New Camera Raw Features Every Wildlife Photographer Should Master

Photo Editing  •  Photography Tips  •  Wildlife Photography

In this article, we will learn about the 3 Latest features in Adobe Camera Raw 15.1.1 ( And Above ) versions.

The 3 features are AI-Powered Masking, AI-Powered Select Background, and Healing with Content-Aware remove.

If you are a Wildlife and Nature photographer, you are going to love the features in the latest Adobe Camera Raw version.

Here is a list of useful features to post-process your wildlife images in an easy and quick way

• AI-Powered Masking Select Object
• AI-Powered Select Background
• Healing with Content-Aware remove

Do you think that AI is going to post-process your Wildlife?

Well, NO!

These AI-based tools are not going to post-process your image.

You still hold all the controls and creativity of your image.

Here is the good news – The AI-based tools are going to make your post-processing workflow a lot easier and faster.

3 features in the latest version of Adobe Camera raw will make the Object/background selection process and distraction removal easy.

I have already started using these tools in Adobe Camera raw. These tools are saving a ton of my time. And the results are pretty accurate.

Please try these tools to make image post-processing quick and easy. This means less time in front of the computer and more Free time to travel in the Wild.

In this article, you will learn about the Latest Adobe Camera Raw features and how you can use them to post-process your Wildlife images.

Let’s dive right in –

AI-Powered Masking Select Objects

With the Select Objects feature, you can select any specific object in the image.

There are two methods thru which you can select the Object.

1. Brush Select
2. Rectangle Select

Brush Select

With Brush select option you can paint over the Object for object selection.

Here are the steps to select the object using Brush Select

Open the image in Adobe Photoshop and Select > Filter > Camera Raw Filter

Click on > Masking and Select Objects.

Under the Modes Select > Brush Select

Then select the size of the Brush.

Now paint the object which you want to select.

This feature will select the Object and edges quite precisely.

Check the Select Overlay box to view the selection.

With this selection, you can apply the Targeted adjustment per the Image requirements.

Rectangle Select

With the rectangle select option, you draw a rectangle around the Object. The Object Will get precisely selected.

Here are the steps to select the object using Rectangle Select

Open the image in Adobe Photoshop and Select > Filter > Camera Raw Filter
Click on > Mask and Select Objects.
Under the Modes Select > Rectangle Select

Draw a rectangle around the object which you want to select.
The object within the rectangle will be selected.
Check the Select Overlay box to view the selection.

With this selection, you can apply the Targeted adjustment per the Image requirements.

AI-Powered Select Background

Select background feature will help you to select the background in the image precisely. You will find this feature very useful because you can selectively adjust the background in the Wildlife images.

You can apply targeted image adjustments on the background. This will instantly pop up the main object.

Here are the steps to select the background:

Open the image in Adobe Photoshop and Select > Filter > Camera Raw Filter

Click on > Mask

Select > Create New Mask > Background

The Background will be selected automatically.

Select the Show Overlay checkbox to visualize the background selection.

Optional step – If you want then adjust or fine-tune the background selection then use Add / Subtract option. ( It is located under the Background mask you just created.)

As you have selected the background, now you can apply the targeted adjustments to the Background using the targeted adjustments.

Healing with Content-Aware remove

While you are photographing Wildlife or Nature, you will see certain distractions in the images. The distractions can be a tree stick, rock, or a blade of grass around your main Wildlife object.

The content-aware removal tool will help you to remove this distraction.

However, I find that using the content-aware remove feature in moderation gives the best results. If the distraction is small and around the object then this feature helps Well. For major distractions in the image, I find Clone and Heal tools more useful.

Let’s see how to use the Content-Aware remove tool.

Here is an image of a beautiful yet poisonous Saw scaled viper. While the viper was coiled on the rock, I took this picture from the top using Lumix FZ300.

It was raining and also it was difficult to remove the small grass blade/tree twig. Hence in these types of unavoidable situations, you can use the Content-Aware tool to remove some of the distractions. ( Especially in Wildlife and Nature photography, many things are beyond our control, hence Content aware remove tool comes in handy to remove distractions )

Now we will use the Content-Aware remove tool, to remove the distraction.

Open the image in Adobe Photoshop and Select > Filter > Camera Raw Filter

Select > Healing

Select Mode as > Content Aware Remove
Adjust the size of the brush and Opacity
Paint on the distraction ( Here Grass blade ) to remove it.

Here is the before and after image.

Now it’s your turn

Which of the feature you are going to use it in your Wildlife images? Is it Object selection, Background selection, or Content Aware remove tool?

About the Author:
Shreyas S. Yadav is an engineer and photographer of wildlife and nature. He is also a writer and lifelong adventure explorer. Through his writings, he teaches about digital post-processing and nature photography. Shreyas shares field techniques about nature photography, post-processing and wildlife photo stories on his website.