for better organization and efficiency in the editing process.

  • What is the general user experience with the new noise reduction tool compared to previous versions?

    -The user experience with the new noise reduction tool is significantly improved, offering a substantial leap in quality and effectiveness over previous versions.

  • How does the new update help in preserving fine details in photographs?

    -The new update, particularly the AI denoise tool, does a substantially better job at preserving fine details compared to the old method, without turning the image into a smeared mush.

  • What is the file format limitation for using the new denoise feature in Lightroom?

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

  • What additional tool in the new Lightroom update is highlighted for its usefulness?

    -The addition of the curve tool within the masking section is highlighted for its usefulness, as it provides powerful adjustments that were not previously available in that specific context.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Image Quality and Lightroom's New Denoise AI

The speaker discusses the relevance of image quality in the era of advanced post-processing. They define image quality and explore how it relates to the smallest details in a photograph. The conversation shifts to Adobe Lightroom's updates, particularly the new Content-Aware tool and the Denoise AI feature. The speaker demonstrates the effectiveness of the Denoise AI on a noisy photograph taken at ISO 25600, comparing it with the older noise reduction method and highlighting the superior detail preservation and color enhancement of the new tool.

05:01

🎨 Color Enhancement and Detail Preservation with Lightroom

This paragraph focuses on the comparison between the enhanced and original versions of a high ISO photograph. The speaker is impressed with the noise reduction and color preservation capabilities of Lightroom's new tool. They show how details and colors that were barely noticeable in the raw file become more prominent after enhancement. The paragraph also includes a comparison between the old and new noise reduction methods, emphasizing the significant improvement in detail preservation and noise elimination.

10:01

🛠️ Additional Features in Lightroom's Update

The speaker highlights other new features in Lightroom's update beyond noise reduction. They discuss the addition of the curve tool to the mask section, which allows for more precise adjustments and is considered a powerful addition. The paragraph also covers the new visual indicators that show which sections have been edited, such as the blue dot for masked areas and the eyeball icon for toggled sections. These features are presented as beneficial for organization and workflow efficiency.

15:03

👍 Wrapping Up and Encouraging Engagement

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker summarizes the significant improvements in Lightroom's latest update, particularly praising the Denoise AI tool. They invite viewers to ask questions in the comments section and express their appreciation for viewership. The speaker also encourages viewers to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and look forward to the next video, which will be released the following Wednesday.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Image 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 simpler terms, it's about the clarity and sharpness of the smallest details in a photograph. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses whether image quality matters in an era where post-processing tools can significantly enhance images.

💡Post-Processing

Post-processing is the process of editing and enhancing a photograph after it has been taken. It involves using software like Adobe Lightroom to adjust elements such as exposure, contrast, and color, among others. The video script talks about the advancements in post-processing and how they can alter the perception of image quality.

💡Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is a popular photo editing software that provides a range of tools for photographers to enhance and organize their images. The video focuses on the improvements made in Lightroom, particularly its new denoise AI tool and content-aware tool, which are discussed as significant upgrades.

💡Content-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 script highlights the improvement of this tool in Lightroom, making it more effective than previous versions.

💡Noise Reduction

Noise reduction is a process that aims to minimize the amount of visible noise (graininess) in a digital photograph, often introduced at high ISO settings. The video demonstrates the effectiveness of Lightroom's new denoise AI tool, showing how it preserves fine details and color accuracy while reducing noise.

💡Denoise AI Tool

The Denoise AI Tool is a new feature in Adobe Lightroom that utilizes artificial intelligence to reduce noise in photographs while maintaining detail and color fidelity. The video provides a detailed comparison of this tool with the older noise reduction methods, emphasizing its superior performance.

💡High ISO

High ISO refers to a camera setting that makes the image sensor more sensitive to light, allowing for faster shutter speeds or lower light conditions but often at the cost of increased noise in the image. The video uses a high ISO example to showcase the effectiveness of the new noise reduction tool in Lightroom.

💡Detail Preservation

Detail preservation is the ability of an editing tool to maintain the fine details of an image even after applying effects such as noise reduction. The video emphasizes that the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom not only reduces noise but also preserves the fine details and even seems to enhance them.

💡Color Enhancement

Color enhancement refers to the process of improving the color quality of an image, making it more vibrant and accurate. The video script discusses how the new denoise AI tool in Lightroom not only reduces noise but also improves the color in certain areas of the image, bringing out hues that were previously less noticeable.

💡Masking Tools

Masking tools in photo editing software like Lightroom allow users to apply effects to specific areas of an image while protecting other areas from those changes. The video highlights the addition of a curve tool to the masking features in Lightroom, which is significant because curves are a powerful way to adjust tonality and color.

💡Update 16.2

Update 16.2 refers to a specific version or iteration of Adobe Lightroom that includes new features and improvements. The video discusses the enhancements brought by this update, with a focus on the new denoise AI tool and other editing capabilities that streamline the photo editing process.

Highlights

The new Lightroom tool significantly improves image quality, addressing long-standing issues with noise reduction and detail preservation.

Image quality refers to the accuracy of capturing, processing, storing, compressing, transmitting, and displaying image signals.

The rapid advancements in post-processing technology have led to questions about the continued importance of inherent image quality.

Adobe Lightroom's new Content-Aware tool offers superior performance for cloning and healing compared to previous options.

Lightroom's new denoise AI tool effectively reduces noise without compromising fine details, a major improvement over previous methods.

The tool preserves and even enhances small details and textures within photographs.

Color accuracy is notably improved in high ISO images, with the new tool bringing back colors that were previously washed out.

The new update includes a curve tool for masks, offering powerful adjustments and color grading within specific areas of a photo.

The update introduces visual indicators (eyeballs and dots) that show where edits have been applied, streamlining the editing process.

The ability to turn off individual sections of edits helps maintain organization and speed up the review process.

The new Lightroom update is a monumental leap in post-processing capabilities, offering substantial improvements over previous versions.

The update is not solely focused on noise reduction but also introduces other innovative tools for enhancing the editing experience.

The new denoise AI tool is available exclusively for RAW files, not for JPEG, TIFF, or PNG formats.

The tool's effectiveness is demonstrated through a comparison with a high ISO image, showcasing its ability to clean up noise and preserve detail.

The video provides a step-by-step demonstration of how to use the new denoise AI tool within Lightroom.

The new update also includes a 'Select Sky' feature that allows for more precise adjustments to the sky in a photograph.

The video concludes with a comparison between the old and new noise reduction methods, highlighting the significant advancements in image quality.