Each year at Adobe Max (this week), Adobe releases all new updates for their apps. In this video, we’ll take a look at the new features in Lightroom Classic (officially it’s version 12 now). If you edit portraits, then you’re going to love this update. But they also did some really great stuff with selection tools as well as some content aware distraction removal tools too.
NOTE: IF YOU DON’T SEE NEW UPDATES IN YOUR ADOBE ACCOUNT TRY READING THIS ARTICLE AND CHECKING FOR UPDATES AGAIN (CLICK HERE)
Important Links
- Check out my new Lightroom Portrait Editing System and Presets (Click Here)
- A longer deep dive video in to the Portrait masking in Lightroom Classic (Click Here)
- Download the free Portrait masking sample presets (Click Here)
Enjoy and don’t forget to watch the longer Portrait Masking tutorial where I dive a little deeper in to all of it’s features.
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.
Very well explained.
Do the earlier keywords folder pics remain in this updated catalog? Cannot seem to find them.
Hey Matt do you think that eventually Photoshop and Lightroom will merge to become one big powerful program? I’m a little worried as I’ve invested most of my time In getting to know Photoshop over the years, but now am beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t have invested equal time in both!!
Hi Diane. I don’t believe that will happen.
Thank you Matt!!!!! You are my go-to when Lr makes changes and I totally appreciate you keeping me in the know! You’da’bomb!
Matt what a great tutorial. I always learns much from you!
Hi Matt, I haven’t kept up with all the LR / PS updates in the past due to very slow internet speed at my home. Can I skip all those updates and just upload this?? Thanks for all your contributions to our community! Jim
WONDERFUL INFO !!!
When I start version 12, I get a message which states that I have HD graphics driver 520 23.20.16.4973. This may cause a problem and I should upgrade . The steps to updating are rather scary. Do you think not upgrading will cause problems? My laptop meets all other requirements for LR 12. Thanks
Rich, I updated my driver – I had Dell do it for me because it looked awfully scary. I’m still getting that error message even though my driver is as up to date as it’s going to get right now. I even went so far as to call Adobe to see if they could fix the issue and the representative said that other than going back down to the version where that message didn’t show up was the only way to fix it. Apparently, this issue is something they’re aware of and so far, I don’t seem to be having any problems – but remember, I did update my driver.
Thanks so much Matt! I’ve used LR since it’s Beta version! My business was built on portraits and always wondered when LR might help a little more with workflow. And of course they upgrade now that I’m doing most real estate and architectural photography! Was wondering if the new masking tools in PS might help speed up my blending of interior images. I bracket for inside exposure and outside (window) view exposure and it’s time consuming to blend! Could you in the near future possibly demonstrate such a technique?
As always, he is the best. Others follow,
Hi Matt, thanks, as always, for these video tutorials. You have a style that I find helpful. I have also found your preset packs to but most useful. I do a lot of drone photography and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used the brighten foreground and darken sky preset. I also have a few of your earlier preset packs that I use on a regular basis. I purchased your portrait system based primarily on the quality and usefulness of your earlier preset packs.
Thanks Fred. Glad you enjoy them.
Awesome, Matt. I always appreciate your update videos. You’re the “go to” guy in my opinion. Cheers!
Thank you Matt, for explaining the update. You always do a great job on preparing me for the updates.
Most grateful for your approach to give us a free programs update.
Thank you Matt, some good new features. I gone try these new features
Thank you once again for your explanation of new features Matt. I always feel more confident to use the latest updates due only to your highlighting of what to look out for and how to use those features to improve our photos. Most helpful.
Thanks Matt! I always rely on you to give a quick and concise explanation of all the PS and LR updates! You are a wonderful teacher!
Thanks Matt,
I really do appreciate your continual updates as Lightroom/Photoshop/On1 evolves.
Excellent video as usual.
Unfortunately the sample doenload didn’t work & I couldnt import it – please resend or republish it.
Many thanks for your ongoing education
Hi Mike. There’s nothing I can really do if it doesn’t work. I can assure you that if you have the right version of LR and install it correctly it works. So maybe try again to see if you missed a step. Thanks.
Thanks Matt. Great intro as always
Thanks, Matt, useful videos. Isn’t Adobe missing an available trick here, though? We now have object selection and the beginnings of content aware fill inside Lightroom – yet we can’t apply content aware fill to an object selection, instead having to brush that in manually – surely the two could have been connected?
Very informative Thank you
Once again, Matt, many thanks. Enjoyed your sessions at the Lightroom Summit.
Hi Mat,
Thank you for your nice informative update, did you notice, that “Done” button is missing from corp and other local adjustments in lightroom classic in the development module? Already tried to press “T” to toggle between menus but it’s not working out. Maybe some bug or I don’t know what is a new way to handle this.
I’m having the same issue
did you find the done button?
i have the same issue Done button is missing
Hi. This is answered in my latest Q&A post here on the Blog.
I always appreciate your videos when there’s an important update to describe. I hope you’re in touch with LR/Adobe when you find the edits to be less than ideal. Thank you
Thanks Matt. I always look forward to ‘What’s new’ by you.
Great tutorial, many thanks.
Great tutorial Matt! And as usual very clearly explained. Can’t wait to have to Dutch update.
Thanks, Matt. Your videos are always so clear and helpful, and this one is another feather in your cap. Thanks for keeping us updated on changes like these.
Thanks for the review
Thanks for the great information!
Hi Matt As always you prove you are ahead of the game. In your presentations you come across as a good friend. I am fortunate to have access to your training videos. Best to you and your family.
Thanks Bill! I really appreciate the kind words.
Thank you Matt for the informative video about the updates to Lightroom Classic. Much appreciated!
Thanks Mat. Informative as usual.
What great timing! After the LR Virtual Summit I am ready to begin using LR for the first time and would have been confused to see the new updates. Now I already have a jumpstart on what they are and how to use them. Thank you Matt!
Thanks for the updates Matt! Some good new features.
Thanks Matt: Excellent instruction.
took me a while to stop looking for the ‘done’ button when exiting Masks and click ‘Edit’ button instead.
Overall i liked the changes. takes a little longer using the ‘people’ button but i could still use ‘subject’ for most of mine when i do not need the detail of ‘people’
Thanks for noting this, I would looking for the done button as well.
“Done” button is missing from the development menu, I tried to reinstall it on my stand-by system but “done” is gone.
Where are the free presets you mention in the video?
Your video is very helpful. Thank you.
I watched your video on masking at the recent lightroom summit. One thing that continues to confuse me is how I invert a mask where I have added or subtracted a bit of the original selection. The invert seems to always apply to the added or subtracted bit rather than the original selection with the bit added or subtracted. I am wondering whether select background in the updated version is the solution. Does my problem remain if I need to add or subtract a bit of the background?
Hope you can help
got to root of mask (Mask 1) click 3 little dots choose Duplicate and invert
Always enjoy and learn from your videos. What’s the difference between Lightroom 12 and Lightroom classic?
Hi Lee. It’s actually Lightroom Classic version 12.
Matt, thanks for the excellent explanation of the key updates to Lightroom! Always helpful!
Thanks, LR’s masking abilities just keep getting better. For me, this keeps it well ahead of its competitors.
Hi Matt. I have the updated Lightroom, and Adobe suite products (as of today, October 18th). Can you please confirm, that the Lightroom Portrait AI editing system that is available via the link at the top of this page is current with the updates released today by Adobe. If yes, then I most certainly will buy it today …. Thank you so much.
Hi Michael. The LR Portrait System was released today as well. It’s brand new and meant for the latest versions
Thanks…
How do you run an update to get these features?
Looks like a great addition to LR. As with all you videos, this is very interesting, helpful and easy to follow. Thank you!
Hey Matt, thanks a bunch. Very well done as always.
Semper Fi,
Joe W.
Hope all is well Joe! When are you back in FL?
Thanks for Your Good news from Lr
Excellent as always.
Well covered. Some excellent updates. Look foreward to using them. Thanks for posting
Thank you, Matt! You always have great tutorials and content.
Thanks Matt – always find your videos on the new releases very informative and I appreciate your format/delivery of the information.
Many thanks, Matt, for your lightning quick Lightroom update video. It’s a real exciting set of tools so clearly described.
My Creative Cloud app is not offering me a Lightroom update on Mac OS. Is it not available yet?
Try:, ([Ctrl/Cmd]+[Alt/Opt]+[ R ]) to refresh your Creative Cloud App
That worked. Thank you, Rikk
great tip ! thanks!
Great head start, I have not received the update yet. Your training classes have helped my editing 10 fold over other classes that I have purchased . Keep up the great work!
Thanks Matt for revealing all these tidbits. You are the same person in these promos as you are in your class: down to earth, cheerful, encouaging and brilliant.
Thanks Keith!
Great update. Thank you.
OK, I have said this before … worth saying again … every time I watch a video of yours I think to myself ‘I love this guy!’ You are so clear and direct and I get excited about learning more about Lightroom all over again. I know I resist layers and much of the new format that is similar to Photoshop because I don’t know it very well … although I always go to Photoshop Raw from Lightroom for certain tools … so I now find myself looking forward to knowing more. Thanks for your update … thanks for doing all the research and making it easier for folks like me. Please know your work is appreciated.
Thanks Linda! 🙂
As always, Matt, thanks for the help in understanding these things. Your teaching style works for me:>)
Amazing changes. Thanks for always getting the info out to everyone!
Great as usual Matt!
excellent thanks
Thanks Matt! Your tutorials are always so helpful and this one gives me a headstart.
These are great updates! Thanks for the video. Excited to try the new selection tools.
I really need some help in importing and tracking photographs. I can use both LRC & LR for all other work such as develop, slideshow, etc..
Most of my photos are in Apple’s PHOTOS, and other locations on my computer under Finder.
Can you help me dig out of this hole. I’ll be glad to pay you for your time and effort.
Thank you,
“EQ” Sylvester
Hi. I guess the main thing to remember is that if you’re not organized outside of LR then it’s impossible to be organized inside of LR – since they’re the same thing as your folder structure. So my suggestion would be to get your photos organized. It’s not something I (or anyone) can do for you. Only you can move things around and get them where they need to be. My Lightroom System course does show my organization method, but it’s going to definitely need you to take the time to get everything in one place. mattk.com/lightroomsystem
Good luck!