Adobe Camera Raw now comes equipped with an impressive new feature to instantly eliminate reflections with one click, currently as part of their Technology Preview phase but with plans to eventually implement this in Lightroom as well.
Reflection Removal tool’s initial version only addresses one type of reflection — large plate glass windows covering most or all of the field of view. Unfortunately, it cannot handle reflections from smaller or distant windows or objects like wine glasses and car surfaces.
Features
Adobe’s new tool eliminates distracting reflections in photos taken through windows, using AI to separate transmission and reflected scenes, recovering both. Adobe claims this approach doesn’t use generative AI; therefore it won’t try to guess what lies behind reflections or create nonexistent elements. The Technology Preview for Camera Raw (DNGs, CR2s, ARWs) and Lightroom users alike is currently available as a Technology Preview version.
You’ll find this feature in the Removing Distraction panel under Distraction Removal with a slider ranging from 0-100. When at zero, no change occurs; at 100 it shows only the reflected scene without window frames present in the image.
At present, this feature only works with raw images, although plans exist to expand it with support for JPEGs and HEIC files in future. Furthermore, research is currently being done on methods to minimize eyeglasses that reflect light into photos taken with portrait photographers’ lenses.
Limitations
Adobe claims that their tool works by scanning each photo for reflections, then using these coordinates to isolate them from the rest of the image. After isolating them from one another, Adobe says the reflections can then be removed by replacing them with transparent versions of themselves – leaving only your subject visible behind! Adobe recommends it for photos of buildings, people or anything shot through windows.
Adobe has made available as a Technology Preview so they can gauge user reaction and receive feedback, though eventually Adobe plans on including it within Lightroom itself.
Contrary to other adjustments found within the app, this new tool applies its adjustments as virtual copies rather than directly to an image’s pixel layer itself – meaning any changes made won’t reflect in its original state, potentially leading to inconsistent results.
Conclusions
Adobe has predominantly focused its AI efforts on generative algorithms; however, they have recently introduced nongenerative AI tools like reflection removal into their photo and video editing apps.
This tool uses technology that separates reflections from images in front of them to remove distracting images without losing detail in the process. This technology is currently available as a technical preview in Camera Raw and will soon arrive for Lightroom as well.
Adobe currently only allows the tool to work with raw photos, but plans to expand its compatibility to JPEG and HEIC files as part of Lightroom ecosystem. Marc Levoy of Adobe was particularly thrilled about mobile access of this tool in future releases of Lightroom.
Engadget conducted an experiment with this tool using an image of Disentis taken through a train window, and found it was successful at eliminating both reflections as well as any dirt-induced haze on the window. Unfortunately, however, this only works on larger reflections; smaller ones or distant windows won’t work with this solution.
Final Words
Adobe has released an update to their Camera Raw plug-in that makes it easier for photographers to remove reflections from images captured through glass windows. Dubbed Reflection Removal, this technical preview feature has some notable limitations and restrictions.
Adobe has limited this tool to raw files (DNG and CR2), not JPEGs or HEICs, as well as photos with full-field view plate glass windows that cover an entire field of view. In the future, they plan on adding an expanded version to Lightroom ecosystem.
To take advantage of this feature, open a photo in Camera Raw and enable the New AI Features and Settings Panel Technology Preview from within Preferences dialog box. Restart either Photoshop or Adobe Bridge to take effect – not quite perfect but working remarkably well according to samples provided by Adobe! Now available as a Technology Preview to gather community feedback with full support coming shortly after this test release.