AI Effects Toolkits - How to Use Your Presets
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As Adobe continues to develop exciting new features backed by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, we are meeting the challenge of updating our collections site wide to meet modern workflow needs and maximize efficiency without limiting control over creative output.
Our Luxe and Brixton core collection updates, as well and many current and future releases will now include AI powered Effects toolkits backed by Adobe Sensei AI. We get tons of questions about these new workflow tools, so we wanted to create a comprehensive guide for these optional workflow toolkits!
AI "Effects" Preset Toolkits - Compatibility & FAQs
How to use our AI Effects Toolkits
Lightroom Classic Example Workflow
Lightroom Mobile (Premium App) Example Workflow
How to Adjust AI Presets in LRC, LRCC, & ACR
About The AI "Effects" Preset Toolkits - Compatibility & FAQs
What are AI Effects Presets? AI "Effects" presets are one-click tools that work from your presets tab in Lightroom to apply settings changes locally to a very specific attribute as detected by AI in the most up-to-date versions of Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop ACR. Modern subscription versions of these programs can detect background, sky, subject(s)/people, and isolate very specific parts of each person (Face Skin, Body Skin, Eyebrows, Iris & Pupil, Lips, Teeth, and Hair) for refined & clean selection of these specific parts of your images. With our AI tools we have combined retouching settings that you would typically apply manually with a local adjustment preset or local adjustment sliders with this advanced AI detection for one-click retouching that feels like magic!
What does the AI do to my image? These presets are neither creative nor destructive. They are not meant to replace or alter the creative process, but rather speed up professional retouching processes via Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning which detect and adapt to apply settings to specific parts of each unique image. These presets utilize AI to replace manual brushing, dialing in and refining, they do not replace your intuition, your eye, or fundamentally alter your art.
Can I use the AI presets in older software purchased outright, or the free mobile app? Unfortunately, no. Where general presets and traditional tool and brush presets can be used in earlier versions of Lightroom and photoshop, the AI adaptive presets do require a current subscription to Lightroom or Photoshop to function. Your software must be up-to-date to ensure that these presets will function properly and that all current masking features are present! (learn more about preset types & compatibility in general HERE)
How do you install AI Tool Presets? For desktop, your new effects presets will install just like your traditional/general presets. You can learn how to install your presets HERE (sorted by Software).
Do the AI Tool Presets work on iPhone/iPad? As of July 2024, the Lightroom Mobile app on iOS/iPadOS supports XMP import. AI Adaptive presets will require the Premium (subscription) version of the Lightroom app to function. Additionally, the AI computing requires a newer iOS device on up-to-date OS (Earliest compatible devices: iPhone 11, iPad 10th Gen, Air 4th Gen, Pro 10th Gen; includes all later and currently offered devices).
Do the AI Tool Presets work on Android? YES! The latest updates now allow full functionality of these presets on Android devices (Android phone, tablets, or Chromebooks). They can be imported directly into the Premium Lightroom mobile app on Android devices just like any other preset!
How do I use this type of preset? We’ll walk through using this collection in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom (CC), Photoshop's Adobe Camera Raw, and Lightroom on Android below!
How to use Our AI "Effects" Toolkits
Simply install your presets just like you would your normal presets! These effects kits are considered retouching toolkits, but function with just one-click from your preset panel with your general presets.
These presets apply localized background, sky, subject-specific, or multi-zone corrections that can be applied before or after you edit your image with a global (or full image) preset, or custom toning in Lightroom.
We typically recommend getting your ideal edit right first before applying the tools to ensure they correct tones and atmosphere in alignment with your ideal final edit!
Example Step 1: Edit with Preset
Example Step 2: Apply AI Tool Preset
We'll go through what to expect in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom (CC), and Photoshop ACR in our example workflows below!:
How to use AI Effects Presets in Lightroom Classic (example workflow):
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Edit your image, whether manually or with presets. Here we edited this image by Breezy Photography with the "Warm Intensity (2.0)" Preset from Portraits 2.0:
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Apply AI Effects Presets to taste. Here we applied "Select Clothing - Texturized", "Subject Eyes - Refreshing Pop", and "Subject Skin -Feminine":
Note: as you hover over your new AI adaptive presets, allow a specific section to finish "detecting" so that the software can compute the masks needed to provide accurate previews of your AI tools. This will appear as a little black box reading "detecting..." over your image. Once a section (background, sky, subject eyes, etc.) has been detected, you can quickly hover to preview your other AI tools for that section before selecting one to apply! If you click on a preset without allowing it to finish "detecting" it will still apply, you may just see a pop-up with a progress bar as the software computes the attributes of your image and creates the new mask!
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Adjust or remove applied masks as needed!
Your newly applied AI masks can be located under the dotted outline circle icon (Masking Tool) under the histogram on the right-hand side. From here you can expand your masking layers, and click into each labeled mask to adjust settings applied by the preset, add or subtract either parts of each mask or subtract the mask from specific people/subjects, or completely delete your applied mask!:
Pro Tip for Lightroom Classic: Want to soften the effect of a mask? You can adjust your AI preset strength with the amount slider when you click to apply it and skip having to adjust it in your masks panel!
How to use AI Effects Presets in Lightroom CC (example workflow):
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Edit your image, whether manually or with presets. Here we edited this image by Beth Philippidis edited with the "Honeyed Tones" preset from Brixton Film Emotive:
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Apply AI Effects Presets to taste:
Here we applied "Background - Focus Soft", "Subject - Clothing Texture Boost", "Subject - Hair Texture Boost", "Subject - Iris & Pupil Boost", and "Subject - Skin Butter Soft"
Note: as you hover over your new AI adaptive presets, allow a specific section to finish "detecting" so that the software can compute the masks needed to provide accurate previews of your AI tools. In Lightroom (CC) this will show as a little loading bar when you hover over once of your presets:
Once a section (background, sky, subject eyes, etc.) has been detected, you can quickly hover to preview your other AI tools for that section before selecting one to apply!
Sometimes Lightroom (CC) experiences computational delays or skips. If you see a "No Masks"/"Masks cannot be found" error wait a moment, and if the effect doesn't apply, click it once more to try again.
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Adjust or remove applied masks as needed!
Your newly applied AI masks can be located under the dotted outline circle icon (Masking Tool) on the right-hand toolbar. From here you can view and expand your masking layers, and click into each labeled mask to adjust settings applied by the preset, add or subtract either parts of each mask or subtract the mask from specific people/subjects, or completely delete your applied mask via "... > Delete"!:
Here we deleted the "Sky: Temp Cooled" mask.
Pro Tip for Lightroom CC: You can adjust your AI preset strength with the amount slider when you click to apply it and skip having to adjust it in your masks panel!
The October 2024 update show presets as preview thumbnails, the amount slider will still appear below when a preset is applied:
How to use AI Effects Presets in Photoshop ACR (example workflow):
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Edit your image, whether manually or with presets. Here we edited this image by Julie Jourdan with our Portraits 2.0 "Spring Youth" Preset:
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Apply AI Effects Presets to taste:
Here we applied "Background - Dramatic Pop", "Subject - Clothing Texture Boost", and "Subject - Clothing Vibrant Lift", and "Subject Skin & Lips - Lifted Pop"
Note: as you hover over your new AI adaptive presets, you may experience a slight lag as the software computes the masks needed to provide accurate previews of your AI tools. Sometimes ACR will experience no delay at all, as Photoshop is built for this sort of computing, so you can quickly hover to preview your AI tools on your image live before selecting one to apply!
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Adjust or remove applied masks as needed!
Your newly applied AI masks can be located under the dotted outline circle icon (Masking Tool) on your right-hand toolbar. From here you can expand your masking layers, and click into each labeled mask to adjust settings applied by the preset, add or subtract either parts of each mask or subtract the mask from specific people/subjects, or completely delete your applied mask!:
Here we selected the hair mask and adjusted saturation. You can also adjust the strength of your masks via the "Amount Slider"!
We then Adjusted the Eye Color Mask to pull temp slightly cooler in addition to the saturation boost applied by the preset!
How to use the AI Effects presets in Lightroom Mobile (Premium App)
If you are new to editing on mobile, or new to using AI or Adaptive Effects in Lightroom mobile, we recommend reading over the info provided at the top of this article that breaks down the collection tools and compatibility, in detail!:
- Edit with a global (full image) preset from the collection:
Click check to apply.
- Select an AI Effects tool:
Allow it a moment to compute for the specific zone. (Once LR has detected for a specific zone, you can simply click through the other options for that zone for instant previews).
- Once applied, you can select the preset thumbnail to adjust preset strength with the "Amount" slider:
Click the checkmark to apply changes. Click check to apply the preset. Click check after applying each desired preset to stack!
- After applying selected Effects, you can adjust masks by selecting "Masking" from the bottom toolbar. Click into mask layers to see options to toggle visibility, add to or remove from, or delete undesired masks:
How to adjust AI presets in Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop ACR for desktop
When you are finished editing your photos, you can adjust masks by heading over to your masking tool. With multi-layers masking, you can find the layer you want to adjust by clicking through the layers to preview each one (with red overlays to indicate where changes have been applied). Once you have selected the one you’d like to edit, you can click on the little “-“ button below that layer (or “Subtract” if the layers are expanded to include text). The best subtract option for erasing little bits that may not belong in your mask would be the “brush” option, which offers the most freehand control. You can also use AI or other types of masking to subtract from the effects layer selected.
How to Edit Your Masks
We go through where to find and edit your applied masks in each example workflow about for Lightroom Classic, Lightroom (CC), and Photoshop ACR Above! Here we'll go over how to find the masking tool, how to locate your add/subtract options, and how to remove select people from your mask (as the AI Effects presets will apply the selected subject masks to all subjects in your image)!
Finding the Masking Tool
Once applied, you will find your masks under the dotted line circle icon (Masking Tool) on your software's develop toolbar:
This should look similar in all 3 programs, with only slight UI changes:
If your masks are not showing the full title of each layer or allowing you to click in and adjust (add/subtract) things easily, or toggle your layers off/on, you can expand by clicking either the >> << icon or the little arrow icon on the top right of your Masks panel:
How to find Add/Subtract Options to Adjust your Mask
Adding or subtracting from your mask is exactly what it sounds like, but with many different options for how you can select the parts your will add or subtract!
With your Masks Panel expanded, simply click into the mask you would like to adjust, and click on "Add" or "Subtract" (+ or - if you Masks panel isn't expanded). You will then get several options to subtract from your mask. We recommend sticking to "People" - when you need to remove other subjects from your mask, and "Brush" when you need to remove an object from your subject mask, or when you need to refine the edges of a mask.
How to Remove Select Subjects
When you apply one of your AI Presets for subjects, you may find that it applies to all of the people in your image. You can quickly remove people by heading over to your Masking Panel, selecting the applied mask layer, selecting subtract, and selecting "Select People":
The system will then detect people and give you options for selection Select one of the people you would like to remove:
After you select a person, you can then click "Add People" to add each additional person you would like to remove from your selection:
The "Add People" will let you select from all available People. Once you have checked off the subjects you will be subtracting from your selection, click "Continue":
You will then see the People you Selected, and the selection options. Make sure "Entire Person" is checked and then click "Create Mask" to successfully subtract those subjects from your mask!:
Run into any issues, or have any questions before purchase?
Reach out to our dedicated support team at support@theluxelens.com for 1:1 support, recommendations, and tips!
Featured workflow images by Tim Laielli, Julie Jourdan, Beth Philippidis, Ellie Burris, Jamie Kimble, and Breezy Photography. Top Image by Breezy Photography.