If you’ve noticed a new icon showing up in Lightroom Classic lately — a little circle / star in the top right corner above the word BASIC — you’re not alone. That’s the new AI Edit Status icon, and in this video, I’ll explain exactly what it means, what triggers it, and how you can use it to know the correct order of workflow in Lightroom or Camera Raw.
Adobe introduced this icon to show when AI-powered tools (like Select Sky, Subject, or Denoise as well as others) have been used on a photo. It’s a helpful way to visually track which images have had certain enhancements made.
But this video goes beyond the icon — we’ll also cover the ideal Lightroom workflow order suggested from Adobe. We’ll talk about the correct order of tools to use to avoid this icon giving you a warning, but also when to consider deviating from that “correct” order and do your own thing. Enjoy!
In this video I also mention my SceneSplit AI Mini Course + Presets. Click Here to find out more.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Hi,
In one of your old tutorials on storage and backups you mention a Lr workflow course which covers more details. Your tutorial on storage/backup was from 2023, so I am wondering if one of your classes covers more on this subject that is current and if you still use the same storage system. and do you still use backblaze?
I have taken your Lr class in the past btw. Thank you,
Nancy- a loyal follower
Hi Nancy. That’s my Lightroom System course and yes I still use the same system (different drives, but same overall system). Thanks.
Do you offer Lightroom classic consulting on an hourly basis? I sometimes hit a wall in editing knowing there must be a solution but need help that can save me lots of time. Please let me know or make a recommendation.
Muck appreciated.
Nick up in Odessa
Hi Nick. I don’t offer consulting and I don’t know of anyone that does. Every once in a while I release some one-on-one time slots, but I don’t have any available in the near future. Thanks!
I have been applying the adaptive colour profile on import. If I then Denoise the photo (or any other AI tool) the update symbol lights up. Having to then update each photo individually by clicking on the new button is a bit of a pain (but Opt+Command+U makes this a bit quicker).
HOWEVER I have found that it is possible to Batch update all the photos that need updating…
In “Develop” do all the necessary edits and then switch to the “Library” module where the last edited picture should still be highlighted as “active”.
Don’t click on any other photos but press Command+A to select all the photos.
Return to the “Develop” module and in the top “Settings” menu select “Update AI Settings”.
After a while ALL the photos in that folder will have their AI settings updated and the new “AI edit status” button will change from orange/yellow back to grey.
I did that exactly as you stated and it did not update all? I went through and randomly clicked on a few images and the update icon was still orange?
Matt, do you think that Adobe will ever implement “Sky Replacement” in Lightroom Classic? It would save a lot of time and disk space if they did.
Hi Jeff. I honestly have no idea. I would hope not. I’d like LR to stay simple. If everyone’s “I could really use this” feature makes it in to LR, then it becomes the complicated mess that Photoshop is. But who knows? 🙂
You mentioned in the video that this new AI workflow icon was in ACR. I can not find it in either the Beta ACR or the regular PS ACR. Have I missed something? I have the technical updates checked in preferences.
Hi. If you watch the video and the link I pointed you to, that page from Adobe shows exactly where it is. Thanks.
Thank you!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t understand the logic of not applying the adaptive profile first!
Happy 4th July – doesn’t mean much to us this side of the pond!!
Thanks Matt!!! I saw this little icon yesterday and thought ‘What’s this, have I missed an update’!! Then this morning … there’s your video!!! You are always there keeping us up to date!!! I love your tutorials and the way you teach!! Thank you so much!!