Select Subject Tool
The Select Subject Tool is an automated masking feature in Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw Filter that detects and isolates subjects within photographs. Using artificial intelligence algorithms, the tool analyzes image content to identify primary subjects—such as people, animals, or objects—and generates mask edges around them. This automation provides users with a starting point for mask creation rather than requiring manual selection from scratch.
Functionality and Workflow
Once activated, the Select Subject Tool processes the image and creates a mask boundary based on its analysis of the subject. The resulting mask can then be refined and adjusted using additional masking tools and controls. This approach reduces the time required for precise subject isolation, particularly in photographs with clearly defined subjects against distinct backgrounds.
Practical Applications
The tool is useful for various editing tasks that benefit from subject-specific adjustments, such as background blur effects, selective color corrections, exposure adjustments, or applying effects to the subject while leaving the background untouched. It is available as a built-in feature within Lightroom’s masking panel and as part of the Camera Raw Filter in Adobe Creative Suite applications.
Source Notes
- 2026-04-14: I Looked At Amazon After They Fired 16,000 Engineers. Their AI Broke Everything.
- 2026-04-07: Lightroom Classic Single Click Automated AI Mask Presets for Landscape · ▶ source
- 2026-04-22: Photoshop · ▶ source