Lightroom feature summary (October 2023 release)

Learn more about new features and other enhancements in the latest release of Adobe Lightroom. 

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Try it in Adobe Lightroom
Get in-app help, tips, and learn-resources within the Discover panel.

Add Blur and Bokeh effects using Lens Blur

(available in Adobe Lightroom desktop and mobile)

Adjust depth in a photo using the AI-powered Lens Blur in Lightroom. This new tool lets you blur the background or foreground by making a depth map of the photo using Adobe Sensei. 

You can try this feature in Lightroom desktop by following the steps below:

  1. Select Edit   > Lens Blur.

  2. To automatically apply the blur using Adobe Sensei, select Apply. Once the blur is applied, you can do the following:

    • Adjust the strength of the blur effect with the Blur Amount slider.
    • Select any Bokeh effect from the given options: Circle, Soap Bubble, 5-blade, Ring, or Cat's Eye.
    • Adjust the brightness of out-of-focus light sources with the Boost slider. 
    Tip:

    If a photo has an existing depth map, Lens Blur will use it unless you specify otherwise.

  3. Use the Focal Range to adjust the range of depth values that are in focus. 

    • Subject Focus: Automatically sets the focal range using AI-powered subject detection. 
    • Point or Area Focus: Manually set the focal range by clicking or dragging on the photo.
  4. Select Visualize Depth to view the depth map and focal range. To manually adjust the depth map, select Refine and then adjust the Focus or Blur amount using the Brush size, Feather, and Flow sliders. 

    depth map in photo
    Use the Visualize Depth option to view the depth map range in the photo.

Note:

As this feature is Early Access, you can share your experience and feedback with the Lightroom team using the available Provide feedback form. 

provide feedback form in Lightroom app
Select the Provide feedback option to share your Lens Blur experience with the Lightroom team.

Edit and export HDR photos in Adobe Lightroom

(available in Adobe Lightroom desktop and mobile)

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, allows you to create detailed, high-contrast photos, resulting in dynamic results. Adobe Lightroom now provides a first-of-its-kind, end-to-end workflow while working with HDR photos. This means you can now capture HDR photos (using your mobile device), merge, edit, display, and export them in Adobe Lightroom.

Depending on your device's compatibility, you can easily use the HDR feature in Lightroom desktop and mobile

What has changed with HDR Output?

  • The Histogram is automatically visible with SDR and HDR sections when you select the HDR option in the Edit panel. 
  • You can easily adjust the HDR in the Curve panel. 
  • You can export the HDR image in multiple file formats like JPEG XL, AVIF, and more. 
The HDR option in Lightroom desktop to view HDR data in an image.
Use the HDR option in Lightroom desktop to view HDR data in an image.

Note:

In Lightroom for mobile:

  • You can currently not merge HDR photos.
  • You can only export JPG and AVIF formats in Lightroom for mobile (Android).

Access and edit locally stored media in Lightroom

You can now edit locally stored photos and videos in Lightroom without importing or syncing them to the Lightroom cloud. Additionally, you can create folders for better organization and manage them as favorites. 

  1. In Lightroom desktop, select Local from the top-left side of the Photos tab. 

  2. You can access and open photos from your device, connected hard drives, camera cards, and other storage devices in Lightroom without importing them.

  3. Lightroom will let you create new folders in the Local tab for more accessible organization and management. You can rearrange folders, rename them, and mark them as favorites for easy access. 

    Organize and edit locally stored media in Lightroom.
    Organize and edit locally stored media in Lightroom.

  4. Once the edits are applied, Lightroom will auto-save the edits locally. 

Tip:
  • If you wish to copy a particular image or folder to Lightroom, you can selectively create a copy and save it in Lightroom Cloud.
  • Lightroom does not support deleting a locally stored folder. However, you can delete images from the Local folders in Lightroom.

New editing experience in Lightroom for mobile

Experience a cleaner and intuitive editing experience in Lightroom for mobile (iOS and Android). You can now access a more streamlined toolbar that makes editing photos in Lightroom for mobile easier and more efficient.

The feature toolbar in Lightroom for mobile now includes the Presets, Crop, Edit, Masking, and Healing panels. You can select the desired feature to access other local adjustments within that particular feature. 

Toolbar in Lightroom mobile showing tools like Edit, Preset, and more.
Streamlined toolbar in Lightroom for mobile for easy editing and navigation.

Additionally, the top bar in Lightroom for mobile now has tools like Organize that lets you better organize your photos with the Add to, Move to, or Remove from Album options. 

Learn more about the new editing experience in Lightroom for mobile (iOS) and Lightroom for mobile (Android).  

Supported cameras and lenses

Find newly added cameras and lenses in the full list of supported profiles:

Other enhancements 

Note:

The Discover section in Lightroom (on desktop and mobile) is now renamed as Community

Lightroom desktop

  • Fine-tune any individual color in a photo with the Point Color tool.
  • Easily access, organize, and edit locally stored photos in Lightroom using the Local tab. You can find the Local tab in the top-left panel on the Lightroom desktop app.  
  • Quickly search and filter Likes and Comments on your images on Lightroom desktop.
  • Access the Lightroom Academy blogs for free inspirational learning resources for photographers and educators of all levels and interests. 
  • Content Authenticity Initiative now supports additional file formats like AVIF, DNG, TIFF, and more.
  • Show or Hide the Photos panel as per your requirement. 

Lightroom for mobile (iOS and Android)

  • The Geometry panel has been merged with the Crop panel. You can now access the Geometry tools from there.
  • Profiles and Optics are available under View Options in the  menu. To view them in the Edit panel, select the menu > View Options, and then enable the Always show Profiles & Optics toggle.
  • The Info & Rating panel is now combined and available under the menu. 

 Adobe

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