Photography is all about balance. Sometimes you nail the exposure, but the sky’s too flat. Other times, your subject’s great, but the background needs softening.
That’s where local adjustments shine.
Why Local Adjustments Matter
They allow you to fine-tune specific areas without affecting the entire image — helping you draw attention, correct issues, or add depth.
And thanks to AI masking tools in Lightroom CC, it’s now easier than ever to apply these changes precisely — without brushing, selecting, or lassoing by hand.
What Is AI Masking in Lightroom?
AI masking uses Adobe Sensei (Adobe’s machine learning engine) to automatically detect key subjects, skies, and objects in your photo — letting you apply edits only to those areas.
This means:
- You can brighten faces without touching the background
- Make skies pop without flattening foreground contrast
- Blur or tone down busy areas without manual selections
It’s available in Lightroom CC (Desktop and Mobile) and Lightroom Classic — but this blog focuses on CC for simplicity and cloud editing.
Where to Find AI Masking Tools in Lightroom CC
- Open your photo in Edit mode.
- Scroll down to the Masking section.
- Click “+ Create New Mask”.
You’ll see options including:
- Select Subject
- Select Sky
- Brush, Linear Gradient, Radial Gradient
- Colour Range
- Luminance Range
The two AI-powered ones are Select Subject and Select Sky — and they’re surprisingly accurate.
Select Subject: Focus on the Main Character
What it does: Uses AI to detect the most prominent subject in the frame — typically a person, animal, or object in focus.
How to use it:
- Click Create New Mask > Select Subject
- Lightroom will highlight your subject
- You can now apply edits like Exposure, Clarity, Texture, etc.
Best for:
- Portraits
- Wildlife
- Street scenes with clear foreground interest
Pro tip: Combine with a “Subtract > Brush” step to remove accidental selections (like shadows or nearby clutter).
Select Sky: Isolate and Enhance Background Drama
What it does: Detects the sky area and masks it precisely — even around trees or buildings.
How to use it:
- Click Create New Mask > Select Sky
- Once applied, tweak it using sliders like:
- Dehaze (for punchy clouds)
- Temp (to warm or cool the tones)
- Exposure (to balance brightness)
- Saturation (to pull out colour)
Best for:
- Landscapes
- Cityscapes at sunset
- Any image with blown-out or flat skies
Pro tip: Lower the Contrast slightly for softer, natural gradients — over-editing skies is a common mistake.
Combining Masks for Complex Edits
You’re not limited to just one mask. For example, try this:
Mask 1 – Select Subject
- Increase Exposure + Clarity slightly
Mask 2 – Select Sky
- Decrease Exposure
- Add warmth to simulate golden hour
Mask 3 – Linear Gradient
- Drag up from the bottom to darken the foreground
This approach mimics what pro editors call selective grading — drawing attention and managing light flow across the image.
Refining Your Masks
Once a mask is created, click “Add” or “Subtract” to refine it:
- Add: Expand your mask (e.g. with a brush)
- Subtract: Remove part of the mask (e.g. using a radial shape or luminance range)
Lightroom also allows inverting masks — which means you can darken everything but your subject, or apply a tone curve to the sky only.
This gives you an enormous amount of control — without the need for Photoshop-level masking.
Tips for Natural-Looking Edits
- Keep changes subtle — especially to skin tones and skies
- Use Feathering to avoid hard edges
- Use Texture and Clarity sparingly — overdoing them can make edits obvious
- Always toggle the mask visibility on/off to compare
Remember, the best local adjustments go unnoticed by the viewer — they support your image’s story, not distract from it.
AI Masking on Mobile (Lightroom CC App)
Yes — these tools work on mobile too. Simply:
- Tap on the photo
- Choose Masking > Select Sky or Select Subject
- Use finger gestures to adjust sliders
It’s a great tool for editing on the go — especially for Instagram posts or proofing edits while away from your desktop.
Common Uses of AI Masks in Real-World Edits
Here are 3 quick examples of how photographers often use these tools:
Portrait in Natural Light
- Select Subject: Lift Exposure and Texture
- Select Background: Lower Contrast slightly to keep focus on the face
Golden Hour Landscape
- Select Sky: Warm tones, lower Highlights
- Foreground: Cooler tones to enhance light contrast
Street Photography
- Select Subject: Add Clarity and Sharpness
- Everything else: Desaturate slightly for storytelling effect
The AI tools do 80% of the work — you fine-tune the last 20%.
Download the iCAMERA eBook
Get started with your camera and we’ll also send you the latest photo guides and amazing deals straight to your inbox.
Already a member? Click here to login and download this eBook.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does AI masking work on JPEGs?
Yes — but it works best with RAW files where tonal data is richer.
Q: Can I rename masks for better organisation?
Yes — click on the three-dot menu next to the mask name and select “Rename”.
Q: Is AI masking available in free versions of Lightroom?
No — it requires a Creative Cloud subscription.
Q: Can I duplicate a mask and invert it?
Absolutely — great for applying one set of adjustments to a subject and the opposite to the background.
Q: How many masks can I create per image?
There’s no hard limit — but performance may slow with excessive stacking. Aim for clarity, not clutter.
Final Thoughts
AI-powered masking in Lightroom CC is a genuine breakthrough for modern photo editing.
It lets you make smart, local adjustments with surgical precision — all while staying within an intuitive and accessible interface.
Instead of spending time brushing around edges, you can now focus on enhancing your photo’s story: pulling the viewer’s eye where it matters, balancing light, and shaping mood — all in just a few clicks.
If you’ve never used these tools, give them a try on your next portrait or landscape. You’ll be surprised how powerful Lightroom has become — even without ever opening Photoshop.