AI Masking: Capture One vs Lightroom (Which is best?)

A practical comparison between Capture One vs Lightroom, where I share my thoughts and personal experiences on their AI masking tools, especially for travel and landscape photography, to find out if one is better than the other. 📷 Photography Workshops: www.andrealivi...
📸 My New Lightroom Presets: www.andrealivi...
📗 Download my FREE ebook: bit.ly/3Z5FfVP
🔥 My "The Modern System to Manage Your Photos Like a Pro!" class on Skillshare skl.sh/3Z0E6yt
You can use this link to sign up, giving you 1 month FREE of Skillshare. Plenty of time to take the course.
⚡️ Download free trial of Dehancer Pro for the platform you use www.dehancer.c...
🎁 Use promo code LIVIERI10 for 10% off any Dehancer product (not the mobile App)
✏️ What do you think of this video? Let me know: airtable.com/s...
=======
My Social links:
Instagram: / andrealivieriphoto
Facebook Page: / andrealivieriphoto
#andrealivieri #landscapephotography #captureone
=======
Here below there are some Amazon affiliate links about what I use. If you use these links to purchase any item from Amazon, I get a small percentage which helps support my work. All of this goes to support the creation of the content you see here on the channel.
🎥 📷
(Affiliated links) - GEAR I USE
CAMERA GEAR
Fujifilm X-T5 - amzn.to/3tf2Itb
Fujifilm X-T4 - amzn.to/3NrwstQ
Fujifilm X100V - amzn.to/3NkBXdO
Fujifilm XF10-24mm f/4 - amzn.to/41kw460
Fujifilm XF16-55mm f/2.8 - amzn.to/3tj0c59
Fujifilm XF16-80mm f/4 - amzn.to/3t7mdnB
Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 - amzn.to/3NqycmT
Fujifilm XF70-300mm f/4-5.6 - amzn.to/3No7CuK
ACCESSORIES
Camera Backpack - bit.ly/3SNYBhw
TourBox Elite - amzn.to/46WqB6F
Photography Gloves - bit.ly/48hl9ft
Benro Tripod - amzn.to/41lz95R
L-Bracket Fujifilm X-T4 - amzn.to/41rQOZB
Peak Design Strap SLL-BK-3 - amzn.to/3GHuFNo
Peak Design Camera Strap L-BL-3 - amzn.to/4ahYe5G
Peak Design Clip - amzn.to/3Rnrsay
Cable Shutter Release - amzn.to/41ogbM2
Neewer Nodal Slide 140mm - amzn.to/3RjvLE2
Lens Collar for Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8 - amzn.to/48edY81
Marumi DHG Polarizer 77mm - amzn.to/3RFZHM0
Battery Original Fujifilm (X-T3/X-T30/X100V) - amzn.to/41j5Q3M
Battery Patona Fujifilm (X-T3/X-T30/X100V) - amzn.to/48gOEy4
Battery Original Fujifilm (X-T4) - amzn.to/47UmmJU
Battery Patona Fujifilm (X-T4) - amzn.to/3NkEpRd
Battery Charger Patona (X-T3/X-T30/X100V) - geni.us/KShL
Battery Charger Fujifilm X-T4 Original -
Battery Charger Fujifilm X-T4 Patona - amzn.to/46SYrcB
SD Case Water Resistant - amzn.to/46WpS5a

[@fuelediowa]

I have only used C1 for the past 15 plus years and you did a great job clearly delivering this info. (That I did not even know how to do half of.) To this slow learning ol man. LOL

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for the comment 😃

[@Vvvrrrmmm]

Best training videos on KZbin, keep it up, seriously you have a gift.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks so much for the lovely comment, and glad you enjoy my videos. I appreciate that!

[@pascalvangerven5769]

Excellent and balanced comparison between the two! C1 may lag behind in terms of the feature set they offer compared to Lr, but if they implement a new feature, they do it very well, especially in terms of usability. Their more generic approach to AI masking is a very clever choice.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks a lot for the comment, Pascal. Really appreciate it! Yeah, the implementation of the AI Select tool is quite clever, and I'm really enjoying it. While Capture One could add some 'refinements' to its toolset, overall, I find the AI capabilities pretty wonderful 🙂

[@Dragonstreetphotography]

Always excellent videos, many thanks Andrea ! 👌 It always interesting to see how we do each other. In your last image exemple I wouldn't have done it that way. I would have started with a gradient mask, rasterized it, and then apply the luma range. And possibly a refine mask if necessary to make perfect for the branches.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you for your comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah, you're absolutely correct about the different approach for the GND adjustment with the Luma Range, and I was aware of that. The workaround you mentioned, though, is only applicable when using the Luma Range. So, my goal was simply to highlight the limited options when it comes to 'intersecting' complex masks in Capture One. Thanks again 🙂

[@MarioTorre]

Great video! Regarding your last point, I typically create a second mask layer in C1 with a gradient with negative settings which acts as a sort of intersection. It’s not great however but seems to work in most cases.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mario! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@odileguiller1925]

Andrea, thank you for a great video. I started processing with CO since version 9. I am able to get great results and would never consider changing to other softwares despite the hefty price. AI and other masking tools are simply fantastic. I use the software a lot.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Hi Odile, glad you enjoyed the video. Yep, the AI selection tools in Capture One are truly fantastic! 😃 Ciao

[@pifilos]

Great video. Spectacular shot in example 2. Looking forward to see the edited version.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks so much for the comment, and glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂

[@JonathanGardner2004]

To select the red buildings in Lightroom, you could use the color range and choose the colors of the houses. You might have to do some cleanup by selecting objects like the red bush and the red boat. Maybe even a large brush intersect mask, and you could have it in one or two operations.

[@alanp253]

I am a Capture One user. Yep, it is missing an intersect and combine mask tool. Otherwise CO is better. Also, there are times when the Magic Brush works better than the AI select tool. Thanks for this and all your vids.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Yeah, the Magic Brush still holds its place. Love that tool. Thanks for the comment!

[@lauriewahlig2819]

Love capture one but for portraits the spot remover is like magic in LR! Wish C1 would upgrade that alone!

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for the comment, Laurie. Yeah, totally agree. The healing brush in CO needs a substantial improvement.

[@barryj7478]

For the last image, in C-1, you could have used a gradient in conjunction with a luma range which is non destructive. Then to touch up the mask you could use refine mask and you would get practically the same result as in LR. But I do agree that it would be sweet to be able to intersect masks in C-1.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for the comment and for sharing your thoughts, Barry! 🙂

[@AdamJRichardson]

I've been impressed by CO's AI selection tools (AI leveling and keystoning leave more to be desired). Haven't tried LR in a couple of years, so was surprised to see that the masks are relatively poor given the hype around them. For the last example the easy way to do it would be to just make a gradient mask and then use luma to exclude the dark tree, and it would stay dynamically adjustable - just because you have an AI tool doesn't mean you have to use it for everything :)

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank so much, Adam, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. You're correct about the different approach for the gradual filter adjustment with the Luma Range, and I was aware of that. The workaround you mentioned, though, is only applicable when using the Luma Range. So, my goal was simply to highlight the limited options when it comes to 'intersecting' complex masks in Capture One. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

[@medovoe-pomeste]

Thanks for the video, informative and interesting as always!

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks so much for the comment, and glad you found the video helpful! 🙂

[@artur.ratynski]

Very good comparison of the C1 in my opinion it is more accurate even than the Lr. It would also be interesting to see an episode about the changes to the photo backpack, the last episode was put up 2 years ago, I wonder if anything has changed.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks so much! As for my photo backpack, I'm not used to change my gear so frequently. Anyway, some things changed from the last video, so I might think to film a new one with the updates. Let's see 😉

[@erichsteinlechner4283]

Hello Andrea Another great informative video. It's a shame that there is no video course available via Capture One. This would require constant updates to the course as well. I find it easier with videos because I can see the results straight away. That's why I'm glad I found your channel. Ciao. With regards Eric

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you, Erich! I'm glad you found the video useful. Ciao 🙂

[@PhotosBySandJ]

Not sure what you mean...C1 has a boatload of instructional videos, several of which target the new mask tool. Go to KZbin>Capture One and see what is available.

[@michaelechteld]

Excelent video, thanks very much. Very helpful!

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you very much, and glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

[@Standekumar]

Interestingly, the only option to add an object without clicking ADD every time is to use the same tool in Adobe Camera Raw. It is very easy to add new objects in it, just by continuing to circle them. It's amazing how inconsistent these two programs are, starting with hotkeys, ending with some functions.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Yeah, agree. Thanks for the comment!

[@swissheartydogs]

Awesome video, grazie mille ! C1 is great, when full version with a light PC or Mac on the go. The C1 mobile version is incomplete… See LR mobile with all the AI masking & healing tools. Hope a PC ARM version will be soon released, for the new Copilot+PC laptops.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks so much for the comment and for sharing your thoughts! 🙂

[@shlomoeshet8525]

Outstanding video. Tne variety of examples is so impressive and indicative. I moved from ON1 to C1 mainly because the masking issue and i don't regret it. The only difficulty I'm still strugling with is when syncing edits among multiple images (copy and apply adjustments). The masks that are copied from the source image layers are not "smartly" or dynamically re-created on the target images when applied there. I wonder why and apreciate any tip regarding this issue. Thanks.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you so much for your comment, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video! 😊 I appreciate your feedback. Regarding the issue you mentioned with synchronizing adjustments on multiple images, it's related to the AI masking functionality. As far as I know, the software dynamically transfers masks created with Subject and Background selections. However, masks created with the AI Select tool, despite utilizing the AI model, are tied to specific objects selected and cannot be dynamically transferred. I hope this helps.

[@shlomoeshet8525]

Thanks for clarifying. I wonder if there's a workaround for this. What about rasterizing the mask before copying?@@AndreaLivieriPhoto

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

You're welcome. Rasterizing a mask in Capture One essentially converts the mask from a vector-based representation to a raster-based one. So, once you rasterize a mask, you lose the ability to easily edit the individual vector shapes and paths that make up the mask. That means, if you plan to synchronize adjustments with masks across multiple images and want to retain the ability to tweak the masks later, it's best to avoid rasterizing them until after the synchronization process.

[@shlomoeshet8525]

TY@@AndreaLivieriPhoto

[@pauldarville3843]

Interesting, Thanks!!

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@АлексейСтадницкий-ь5л]

Много снимаю интерьеры. Только C1. Абсолютно согласен с вами, Работа с лайтрум занимает в несколько раз больше времени. Именно в несколько раз. Но С1 хуже LR работает с HDR. Больше артефактов. Особенно в случае когда для дополнительной подсветки использую вспышку в потолок.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for the comment and for sharing your thoughts.

[@therebelmind6612]

Thanks for the video. I use both applications for various different reasons professionally. But you missed some things here that are pretty dramatic to my mind. If you shoot people, Lightroom is MILES ahead with its masking features. With a single click, you can generate separate masks for facial skin, body skin, eyes, hair, clothes, lips, etc AND after you did your edits on each mask you can actually sync that to all your other shots! Meaning LR will find the facial skin, hair etc in the new shot and apply the same settings to that. This is massive and safes you tones of time! Yeah I have to refine the mask here and there, but it's so easy to do with all the intersection tools. Don't get me wrong I am far from being a Lightroom fanboy. I hate the way it handles files, tethered shooting doesn't work with SONY, the way it handles colours is way way worse than capture one, there is no dedicated skin tones tool, the list goes on, but when it comes to creating and syncing people masks, it stands firmly on its own. SADLY SO, I wish I could do that with Capture One. Actually I clicked on you video in the hopes that I find something like that, tbh. EDIT: I just read in your description that you focus on travel landscape photography. And your photos are stunning, Sir. Just wanted to leave this here too :)

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for the comment and for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't cover some of the masking features you mentioned because the comparison was focused on travel and landscape photography. But I agree with you, Lightroom currently has an advantage when it comes to syncing AI masks.

[@jackmcewan6308]

One additional thought - the UI new Lr is awful! The ability to use the scroll wheel to zoom, make adjustments to sliders, and control tools such as Levels greatly improves efficiency in C1 in comparison to Lr. Not to mention the use of tiny arrowheads without labels that control significant functions in Lr. Lr is a prime example of what happens when engineers go wild, without sufficient concern for the human beings who will be using their product. In contrast, Photoshop and C1 are examples of excellent product engineering. Many of the controls in these programs have scroll wheel controls and as such run smoothly and precisely.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jack. I use both programs and agree that Capture One's UI is much better designed and less confusing than Lightroom's. Although Lightroom frequently introduces new features (I find some of them very powerful), its interface keeps getting busier and busier, making it harder for some users to navigate.

[@kristijanignjatovski4415]

Hi Andrea, following y and learn a lot from y especially for capture one. BUT, currently I use canon 5ds.on your opinion pros/cons of switching to Fuji H2.(canon is too expensive).

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you so much for your comment, Kristijan! Your question is quite broad. For example, what kind of photography are you into? Are you thinking of switching to a different system mainly because of cost, or do you feel like your current camera's missing some features you need?

[@kristijanignjatovski4415]

@@AndreaLivieriPhoto hmmm at first is the clarity, details which I get on DSR. Street,macro,portraits ( no landscape) is what I am doing. I can't rent or try any Fuji camera, on KZbin can't catch the real picture,so I need to go blind on Fuji.BUT I DO LIKE THE xh2 how it looks. Ty

[@josecarlosmora9318]

Muchas gracias

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you, Jose! 🙂

[@oscarx6384]

great video

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thank you very much!!

[@jimwilliams4170]

Capture One

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Thanks for the comment, Jim!

[@SayWhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat]

WHEN DOING SUCH VIDEO YOU SHOULD TELL THE VERSIONS. BECAUSE IN ONE WEEK MAY COME UP UPDATE AND FIX WHAT YOUR VIDEO WAS TALKING

[@friendofarca6550]

what a c1 friendly show, try the same with more complex objects like trees an see how bad it is. Completely ignoring what makes masking far superior in lr over c1 is also rather telling.

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

Do you have a specific kind of tree, with or without leaves, you'd recommend for testing the mask tool to see how bad C1 performs?

[@friendofarca6550]

@@AndreaLivieriPhoto the problem is already clearly visible in you last sample imagine a branch or a whole tree with more complex detail than there is no way to make a useful selection with c1. when there is too much fine detail in an image c1 fails while adobe still produces useable results. but what completely separates both is the ability to combine as many masks in LR as needed and even make ai based mask presets ! try to select the tree for example from you advanced color grading video with c1 ... in LR you can subtract or add as many color selections you like so you will properly need 2-5 but you will be able to perfectly select the tree something impossible with c1 !

[@flol3266]

That comparison sounded pretty biased

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

I regularly use both software, and the comparison is based on my personal experience with both. It would be interesting to hear why it seems 'pretty biased' to you.

[@flol3266]

@@AndreaLivieriPhoto in c1 you can not even combine multiple masks in a layer or you can not copy settings with Ai masks on another image and many more stuff. Taking that much time and come with such a minimal solution is not state of the art. Masks are superior in lightroom. There are several videos out there that point that out. Look just other reviews. Don't get me wrong, Adobe is also not doing a great job with innovation, but still better than c1. And when you subtract this one feature with adjusting color ranges like skin tones, capture one is just worse in alle aspects than lightroom. And do not come with sessions. Those are just for people who have no clue how to organize their photos. Maybe for studio photography on a client location, but how many people really need that...

[@flol3266]

@@AndreaLivieriPhoto for example look at comparison from "dunna did it" or "photo kitchen" and many more. Nobody is saying that Ai masking is better in c1. They have a nice approach but still are far behind lightroom. You just did not show the really tough examples. So no intersecting masks, no multiple masks and worse auto mask detection are just a few things to name.

[@freetibet1000]

@@flol3266 If you use the full potential of the layer function, which is missing in LR, you have a much better gradual control over your masking in C1. Of course this is not possible in LR since there are no real layers in LR.

[@4Kandlez]

@@flol3266 Your comment seems pretty biased