How to Remove Dust From Your Photos with the Visualize Spots Tool

Photography Tips

Dust is a constant occupational hazard for us photographers. We have to deal with it on an everyday basis. Thankfully, there are a number of methods by which it can be taken care of. Finding these dust particles, however, can be difficult. It can be a time-consuming affair. This simple tip can help make it much easier to accomplish:

Lightroom expert Benjamin Warde demonstrates this simple technique to identify even the most elusive dust particles. You’re probably familiar with the Spot Removal Tool, which might be the best solution for removing dust spots. But did you know that its functionality goes beyond that? It can isolate dust spots in an image, as well.

Visualize Spots

Click on the Spot Removal Tool and then check the Visualize Spots option. Immediately, Lightroom will go into a negative mode, highlighting all the dust spots on an image. Actually, it highlights the spots where contrast is at its highest. But that’s all the help we need to know where the dust spots are, isn’t it?

Slider to the left vs. to the right

You can play around with the slider. Moving it to the left highlights only the more prominent dust particles in an image. Moving it to the right highlights even the faintest dust particles.

From there on the dust particles can be easily taken care of with the help of the Spot Removal Tool.

It’s a simple technique, but it’s very effective!