Lightroom Desktop 9.5 Updates: Mask Refinement, Render to DNG, Generative Expand
Clip title: Lightroom 9.5: Why “Render to DNG” Changes Everything Author / channel: Glyn Dewis URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30ushmakhvE
Summary
The video provides a comprehensive overview of the new features introduced in Lightroom 9.5 for Lightroom Desktop. The presenter focuses on three key additions he deems most significant: enhanced mask refinement, a new “Render to DNG” option, and the “Generative Expand” feature within the updated “Crop and Expand” panel. It’s crucial to note that these updates are specifically for Lightroom Desktop, with some not yet available in Lightroom Classic.
The first notable improvement is Mask Refinement, which introduces “Feather” and “Edge” sliders for AI-generated masks. This enhancement allows for more precise control over mask boundaries, preventing unwanted “spilling” of adjustments onto adjacent areas. The presenter demonstrates its utility in tasks like eye enhancement in portraits, as well as refining selections around fine details such as hair, tree branches, or horizon lines, where previous AI selections often struggled with faint halos.
Secondly, the “Render to DNG” feature is a new option accessible by right-clicking a photo. It creates a flattened, non-raw DNG copy of your image with all current edits permanently applied, essentially “baking in” all adjustments up to that point. The original raw file remains untouched with all its non-destructive edits still live and adjustable. This is likened to creating a “print” from a “negative” in traditional photography, distinguishing between “recovering” lost detail (possible only on the raw original) and “adjusting” existing pixels (possible on both). This flattened DNG offers a smaller file size than a TIFF and is beneficial for workflows requiring a fixed starting point or when sharing a file without its entire edit history.
Finally, “Generative Expand” has been integrated into the “Crop and Expand” panel. This AI-powered tool can intelligently invent new content to fill expanded canvas areas (using “Firefly Fill & Expand” for 1 credit, or “Content-Aware Fill” for free which samples existing pixels for simpler backgrounds). A critical workflow recommended by the presenter is to perform all AI edits and masking first, then “Render to DNG” to create a flattened copy. Generative Expand should then be applied to this flattened copy. This method ensures that your original raw file retains all its live, adjustable settings and AI masks, allowing you to go back and modify them without affecting the expanded version or incurring extra generative credits if you need to redo the expansion.
Beyond these three main features, Lightroom 9.5 also includes a long list of bug fixes, addressing issues like mask sliders resetting, launch crashes, star rating malfunctions, and GPS data pasting problems. New camera support has been added for devices like the GoPro Mission 1/Pro and Sony RX10 V, along with new lens profiles. Windows users will also benefit from performance improvements, including smoother scrolling, window resizing, and a more responsive overall interface. The presenter concludes by emphasizing that while “Render to DNG” might seem the least exciting, it is arguably the most valuable for maintaining flexibility and avoiding potential editing headaches.
Video Description & Links
Description
Lightroom 9.5 has landed, bringing new features, bug fixes, and expanded camera and lens support. Rather than listing every minor tweak, this video focuses on the three most impactful updates: the new Feather and Edge mask refinement sliders, the game-changing Render to DNG feature, and the overhauled Crop & Expand panel powered by Generative Expand. You’ll see practical demonstrations for each tool, including how to refine tight portrait masks, protect your base edits before applying look presets, and reframe compositions late in your workflow without losing your previous AI work.
00:00 Introduction 01:15 Mask Refinement (Feather & Edge) 03:06 Render to DNG 09:34 Crop & Expand (Generative Expand) 14:10 Bug Fixes, Camera & Lens Support
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Tags
lightroom, adobe, colour, color, contrast, saturation, Dodge, Burn, Lighten, Darken, Mask, Brush, intersect, select, subject, AI, Compositing, Lighting, Generative Fil, cotent Aware Scale, compositing, blending, Firefly, masking, landscape, community, presets, remix, mobile, camera raw, web, Remove, Photoshop, eyes, enhance, Layers, ChatGPT, photoshop, topaz, gigapixel, generative upscale, remove, distraction, benq, calibration, display, projects
URLs
- https://glyndewis.com/3945portraits
- https://glyndewis.com/
- https://glyndewis.com/books
- https://glyndewis.com/gear
Related Concepts
- Mask Refinement
- Render to DNG
- Generative Expand
- Crop and Expand
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Desktop 9.5
- Non-destructive editing — Wikipedia
Related Entities
- Glyn Dewis
- Lightroom Desktop 9.5
- Lightroom Classic — Wikipedia
- Adobe — Wikipedia
- Firefly — Wikipedia
- Windows — Wikipedia