Traditional noise reduction algorithms simply blur adjacent pixels to mask luminance and color noise, often destroying fine details, textures, and sharpness. Lightroom Classic’s AI Denoise intelligently analyzes the image structure, distinguishing between unwanted digital artifacts and genuine image detail.
Unlike traditional noise reduction that blurs pixels to hide noise, the 12.3 AI model analyzes raw data, distinguishing between noise and actual image detail. It intelligently removes luminance and color noise while enhancing fine edges.
This is the standout addition of version 12.3. It uses machine learning to remove noise from RAW files while preserving fine detail better than traditional noise reduction sliders.
Are you experiencing any with the AI tools? Adobe Lightroom Classic 12.3
Click Enhance . Lightroom will process the image in the background and output a new file named [Original Name]-Enhanced-NR.dng . Conclusion: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Switching between editing tools is faster with contextual shortcuts. When working inside complex masks, holding down modifier keys allows you to temporarily switch from an addition brush to an erasure brush without manually changing settings in the right-hand panel, maintaining your visual focus entirely on the image canvas. 4. Performance Benchmarks and Catalog Optimization
Access Denoise through the dialog ( Photo > Enhance or the Detail panel button). You'll find a simple Amount slider (default 50) to control intensity. Lightroom then creates a new linear DNG file with the noise reduction baked in, leaving your original file untouched. A key workflow tip from Adobe is to apply this Denoise AI before any other adjustments for the best results. It intelligently removes luminance and color noise while
Example: Mask a face → reduce Texture/Clarity slightly for skin softening, increase Exposure slightly for brightening without affecting background.
: The AI-powered People Masking was updated to automatically detect and mask facial hair and clothing , allowing for even more specific portrait retouching.
Tethered shooting for supported Nikon and Canon cameras features reduced latency and fewer unexpected disconnections. 4. Performance Benchmarks Are you experiencing any with the AI tools
: You can now use Point Curves and Color Curves within local masks. This allows for precise, non-destructive tonal adjustments to specific parts of an image without affecting the entire frame.
Adobe was transparent about the fixes in this release: