Lightroom Classic Masking for Beginners

Lightroom for beginners starting with masking. How it works and how to improve your photographs with masking in Lightroom Classic.

[@tmewborn1]

Sir You're are Awesome, I like Your detailed instructions, and going slow enough for an old man my age of 83 can follow, and learn. Thank You do much for producing this most excellent training Video.

[@tv510]

Hi Tom, thanks for watching and for the kind words. More to come in a week or two.

[@DebbiePittman-o3h]

Best tutorial video I have seen. Methodical, well paced, clear! Thank you!

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful Debbie, thanks for watching.

[@eleanorjames1118]

I have been using Lightroom and watching Lightroom Classic tutorials from various photographers for quite some time,so I really didn't expect to learn anything new in a "beginner" tutorial. I was amazed at how many little tips and tricks I learned (like duplicate and invert, rather than manually starting from scratch) and using the auto select to control the erase function. I know that I will have to watch this again, to remind myself of some of the little tweaks you showed.

[@tv510]

Thanks Elenor, I find that there is ALWAYS some new to learn.Thanks for watching.

[@peterlukacsultimateactmath7626]

Terry thank you for this great and helpful video. You are a terrific teacher, explaining at just the right pace and with just the right level of detail, not assuming the viewer knows too much. Thanks again!

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching Peter!

[@whobedannyd]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! I learned SO MUCH from this video!!

[@tv510]

So cool, thanks for watching.

[@BevSantini]

In a little over 20 minutes, I have learned more from you than anyone else about Masking. Thank you & I’ll be checking out your other videos and subscribing.

[@tv510]

Thanks Bev. I appreciate it.

[@mariemacisaac7818]

Hi Terry, I want to thank you so much for your videos on LRC. I have struggled for yesrs ( really !!) with LRC and i have looked at a lo5 of videos. Yours has been my pot of gold. I like how you get down to the basics on how you explain and you also have a good listening voice

[@tv510]

Wow, Marie, what great compliments. I'll keep them coming.

[@YO3A007]

Yes Pot of Gold.

[@stanburman9978]

Terry thanks for this excellent video that really helps a Lightroom old geezer who needs to learn the newer features. This masking capability is fantastic.

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching Stan.

[@waynepurcell1974]

I like how clear you make it. Thank you!

[@tv510]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching Wayne.

[@DaveMelvin]

Thank You Terry. Clear, very well explained & well paced. Very helpful.

[@tv510]

You are welcome Dave, thanks for watching.

[@digitdouglas]

Love your videos, you make learning LrC so easy, thank you!

[@tv510]

Happy to hear that! Thanks for watching.

[@barryhouchin5347]

Thank you SO much for taking the time to do these videos! Recent LrC signee, and your tips are helping me clean up a lot of my sports shots that were taken in inferior lighting conditions.

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Barry. Sports shots can be challenging, good luck!

[@dougnelson423]

Terry, your videos on LRC are awesome. Thanks so much.

[@tv510]

Thanks Doug, appreciate you watching them.

[@SOUTHERNLIFETIMES]

Thank you for these videos! I'm pretty good at the camera side of things, but learning lightroom has been challenging until I found your videos. I appreciate you for making these videos. I look forward to learning more through your channel.

[@tv510]

Awesome, I love hearing that. More to come!

[@jeremyg9018]

Thanks for putting these videos together. As someone that's new to Lightroom and in general photography with a "real" camera, they've been super helpful

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Jeremy. Glad they are working for you.

[@1989ann2001]

Watching your instruction in the videos has finally lit up the lightbulb in my brain on how to use LRC. Thank you ever so much! I selected one of my photos similar to yours and WAHLA!!!

[@tv510]

YES! Love to hear that. Thanks for watching.

[@robertdeanfry]

Just happened on your tutorial by chance....best instruction for masking EVER. I'm looking forward to more!

[@tv510]

Hi Robert, Awesome! Thank you! More to come!

[@TiffanyClarkChannel]

You're an excellent explainer! This was very clear and easy to follow, thank you!

[@tv510]

Thank you Tiffany!

[@MorkyOrky]

Thank you so much. I have used Lightroom fairly often but intermittently and so I was so grateful to have my knowledge and skills refreshed. Excellent tuition

[@tv510]

You're very welcome thanks for watching.

[@bonefixer100]

You are an amazing teacher! Thank you. Keep on educating your community

[@tv510]

Wow, what nice things you are saying. I appreciate it.

[@leticiahernandez5846]

Thank you. I wasn't going to watch it because it was for "beginners" BUT I learned a thing or two.

[@tv510]

That's fantastic! Thanks for watching, Leticia. I have a more advanced one coming, it should be out in the week or so.

[@leticiahernandez5846]

@@tv510 I'll be on the lookout for it,

[@TheHauntingFiles]

You are simply brilliant Terry Vander Heiden. Learning a lot from your tutorial.

[@tv510]

Wow, thanks, I appreciate that. Thanks for watching.

[@robsmith976]

Thank you. I found that very helpful. As some one new to editing photos it was nice to see simple easy to follow steps to making your photos look better.

[@tv510]

Thanks Rob, more to come.

[@TheMisterNomad]

Thanks for doing these. I've been playing around in LRC for years, but haven't got into masking. Now I'm going to have a good time going back to old photos that really needed some help and fix them up with masking! Not knowing masking I would have had to do overall changes in things like exposure and saturation. This will change everything for me.👍

[@tv510]

I appreciate you watching Mister Nomad. Masks are really pretty cool to work with.

[@MykeWinters]

Great tutorial and I think I’ll be a new sub. Thank you for the hard work and instructional education 🙏👍

[@tv510]

Welcome Myke! Thanks for the kind words.

[@panayiotispanayides2141]

Excellent, just excellent. Thanks for that. Made easy.

[@tv510]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching.

[@sarahbatsford4791]

Many thanks for the easy paced video. A great help😁

[@tv510]

Fantastic! Glad to hear. Thanks for watching.

[@robingrussling7795]

I heard about your videos. You explain how to do masking and make it so easy. I have learned a lot in this video. Will be watching all of them.

[@tv510]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@jimmackelvie8825]

Thanks Terry, this was so helpful.

[@tv510]

So glad, you are welcome Jim.

[@andy8315]

Thank you for doing this Terry very useful video has been big help.. thanks Andy

[@tv510]

Glad to help

[@eduukemenam1556]

Best light room content. Detailed explanation for dummies.

[@tv510]

Happy to help.

[@viv10549]

A very comprehensive tutorial, thank you.

[@tv510]

Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate you watching.

[@janajaepas]

Great video! I have experience with the masking, but I learned several new things!

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@waynedudgeon648]

Great! Super clear and well explained.

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Wayne. I appreciate the kind words.

[@perfasting4342]

Super helpful! Thanks, Terry!!

[@tv510]

Very welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@sharonlomonaco5029]

Thank you for your clear and concise tutorial unraveling the miracles of masking. When I'm shooting an image I know there will be additional work done in Lightroom or Photoshop so, I don't consider it to be "fixing" ... I prefer to think of my edits as "finishing". I'm looking forward to more of your excellent tutorials!

[@tv510]

Hi Sharon, what kind words. I love that concept to "finishing"! Thanks for watching.

[@michaelwhalen7154]

This was excellent. Thank you!

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Michael.

[@dickyla2013]

Without doubt, the best tutorials I have watched.

[@tv510]

Wow, love that, thank you!

[@RichardHollywood]

@@tv510 Do you have or plan to have any tutorials on using the healing/spot/clone tool on Lightroom Classic?

[@tv510]

@@RichardHollywood yes, I’ll move that up in cue since you are asking about it. By the end of the month if all goes well.

[@tmewborn1]

Thank You, I love your very detailed, and reasonable pace. Thus it is so much easier to learn than so many Videos I have watched where the presentations are a Warp Speed, and very difficult to follow along. I am very appreciate of Your talent, and teaching skills.

[@tv510]

Thank you for noticing. I did want to make things easy to ingest. Thanks for watching.

[@keithw8646]

This video was a huge help. I’ve been away from LR (now LrC) / PS since they went subscription. Thanks for posting this.

[@tv510]

Glad it works for you Keith. Thanks for watching.

[@fender44]

Thank you for an excellent tutorial, simply & clearly explained !

[@tv510]

Thank you for watching. I'm working on more LRC videos this week!

[@fender44]

Hi Terry, I am new to PS & LRC, have you made a video on how to use & organise Folders & Collections within LRC, and what are the differences & advantages etc ? As I am confused !! Thanks - Pete (UK) @@tv510

[@the_last_rangefinder_society]

Great video , concise and really helpful . Thankyou

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@wilbmoore]

Terry what an amazing video.

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Will.

[@BrianKBrown]

Great tutorial on using masks...thank you!

[@tv510]

You are so welcome Brian, thanks for watching.

[@ysn60558]

Terry, you are super, thanks for the video. I was struggling to understand the invert technique, now am good..

[@tv510]

You are very welcome, glad to hear that.

[@imprintedmind4487]

Wonderfully explained for learning a layman like me. Thank you so much. It appears to me that masking in LrC is less complicated than PS.

[@tv510]

You're very welcome! However, I will be dropping some new episodes on Beginning Photoshop, that might change your mind. Thanks for watching.

[@bmessenger1022]

Great job! Thanks Terry!

[@tv510]

Thank you for watching!

[@TommyBoy3D]

great tutorial. Nice and slow and in-depth. I hope you get the next one out soon.

[@tv510]

Thanks Tommy Boy, working on it this week, some cool content coming your way.

[@vikasjoseph2008]

Great effort. It was. Very helpful❤

[@tv510]

Glad it it works for you, thanks for watching.

[@mikewilcox4346]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@tv510]

Thanks Mike! More to come.

[@majagoncin2394]

Thank you very much for such beautiful tutorial .

[@tv510]

You are welcome, glad you are enjoying my beginner series.

[@heeb08]

Appreciate your instructions!

[@tv510]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@sarahbatsford4791]

Huge thank you for this, you are awesome.

[@tv510]

You're very welcome!

[@tv510]

You're very welcome! Thank YOU for watching.

[@melirn7280]

I had no clue what masking was, it seemed too difficult to understand. But you have cleared this up for me. Thank you so much.

[@tv510]

That is great! Thanks for watching!

[@andyoliver9866]

Really useful video - many thanks.

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@peterhardy9354]

Hi Terry my name is Peter I have only just discovered your KZbin and learning how to work in light room & photoshop I also a keen photographer over here in campbelltown Sydney Australia. Anyway keep up the good work and I shall keep watching you on KZbin ok😂

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Peter!

[@SenthilKumar-uf9tw]

A very nice introduction. Thank you.

[@tv510]

You are welcome Senthi.

[@EmpowerMelbourneShuffle]

Well done, learned a lot today.

[@tv510]

Yes, I love to hear that. Thanks for watching.

[@MiamiVPG]

Great tutorial. Thank you!

[@tv510]

Sure thing Vivian, more to come.

[@jacobthomson9369]

Great tutorial.Thank you.

[@tv510]

You are welcome Jacob. Thanks for watching.

[@deep3end]

Excellent tutorial!

[@tv510]

Thanks John!

[@merkin22]

Thanks. I'm not a beginner but this was so very helpful; wow, but I, in a very short time, messed up a whole lot of simple steps with the new masking features in LR Classic :)

[@tv510]

Glad it's working for you. Thanks for watching.

[@SamRaz]

Thank you my friend, great content!

[@tv510]

My pleasure Sam, Thanks for watching.

[@Sudha_balasori]

Thank you 🙏 to learn me to make it better for myself 😊

[@tv510]

My pleasure 😊 Thanks for watching.

[@shirleycarson7561]

Thanks for these videos 👏🏽

[@tv510]

I appreciate you watching them Shirley! I've got more coming.

[@user-eh5uh7jw4p]

thanks for the tutorial on getting e started with Lightroom

[@tv510]

You're welcome! Glad its working for you.

[@Ezranghero]

Thank you for uploading this tutorial.

[@tv510]

You are welcome! More to come.

[@philippriest-dy2wz]

thank you terry very informative

[@tv510]

Very welcome, more to come.

[@chairsideeducation]

Brilliantly explained!!! Thank you so much for this video which is easy to understand

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@chairsideeducation]

@@tv510 i have a small question.. would you go ahead into Photoshop after doing these changes or just do all edits in Camera raw /Lightroom and export from there? Also is ithere a way to add watermark in lightroom or Camera Raw

[@tv510]

@@chairsideeducation here is a video on creating a watermark in Lightroom the watermark info starts at about 11 minutes Hope it helps.: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZesfJeFYqh4n5Ysi=_-Fpl_142Z_uSuy-

[@chairsideeducation]

@@tv510 thanks.. Iv also noticed that the Raw files once opened on lightroom library , look different initially and then it kind of changes after a few seconds somewhat like when you apply a preset… cpuld u explain why it happens and how to override this default setting to get the originally captured RAW files?

[@tv510]

@@chairsideeducation Try this: when Importing, make sure that you click the drop down menu for build previews at "Standard" or 1:1 - this will do the rendering when you import and thus not making you wait to see your files come up to normal. Let me know if that solves your issue.

[@jameswong-xf9tm]

Great videos mate👍

[@tv510]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching!

[@n1iex]

Great video thanks!

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Ronald!

[@petermajoros7471]

Excellent tutorial 👍

[@tv510]

Many thanks Peter!

[@dockanvas]

bless you for making this

[@tv510]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@alwaysinout]

Thank you .. very helpful

[@tv510]

Excellent! Thanks for watching.

[@YO3A007]

Very clear instructions. !

[@tv510]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@YO3A007]

@@tv510 I have watched many LRC beginning tutorials. Yours is the best. I am already working on the Masking tutorial. I love how you said, if you know the power of Lightroom and how it works, take that Shot! Brilliant! Thank you!

[@tv510]

@@YO3A007 Awesome, thank you!

[@CrowTails88]

Excellent presentation ✨📸📸

[@tv510]

Thank you for watching!

[@CrowTails88]

@@tv510 just got Lightroom on my new iPhone 15 Pro , can’t find the eraser ✏️ button anywhere, learning slowly but your channel is best by far for explaining it ,

[@jrprimo5372]

nice job!!!

[@tv510]

Thanks! Pretty cool stuff in today's Lightroom Classic.

[@hurleygreen927]

MANY THANKS FOR THIS MASKING INFO! I'm a longtime Lightroom user, but your video is opening up a whole new world for me! QUICK QUESTION: Do/Did you ever hit the AUTO TONE button to get your editing process started? LOL

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching Hurly. No I seldom use the auto features. I just feel like I get more control when I do it myself.

[@berntlie6799]

Just the right level for me! A couple of questions: 1. When you move from one image where you used mask to another image, and then move back to the first image again: I assume that the mask corrections are still there. How can you see that there are masks defined? 2. When in masks -- are there limitations as to what adjustment tools you can use? Only the Basic tools? Others? 3. How did you switch back from mask tuning to using the global settings?

[@tv510]

Hi Bernt, Yes, they are still there. 1. If you hover your mouse over the mask in the mask dialogue box, that mask should turn red (or whatever your mask color is). 2.Quite a few of the tools are available, sharpness, clarity curves. However the new noise reduction AI isn't there, that would be nice to control noise in a mask. I go to Photoshop for that. 3. To switch back, just click on the basic panel icon top left of that set of five icons. (basic, crop, healing, red eye reductions, masks)

[@tonnievanravestijn748]

Thank you👍🏻👍🏻

[@tv510]

You're welcome 😊

[@jaypomerantz3921]

Awesome intro to masks. I've been moving my images to PS and selecting areas, subjects to manipulate. This is so much easier and quicker. Is the second video available? Thanks

[@tv510]

Anything to make post processing faster, right? Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching.

[@gearingnvloging]

Thanks sir

[@tv510]

You are welcome Mayank.

[@trishgunther]

If you want to do additional work in Photoshop, does this transfer over in raw format? I've always used just Photoshop and skipped over Lightroom. Now I can see some of the benefits that I have missed! Thank you for filling in my knowledge gaps!

[@tv510]

Thanks Trish, my workflow is to do as much as I can in Lightroom, then I go into Photoshop for final tuning. When it comes back into Lightroom after that, it's a PSD file.

[@trishgunther]

@@tv510 thank you

[@afish1747]

Such a helpful video, this is all new to me! Question - can you save your masks as a preset? My background (usually plain white for products) tends to look a bit grey and I would like to adjust a group of pictures with all the same background adjustments. Would be great If I can apply a preset to each. Thank you in advance for any suggestions

[@tv510]

Yes you can! It's not perfect but it works. When making a preset, be sure the check box Mask is checked. Do you know how to make a preset? Or should I make a video about this?

[@jfchighlights9026]

Well, a video would be awesome because I dont know how but I can also try to figure it out too. Thanks for responding ​@tv510

[@tv510]

@@jfchighlights9026 Will do. It won't be for a few weeks, but I'll get to it.

[@jfchighlights9026]

@@tv510 great, I'll keep my eye out for it. I'm going to see what Ican figure out in the meantime. Thank you!

[@hanschallogan7660]

The tutorial is great and THANK YOU for posting it. I am new to Lightroom Classic and I have followed the tutorial but all the changes that I made in masking it did not save after exporting it. Can you please provide an information on how to save it with all the masking changes? Thanks a lot!

[@tv510]

If you are exporting to Photoshop, be sure when you export that you choose, edit with Lightroom Adjustments.

[@hanschallogan7660]

@@tv510 Thanks for your reply. I did that but it did not carry over the changes.

[@tv510]

@@hanschallogan7660that is weird. Maybe contact Adobe.

[@milonichi]

I'm following you and, all is good, just got a problem. I got some portraits, masked the background, and evry time that I am exporting the photo, there is just the original photo whithout the mask, I tried export with presets and nothing, what I am doing wrong?

[@tv510]

Mmm? If you are exporting to Photoshop, then the mask doesn't come with it. If the issue is that you want to export the image with the effects of the mask in place, make sure when you are just Exporting, make sure under the section File Settings, that you not exporting the original file. Otherwise, I'd have to see what your steps are.

[@highanddryful]

Thank you for another tutorial. I am not very clear on how to save the edited image, can you please tell me how to save an image that I am happy with after my editing is complete.

[@tv510]

I am planning a video on this subject, but the short answer is that Lightroom Auto saves, so you don't have to do anything.

[@highanddryful]

@tv510 Wow , looking forward to the tutorial. My wife and I are very impressed with your professional yet easy to understand tutorials. Thank you. I wish we lived in your town as we would certainly attend a class in person.

[@tv510]

@@highanddryful thanks Ed, I appreciate the kind words.

[@daniellariviere898]

Hi Terry, I create a mask on subject when I É.g. Increase the exposure it does to the entire photo how can I fix? Thanks (Daniel from Quebec Canada)

[@tv510]

Make sure you are using the exposure panel that comes up when you are using masks, not the global basic panel.

[@daniellariviere898]

Thank you so much! I ne er had such detailed and complete training. My Best Regards

[@BJinDenver]

I watched the whole thing once, then went back to work on the photo I'd selected. The whole right side of my LRC disappeared. Yes, I'm in develop. There's nothing there except gray on either side of my photo. I'm making this harder on myself than I should be. Thanks for any help you can give. I even closed the app then reopened it (the Microsoft solution) but it didn't make a difference.

[@tv510]

So on the far left and right sides, is a little triangle. This little triangle reveals the dialog boxes or like in your case, hides them. Find that little triangle, click it and you will be back in business.

[@melvinhardy6684]

hi terry loved your video on masking but when i exit masking my image is left with red haze over it why is this happening please

[@tv510]

The red haze is just showing what is going to be affected by the mask. When you make a change, like exposure or anything else, it goes away.

[@melvinhardy6684]

@@tv510 thanks for reply but being older and not computer friendly i must be missing something ive watched the video a number of times after selecting my kesterel in sky as subject it shows redish but then i go to adjust shadows it stays redish so i cant see my adjustments and seems to be adjusting hole image. thank for your help

[@tv510]

@@melvinhardy6684 The problem might be that you are making your changes on the Basic Panel. When you start a mask, a new panel should pop up where you have similar controls of the basic panel. You can confirm this by seeing where it says Mask 1 at the top left. with drop down triangles on the left side (instead of them being on the right side for global adjustments. Let me know if this works.

[@melvinhardy6684]

Absolutely thanks I couldn't find exposure in new drop down so was using g the one ine basic panel as never noticed it had gone past the new panel thanks again and loving you video's

[@juanarches5793]

Hi do you tutorial for IPod user?

[@tv510]

I assume you mean iPAD. I have not worked much with the Lightroom version for iPad as the concept of loading in large files from my DSLR/Mirrorless cameras, takes a lot of time. Sorry.

[@TancooMedia]

When erasing part of a mask I can't get the "Auto Mask" feature to work. I have it selected but the eraser keeps cutting into my mask, I've tried masks on a few different objects but it doesn't seem to work for me. Any idea what could be wrong?

[@tv510]

HI Travis, I tried recreating your issue and it works for me. You might try making sure your brush is hard (set feather to 0) and not soft. That way you can erase right up to the edge of something and it won't cross over due to the feather. Let me know if that helps.

[@TancooMedia]

@@tv510 Just tried that, it doesn't work either. I'm trying to do what you did at 11:49, how when you erase with "auto mask" checked, and it helped make an accurate mask and kept the trees outlined. I've followed every step in your video but it keeps cutting into my mask on the object when I try to erase with auto mask checked

[@tv510]

@@TancooMedia When you use the auto mask, the first color that it clicks on (whatever is under the plus sign) is the color that it will erase. So make sure that you are on a different color, say, the sky or something other than the trees when erasing with auto mask. Sometimes because of too similar of colors, the auto mask isn't the choice but doing it manually is the best way.

[@TancooMedia]

@@tv510 hmm still can't seem to get it to work. I've tried it on 3 different objects with very different colours to the object beside it and the eraser still keeps cutting into my mask

[@tv510]

@@TancooMedia send me an email to [e-mail]. And I’ll see if I can help.

[@rodrigomestre9]

That duplicate and invert mask doesnt show to me

[@tv510]

Make sure you are on the most current version of Lightroom Classic. Thanks for watching.

[@billdiehnelt9384]

I really enjoy uour videos, but your picture is blocking some of the things that you are demonstrating. This seems to be a common thread over several of the different people that I watch.

[@tv510]

I try to be very careful not to do that. I'll keep a closer eye on it.

[@billdiehnelt9384]

@@tv510 Thanks again. I am working through my 28,000 photos trying to get them organized in "Collections" with adequate "Keywords". What a challenge! Because I am primarily a very amateur bird photographer. I am having trouble coming up with a good hierarchy for the many different species. Do you have any suggestions? bill

[@tv510]

@@billdiehnelt9384 HI Bill, While the keywords is great way to go, this is one of the problems with using keywords. You would have to come up with family names, of the birds and species , so it's kind of a hassle. I would focus on Collections. Maybe use locations where the birds were photographed and drill down from there. This way, while a search won't get you to the exact bird, but it might get you to a group and you will be able to find the subject from there. Good luck!

[@castorgregorio2910]

im happy to find your YT!! It's very easy to understand.very detailed! i appreciate this so much!✨🩷 Thank you!

[@tv510]

You are welcome!

[@colinmelhuish1254]

Thanks for posting. Your teaching style is superb. Learn so much. Totally agree with @tmewborn1 as another old man.

[@tv510]

Thanks for watching! I should have more video coming soon. I appreciate you watching.

[@JM-rd5eh]

Fantastic tuition. I have been looking at tutorials all week and finally found this to be the most profession well paced and structured videos. Thanks so much - Ill enjoy learning with you.

[@tv510]

Awesome, thanks for joining.