How to Use AI Masking in Adobe Camera Raw for Professional Photo Editing

Adobe Camera Raw's AI masking tools automatically detect subjects, backgrounds, skies, and landscapes, letting you make precise adjustments to specific areas of your photos. These intelligent masks eliminate the need for manual selection work, while allowing you to combine and refine them for complete creative control.

The technique works with any image format and preserves all your adjustments when using smart objects, making it perfect for non-destructive editing workflows that you can modify at any time.

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Practical Tips

These key techniques will help you master AI masking in Adobe Camera Raw:

• Always convert your layer to a smart object first using Filter > Convert for Smart Filters to maintain non-destructive editing capabilities
• Use the subtract option with radial gradients to create natural lighting effects behind subjects after applying background masks
• Combine multiple AI mask types like landscape elements (sky, mountains, water) with subject masks for complete scene control
• Press Y to toggle mask overlays on and off to see exactly which areas you're adjusting
• Adjust feathering on radial and linear masks to blend effects seamlessly into your image

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