Camera
Adobe updates Lightroom with ‘generative remove’ and lens blur tools
Adobe announced several updates to Lightroom today. Adobe Firefly, first announced in March 2023 as a beta for Photoshop users, is a generative AI tool for editing, altering and producing generative AI images. It’s now coming to all versions of Lightroom.
With ‘Generative Remove,’ users can highlight an area of an image they want to remove (think of it like the heal tool on steroids) and then let Adobe’s AI tools take their best stab and artificially create something that passes for real.
 |
 |
| Original image with a yawning person over the subject’s shoulder.Image credit: Adobe | Image after ‘generative remove’ is used to remove a person in the background and create an artificial street scene where they were. |
If you’ve used generative fill on Photoshop or seen one of Google Pixel’s Magic Eraser commercials, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Adobe says ‘generative remove’ for Lightroom is built on its first imaging model from last year, not ‘model 3,’ which was announced more recently.
‘Lens Blur’ is another AI-driven tool coming to Lightroom. With this tool, Lightroom users can generate a depth map and apply artificial depth of field. Users can apply varying levels of depth and the tool is also capable of introducing bokeh that mimics out-of-camera photography. The idea is that users can take a portrait shot at F22 and make it look like F3.5.
Both Generative Remove and Lens Blur are non-destructive edits, and Adobe says files altered by these tools will be automatically labeled using Content Credential tools from C2PA and CAI.
Also announced, updates to Lightroom mobile’s interface and Lightroom Classic gains expanded tethering support for several Sony cameras.
Availability
Generative Remove is available immediately as an ‘early access’ feature in Lightroom versions for desktop, mobile, iPad, web and Lightroom Classic.
Lens Blur, which was previously in ‘early access,’ is now included as a standard feature in the latest versions of Lightroom across the aforementioned platforms.
Adobe Unveils Firefly-Powered Generative Remove in Lightroom for Fast and Easy AI-Editing Across Surfaces
SAN JOSE, May 21 2024 – Today, Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) unveiled Generative Remove in Adobe Lightroom, bringing the magic of Adobe Firefly directly into everyday photo editing workflows across Lightroom mobile, web and desktop surfaces. Generative Remove is Lightroom’s most powerful remove tool yet, giving everyone the power to remove unwanted objects from any photo non-destructively in a single click by intelligently matching the removed area with pixel perfect generations for high-quality, realistic and stunning results. From removing distractions in family photos, to empowering professionals with speedier retouching workflows and more fine-grain control, Generative Remove empowers exciting capabilities for all photographers. Generative Remove is available today as an early access feature across the Lightroom ecosystem for millions of users.
Today, Lightroom’s AI-powered Lens Blur tool is now generally available with all-new presets, empowering everyone to achieve aesthetic blur effects on any photo in a single click. Combined with Lightroom’s world class photo editing tools, these latest features speed up everyday workflows for pros and give new photo editing superpowers to hobbyists so everyone can bring to life amazing photos.
“Whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro photographer, everyone wants to be able to quickly and easily edit their photos on the go,” said Ashley Still, senior vice president and general manager, Creative Cloud at Adobe. “We’re excited to bring the magic of Firefly to Lightroom’s millions of users – so they can live in the moment knowing they have the most powerful tools to edit, manage and share anywhere they are.”
Photo Editing for Everyone
Accessing Generative Remove is as easy for Lightroom users as cropping a photo or adding a preset. Generative Remove is helpful for editing even the most complicated backgrounds and surroundings including removing stains from a patterned shirt, wrinkles of a tablecloth in food photography, unwanted reflections in water and more. From removing distractions in travel photos, to empowering even more seamless retouching capabilities for pros, Generative Remove empowers everyone with new creative possibilities and saves time to focus on what they do best – bringing their creative visions and work to life. Adobe is engaging closely with our community while Generative Remove is in early access to continue to get feedback from the photography community, advance the model and expand the capabilities of Generative AI in the Lightroom ecosystem.
Empowering Everyone to Edit with Speed and Ease
New tools available in Lightroom today empower users of all skill levels from hobbyists to pros to edit photos from anywhere and any device faster, easier and more intuitively than ever before:
- Lens Blur, now generally available, seamlessly adds aesthetic blur effects to any part of a photograph in a single click and now includes all-new automatic presets;
- Expanded tethering support for new cameras including the latest Sony digital cameras – such as the Alpha 7 IV and Alpha 7R V – provides access to photos in Lightroom Classic in real-time, delivering time saving on everyday editing workflows and enabling better collaboration across teams;
- HDR Optimization, used already across tens of millions of images, enables anyone capturing photos to edit and export their photos with brighter highlights, deeper shadows and more vivid colors, as seen in real life;
- Instant access to photo libraries in Lightroom mobile and desktop apps empowers faster editing than ever before;
- Lightroom’s all-new mobile editing experience streamlines the mobile toolbar to prioritize the most popular features, while making it faster and more intuitive to edit.
Powered by Adobe Firefly
Firefly has driven an unprecedented community response and has been used to generate over 8 billion images worldwide across Adobe creative tools since its initial debut in March 2023. Generative Remove is powered by Firefly, which was made with creators, photographers and designers in mind. Firefly is trained on licensed content, such as Adobe Stock and is designed to generate content for commercial use that does not infringe on copyright and other intellectual property (IP) rights such as trademarks and logos. The deep integration of next-generation AI powered by Firefly across multiple of Adobe’s core tools uniquely enables new creative workflows that supercharge creativity with precise creative control.
Commitment to Responsible Innovation
Adobe is committed to developing AI in accordance with the company’s AI Ethics principles of accountability, responsibility and transparency. As AI becomes more prevalent in content creation, Adobe believes that it is important to provide consumers with transparency about its use in the creative process. A recent study from Adobe showed that 76% of U.S. consumers emphasized the importance of knowing if online content is generated using AI.
When Generative Remove becomes generally available, Content Credentials will be automatically attached to photos edited with the feature in Lightroom. With this launch, combined with C2PA-compliant cameras from Sony, Leica, Nikon, Canon and Fujifilm, Adobe is moving closer to enabling users to maintain a chain of trust by attaching Content Credentials to their content, ensuring authenticity from point of capture through editing to publication.
Like a “nutrition label” for digital content, Content Credentials are tamper-evident metadata that can provide important information about how digital content was created, modified and published. Credentials are built on the C2PA open standard and supported by the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), which was founded in 2019 to increase trust in the digital ecosystem. Today, the CAI has grown into a global coalition of over 3,000 members across tech, policy, media companies, creative professionals, researchers and more, all working together to add transparency to digital content.
|
Pedestrians with umbrellas wander down a rainy alley in Yokohama’s Chinatown.
Panasonic S5IIX + Panasonic S 28-200mm F4-7.1 | F7 | 1/125 sec | ISO 1600 |
Japan is one of my favorite places to travel. I’m captivated by its culture, cuisine, and the warmth of its people. It’s also a photographer’s paradise, offering endless possibilities, from serene temples and bustling markets to breathtaking landscapes.
My favorite type of photography when traveling in Japan is street photography, especially at night. I never tire of exploring the vibrant cityscapes, from the iconic Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo to the atmospheric alleys of Yokohama’s Chinatown.
However, there’s a twist: I seek out rainy conditions. While most travelers might not embrace a downpour, I find that rain transforms nighttime street photography into something magical. The umbrellas emerge, the city lights reflect off the wet pavement, and colors take on a vibrant intensity.
I was fortunate to visit Japan twice this year, and it rained both times. What some might consider lousy weather, I welcome as luck. Both my camera and I were thoroughly drenched during several nights of shooting, underscoring the value of weather-sealed equipment. (For the record, despite being so wet they were dripping with water, neither camera nor lens ever missed a beat.)
“While most travelers might not embrace a downpour, I find that rain transforms nighttime street photography into something magical.”
Unsurprisingly, some of my most memorable photos of 2024 were captured during these rain-soaked adventures. It’s challenging to select just one favorite because, as many of you will surely understand, how we remember the value of an image is often intertwined with the experience of capturing it.
The photo at the top of this page is one of my favorites from these trips, captured in Yokohama’s Chinatown. Off the main street, the area is full of narrow alleys, many decorated with traditional lanterns, creating small, intimate spaces. I spied these two pedestrians with similar coats and umbrellas turn into one of these alleys and instantly knew there was a potential photo around the corner.
I managed to fire off two shots before the scene lost its magic, but that’s all I needed. I love that you can’t see the main subjects’ faces. They remain anonymous, allowing the viewer to focus on the place rather than the person.
| Image: Godox |
Godox has announced the V100, a 100Ws version of its round-headed V1 on/off camera flashgun. The V100 can deliver up to 100 Watt Seconds of power in manual mode and can shoot over 70 consecutive bursts of light at full power. Recycle times of under 1 sec are possible when used with an external power source (1.7 sec with the internal battery).
Like the existing V1 and V1Pro, the V100 is available in versions compatible with the proprietary TTL flash metering systems of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm or Olympus/OM System, each of which comes with a small secondary flash that can be used to provide a little ‘fill.’ It also has a 2W LED modeling lamp, to help you understand how its light is going to fall.
Godox says it’s able to sync with the global shutter of Sony’s a9 III, up to shutter speeds of 1/80,000, though the company also says the V100’s minimum flash duration is 1/20,000, so presumably 1/80,000 sec shutter speeds would only experience a fraction of that output.
 |
| Image: Godox |
The V100 is powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion battery that can be charged directly using a USB-C cable or in an optional multi-battery charger if you need to prepare multiple batteries before a shoot.
It’s compatible with the company’s 2.4Ghz radio frequency off-camera communication protocol either as a transmitter or receiver.
Buy now:
No details have been given about price or availability but it’s listed as “Coming Soon” on B&H Photo’s website with a price of $349. B&H is also listing a Pentax-compatible version, not listed on Godox’s website.
Godox V100 C/N/S/F/O
Power Beyond Limits, 100Ws at Hand
Introducing the epic 100Ws TTL Li-ion Round Head Camera Flash V100. The Godox V100 redefines the standards for flagship on-camera flashes, brining an era of 100Ws power to handheld lighting. This groundbreaking flash delivers global shutter sync, a vibrant 2.3-inch color touchscreen, an intuitive menu, and one-tap syn operations. It combine cutting-edge features and professional-grade performance to provide an ultimate solution for professional lighting.
100Ws, Beyond Limits
The V100 sets a new benchmark for on-camera flashes by offering an unprecedented 100Ws power at its maximum output (M mode). With adjustable power steps from 1/1 to 1/256 or from 2.0 to 10, it covers the spectrum from subtle fill light to robust lighting for diverse scenarios, pushing the boundaries of creativity in flash photography.
Intuitive Touchscreen, Effortless Control
Equipped with a 2.3” full-color, high-sensitivity touchscreen, the V100 offers a smooth and responsive interface. Paired with an intuitive menu design and logical control layout, it allows photographers to quickly adjust power levels, activate high-speed sync, switch between TTL/M modes, and pair devices with a single tap, significantly improving workflow efficiency.
Global Shutter Flash Sync
The V100 is seamlessly compatible with cameras featuring global shutter like Sony a9 III. Supporting shutter speeds up to 1/80,000 seconds and offering TTL functionality, it delivers outstanding high-speed continuous shooting with effortless precision. This makes it an ideal choice for sports photography, outdoor bright light, and other fast-paced shooting scenarios.
70 Full-Power Consecutive Flashes
Thanks to its advanced cooling system, the V100 delivers 70 to 100 consecutive flashes at 100Ws without compromising performance. This ensures enhanced shooting efficiency and flexibility, allowing you to handle complex scenarios with ease and capture every brilliant moment of your creative vision.
| Zoom range (mm) | 28mm | 35mm | 50mm | 70mm | 80mm | 105mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous flashes (100Ws) |
75 | 75 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 100 |
Detachable Sub Flash
The V100 continues the highly praised detachable sub flash (SU-1) design from the V1 Pro. This versatile feature enables dual-light setups with a single flash, offering creative lighting solutions for portrait photography.
Wireless Sync, Streamlined Workflow
With the built-in Godox 2.4G Wireless X System, the V100 functions as both a master and receiver unit. Its one-tap pairing capability seamlessly integrates with the X3 trigger or other Godox wireless flash units, streamlining multi-flash setups and boosting productivity.
Powerful Battery, Convenient Charging
Powered by the same high-performance lithium battery as the V1 Pro, the V100 ensures uninterrupted shooting. The Type-C charging port and compatibility with the VC26T Multi-Battery Charger make recharging quick and convenient.
Enhanced Recycling with External Power
The V100 includes a port for the PB960 Lithium-Ion Flash Power Pack, reducing full-power recycling time to as fast as 0.8 seconds. This feature supports demanding, high-intensity shooting scenarios, ensuring peak performance.
Built-In LED Modeling Lamp
A 2W LED modeling lamp with 10 adjustable levels provides flexible options for previewing light effects or serving as a fill light. The lamp supports continuous or interrupt modes, catering to different creative needs.
Comprehensive Accessory Ecosystem
The V100 is compatible with a broad range of Godox accessories, including the AK-R1 Accessory Kit for Round Flash Heads, AK-R21 Projection Attachment, AK-R22 Collapsible Diffusion Dome, and the S2 Speedlite Bracket for Bowens, among others. Whether you’re fine-tuning light, exploring creative effects, or expanding functionality, the V100 is designed to meet every need.
When Fujifilm announced that it was releasing a firmware update to help improve the X-H2 and GFX 100 II’s autofocus performance in October, the community’s response was near-unanimous: what about the X-T5? The camera’s autofocus performance has been a sore spot in recent months, with some users complaining that their cameras were noticeably less accurate after a previous firmware update.
This week, Fujifilm answered. It’s released firmware updates for its flagship APS-C camera, as well as the GFX 100S II, X-T50, X-S20 and X100VI, promising that its “AF algorithm has been partially revised to improve focusing accuracy and subject tracking performance.” According to the release notes, the updates, which you can download using the links above, are solely dedicated to the autofocus improvements.
This is far from the first X-T5 update that promises to improve its autofocusing capabilities, so we’ll likely have to wait for owners to chime in on whether it brings the performance up to a level that they’re happy with. For now, though, it appears that Fujifilm has at least heard the complaints, and is working on addressing them.
-
Solar Energy3 years agoDLR testing the use of molten salt in a solar power plant in Portugal
-
Camera1 year agoDJI Air 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
-
world news1 year ago
Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens
-
Camera1 year agoSony a9 III: what you need to know
-
Camera4 years agoCharles ‘Chuck’ Geschke, co-founder of Adobe and inventor of the PDF, dies at 81
-
world news1 year ago
Strong majority of Americans support Israel-Hamas hostage deal
-
Solar Energy1 year agoGlencore eyes options on battery recycling project
-
Indian Defense3 years ago
Israeli Radar Company Signs MoU To Cooperate With India’s Alpha Design Technologies
