To celebrate ON1’s 21st anniversary, we’ve rounded up the best ON1 Photo RAW 2026 tutorials and reviews from our partners, covering workflow, masking, effects, and Restore AI.

Twenty-one years ago, ON1 set out to build something photographers had always wanted: one application that handles everything, without compromise or a monthly bill. ON1 Photo RAW 2026 is the latest chapter in that story, and this year, the software earned more attention from the photography community than ever. To mark our 21st anniversary, we pulled together the best tutorials, walkthroughs, and reviews that our partners and affiliates published over the past year. Whether you’re new to Photo RAW or have been editing with it for years, there’s something here worth watching or reading.

The content below spans the full 2026 cycle, from the October launch through the 2026.4 update and its Restore AI module. You’ll find complete workflow tutorials, deep dives into AI masking, a landscape effects walkthrough, an honest buyer’s review from a working photographer, and two written reviews that put Photo RAW through its paces. If you’ve ever wondered what experienced ON1 Photo RAW users actually do with the software, this is the place to start.

In This Post:

• A Complete 7-Step Editing Workflow in ON1 Photo RAW 2026
• ON1 Photo RAW 2026: What’s New and Should You Buy?
• Mastering AI Masks and Mask Layers in ON1 Photo RAW 2026
• Precision Masking with Intersect Mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026
• ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: The New Features You Need to See
• ON1 Photo Raw 2026 Review: Is It Worth It?
• Restore AI in ON1 Photo RAW Max 2026.4: A Real-World Test

A Complete 7-Step Editing Workflow in ON1 Photo RAW 2026

Richard from Silent Peak Photo has spent years testing and reviewing photo editing software, and his channel is one of the most thorough independent resources available for photographers weighing their software options. In this tutorial, his most-watched ON1 video to date, he walks through a structured, seven-step editing process that covers cropping and lens corrections, white balance, exposure and contrast, color correction, local adjustments and masking, stylizing with the Effects module, and sharpening. The strength of this video is its repeatability: rather than showing off one particular technique, Richard demonstrates a consistent sequence that applies to most of what photographers shoot. If you’ve been editing in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 but feel like you’re making it up as you go, watching this once should change how you approach every session afterward.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo Raw Tutorial 2026 — How To EDIT 90% OF YOUR PHOTOS using just 7 STEPS — Silent Peak Photo

ON1 Photo RAW 2026: What’s New and Should You Buy?

Austin James Jackson is a professional landscape photographer based in Southern Utah whose work takes him deep into backcountry locations across the American West. He brings a working shooter’s perspective to software evaluation, less interested in feature checklists than in whether a tool actually holds up when you’re editing a full shoot. Published within days of the 2026 launch, his video covers the masking overhaul, the upgraded Effects panel, and the integration of Resize AI into Photo RAW, then honestly addresses the “should you buy” question for both new users and existing customers considering an upgrade. It’s a practical assessment from someone who uses the software as part of a professional workflow, not a promotional walkthrough.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo RAW 2026: What’s New and Should You Buy? — Austin James Jackson

Mastering AI Masks and Mask Layers in ON1 Photo RAW 2026

Free Will Photos has been teaching ON1 Photo RAW workflows for years and publishes new tutorials weekly, making the channel one of the most consistently useful external resources for Photo RAW users. This tutorial focuses on the biggest masking update in the 2026 release: one-click Subject and Background masks, the new Mask Layers system that lets you stack and combine multiple masks per filter, and the improved AI edge detection that handles hair, branches, and other fine detail more cleanly than before. The walkthrough is step-by-step and practical, showing exactly how to put these tools to use on real photos. If you haven’t explored what the 2026 AI masking tools are capable of, this is the tutorial to start with.

Featured Video: How to Use ON1 Photo RAW 2026’s AI Masks & New Mask Layers (Tutorial) — Free Will Photos

Precision Masking in Photo RAW with Intersect Mode

Scott Davenport has been teaching landscape photography and post-processing for years, with a teaching style built around a single concept per video: no padding, no detours. In this tutorial he focuses on Intersect mode, a masking approach that reveals only the overlap between two or more selections, making it possible to build complex masks that previously required several manual steps. He walks through combining sky and luminosity masks, refining subject selections, and applying targeted adjustments to specific tonal ranges within a scene. For photographers who already have the basics down and want to work faster and more precisely, this is the kind of technique that tends to stick. You’ll find yourself reaching for Intersect mode regularly once you understand what it does.

Featured Video: Precision Masking Explained: Intersect Mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 — Scott Davenport

ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: The New Features You Need to See

Anthony Morganti is one of the most recognized photography educators on YouTube, with over 400,000 subscribers and a reputation for honest, detailed walkthroughs that don’t oversell. His 2026.4 video covers every major addition in the update: the redesigned Home module, performance improvements throughout the app, and most significantly, Restore AI inside ON1 Photo RAW MAX. He tests Restore AI on real images including damaged prints, old film shots, and low-quality phone photos, and gives a straightforward assessment of where it works well and where its current limitations are, including its handling of faces. It’s the kind of review that actually helps you decide whether a feature belongs in your workflow, rather than just telling you it exists.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo RAW 2026.4: The New Features You Need to See — Anthony Morganti

ON1 Photo Raw 2026 Review: Is It Worth It?

Kieran Hayes is a professional photographer based in Ireland with over a decade of experience shooting commercially. His 2026 review, updated through March 2026 after extended real-world use, covers the software from the perspective of someone who came to it from other platforms and spent time genuinely evaluating it against them. He works through the full feature set: the Browse module’s no-import approach, the Develop controls, the AI masking improvements, the layer-based editing system, and the pricing model. His conclusion is direct: for photographers who want Lightroom and Photoshop capabilities in a single application without a subscription, Photo RAW 2026 is a compelling option. The review is long enough to be thorough and honest enough to be useful.

Featured Post: ON1 Photo Raw 2026 Review — Is It Worth It? — Kieran Hayes Photography

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Restore AI in ON1 Photo RAW Max 2026.4: A Real-World Test

Rod Lawton writes for Life After Photoshop, a long-running site dedicated to reviewing Lightroom and Photoshop alternatives with the kind of depth that comes from testing software seriously over time. He describes himself as a skeptic of AI photo enhancement tools, which is exactly why this review is worth reading. After putting Restore AI through a real-world test using a 3MP scan of a damaged postcard-size print, he came away impressed. He walks through the scratch and crease removal, the upscaling to 4K from a low-resolution original, and the colorization of black-and-white photos, showing before and after images throughout. It’s a concise, grounded assessment from someone with no stake in the outcome, published shortly after the 2026.4 release.

Featured Post: ON1 Photo RAW Max 2026.4’s Restore AI Process Is Truly Remarkable — Life After Photoshop

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After two years deep in insect photography, Mark Overmars pointed his Canon R7 at a new subject: flowers. In his third free ebook, Photographing Flowers, he shares what changed when he traded fast-moving insects for subjects that hold still, and why that change turned out to be harder than it sounds.

In this post, Mark talks about the moment that revealed how much there was to learn about flower photography, his approach to editing every image in the book with ON1 Photo RAW, and the one thing he wants beginners to focus on before anything else. You can also download the free ebook Photographing Flowers, for free, packed with techniques, editing breakdowns, and 246 pages of images from his garden visits across the Netherlands.

Why Switch from Insects to Flowers?

Mark spent 2022 through 2024 photographing insects almost exclusively. The work was rewarding, but it came with a built-in problem: insects don’t wait around.

“You have very little time to take the shot and often the insect is gone before you can take a good photo,” he says. “You are always in a hurry.”

Flowers offered the opposite. They stay put, which gave Mark room to slow down and think through each composition before pressing the shutter. What he didn’t expect was how much that extra time would expose new problems he’d never had to solve before.

Download the free ebook →

The Shot That Changed Everything

Ask Mark when flower photography stopped looking easy, and he points to a single morning.

He was out shooting insects when a dew-covered flower caught his eye. He set up for the shot and ran into a wall: no aperture he tried gave him enough depth of field to keep every drop of dew sharp.

“That is one of the challenges of flower photography, dealing with the depth of field,” he explains. The fix was focus stacking, a technique he now walks through in the book using that exact image as the example.

The background turned out to be just as demanding. Mark had already noticed its importance while photographing butterflies, but with flowers the background usually sits much closer to the subject, which makes it far harder to control.

What’s Inside the 246-Page Book

Photographing Flowers runs 246 pages and follows a structure Mark calls fairly standard: equipment, technique, composition, and light, with a dedicated macro chapter because flowers reward attention to detail. A large portion of the book covers editing, which Mark sees as inseparable from the photography itself.

What sets the book apart is the why behind each technique, not just the how. “I believe that when people understand why something is the case, it will be easier to remember,” he says.

One chapter might surprise readers: UV fluorescence photography. Mark stumbled onto the technique after seeing an online image of a flower lit with UV light. “It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought,” he says, and the response from early readers convinced him it belonged in the book.

Don’t expect chapters on intentional camera movement or multi-flower stills, though. Mark’s approach favors single flowers shown in natural detail over heavily stylized or composite shots.

Gear: Less Than You’d Think

Mark shoots with a Canon R7 and an RF 100mm macro lens, but he’s quick to point out that’s not a requirement.

“You can take great flower shots with any camera and lens, even with mobile phones,” he says. The one limitation with phones is background blur, but for most flower shots, a dedicated macro lens isn’t necessary at all.

Indoors vs. Outdoors: The Wind Problem

A full section of the book covers shooting flowers indoors and in greenhouses, and Mark’s reasoning comes down to one word: wind.

“Wind is the number one enemy of flower photographers,” he says. It throws off focus, ruins composition, and causes motion blur. Indoors, none of that applies. Long exposures become possible without extra light, harsh sunlight and ugly shadows disappear, and Mark can shape his own lighting with backlight or multiple sources. Greenhouses bring their own set of challenges, which he breaks down separately in the book.

Editing Every Image in ON1 Photo RAW

Mark has used ON1 Photo RAW for five years, ever since he picked photography back up seriously and ran an extensive comparison of editing tools before committing to one.

“What I liked about ON1 Photo RAW was that it could do both image organization and editing, that it was only meant for photography, that it had the right balance between ease of use and being in control, and that the structure was logical,” he says. The one-time license over a subscription was a deciding factor, and Mark adds that he prefers supporting a smaller company over the larger players in the space.

Where the Book Connects with ON1 Tools

The editing chapter is one of the longest in the book, covering everything from basic tone adjustments to background separation to creative effects. Mark’s biggest observation: most photographers underuse editing because they don’t realize how much modern tools can do.

“I want to show that editing is easy, takes little time, and can considerably improve your work,” he says. He also points out that knowing what editing can fix changes what he shoots in the first place. If a flower has a distracting element he knows he can remove later, he takes the shot anyway.

Throughout the book, Mark connects specific ON1 Photo RAW tools to specific problems:

• Background separation: Select the background, then reduce vibrancy, lower dynamic contrast, or darken it to push focus onto the flower.
• Local adjustments: Add or remove light selectively to fix uneven lighting from the original shot.
• Standard editing workflow: Mark follows the same process for nearly every image, which he breaks down step by step using two full before-and-after examples in the book.

One of those two examples starts from an already-strong photo, showing how editing can turn good into great. The other starts from a shot Mark calls a near-failure: not enough light reached the flower, and he couldn’t get close enough. He knew both problems were fixable in ON1 Photo RAW before he even pressed the shutter, and the final edit proves it.

From Medium Articles to a Free Ebook

Like his previous two books, Photographing Flowers started as a series of articles on Medium. Reader feedback shaped what made it into the final version.

“When people tell you that they learned new things and liked your image, that motivates you to continue and write more,” Mark says. “Without those comments, I might not have written the book at all.”

And like his earlier books, this one is free. “I find it more important that many people have access to my work than to make some money with it,” he says.

One Thing Beginners Should Watch For

Mark’s advice for someone about to read the book cover to cover: don’t.

“I would not recommend first reading the entire book,” he says. “You will appreciate the content more after you tried to take some flower shots. Read chapter one and go out shooting. After a while, read the rest of the book.”

Once you’re out there, watch the background. Most beginners focus entirely on the flower itself, but the background determines whether the image works. Mark’s rule of thumb: pick a position where the background sits far away and stays uncluttered, often by shooting from a lower angle.

About the Author: Mark Overmars

Mark is a retired computer scientist and amateur nature photographer based in the Netherlands, where he shoots flowers in gardens around Utrecht, including the city’s botanic gardens. After spending 2022 to 2024 focused on insect photography (the subject of his first two free ebooks), he shifted to flowers in 2025 for Photographing Flowers, his third book.

He shoots with a Canon R7 and RF 100mm macro lens, and edits every image in ON1 Photo RAW. You can find more of his work, including his Medium articles, at insectenfotograferen.nl.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ebook Photographing Flowers about?

The free ebook by Mark Overmars covers flower photography techniques, from equipment and composition to macro photography, focus stacking, UV fluorescence, and a full editing workflow in ON1 Photo RAW.

Is the ebook really free to download?

Yes. ON1 offers Photographing Flowers as a free download from the ON1 Bookshelf, no purchase required.

What camera gear does Mark Overmars use for flower photography?

Mark shoots with a Canon R7 and an RF 100mm macro lens, but notes that flower photography doesn’t require specialized gear. Most shots, including many in the book, don’t need a macro lens at all.

How did Mark edit the photos in the book?

Mark edited every image in ON1 Photo RAW, using background separation, dynamic contrast, and local adjustments to control light and draw focus to the flower.

What’s the biggest challenge in flower photography?

Depth of field and background control. Flowers often require focus stacking to keep fine details like dew sharp throughout the frame, and because backgrounds sit close to the subject, they need careful handling to avoid distraction.

Why does Mark recommend shooting flowers indoors?

Wind is the biggest obstacle to flower photography outdoors. Shooting indoors or in a controlled setup removes wind entirely, allows for longer exposures, and gives full control over lighting direction and quality.

Every photographer eventually hits the same wall. Your images are technically fine, but they start to look interchangeable, and scrolling through your own portfolio feels flat. The answer is usually to get a better sense of your editing style rather than a new camera or a different lens.

Photo editing styles are the visual language you use to tell a story with your images. They shape the mood of a scene and give your portfolio a recognizable identity that sets you apart from other photographers working in the same genre. Whether you’re editing wedding portraits or travel landscapes, the right editing style can take a technically correct image and make it memorable.

This guide walks through the most popular photo editing styles photographers are using in 2026 and shows you how to create each look in ON1 Photo RAW. You’ll also find notes on AI-powered editing techniques, tips for developing your own signature style, and answers to common questions about mixing and matching approaches.

• What Defines a Photo Editing Style
• 6 Classic and Popular Editing Styles
• 6 Trending Editing Styles in 2026
• AI-Driven Editing Techniques
• How to Develop Your Own Style
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Defines a Photo Editing Style

A photo editing style is a consistent set of decisions about color, contrast, tone, and texture that you apply across a body of work. Photographers are often surprised to learn that editing styles are less about any single slider and more about the combination of them. A vintage look, for example, usually involves warmer shadows, lifted blacks, reduced saturation in specific hues, and some amount of grain. None of those choices is unusual on its own. Together, they create a recognizable aesthetic.

The best way to think about editing styles is as tools for communication. A bright, airy image communicates calm and openness. A dark, moody image communicates intimacy or tension. Once you understand what a style is saying, choosing the right one for a given photo becomes a creative decision rather than a guess.

6 Classic and Popular Photography Editing Styles

These are the foundational editing styles that photographers come back to year after year. Each works well on its own and also serves as a starting point for variations you can make your own.

1. Vintage and Film-Inspired

A vintage photo editing style borrows the color shifts, grain, and tonal quirks of film photography. Shadows often skew warm or slightly green, highlights take on a softer roll-off, and the contrast is typically a bit flatter than a modern digital image. Film simulations have been one of the most popular photo editing styles for years, and they continue to drive trends in portrait, wedding, and travel photography.

In ON1 Photo RAW, the Vintage effect gives you a starting point with color presets, grain controls, and saturation adjustments. Choose a color palette, dial in the amount, and layer film grain on top to taste. For a more specific film look, pair the Vintage effect with a film-inspired LUT from ON1’s free LUTs collection.

2. Black and White

Black-and-white editing strips color from the conversation and forces the viewer to focus on light, shape, and texture. It works on almost any subject, but it’s especially useful for portraits with strong expressions, architecture with interesting lines, and scenes where the color in the original file is competing with your subject rather than supporting it.

In ON1, the Black and White effects filter gives you tonal presets and per-color luminance controls, so you can brighten or darken specific hues in the conversion. Red lips stay bold against pale skin. A blue sky drops to near-black for a dramatic landscape. Experimenting with these sliders is where black-and-white editing stops feeling like a desaturation and starts feeling like interpretation.

3. HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR is a technique for capturing detail across the full tonal range of a scene. Photographers shoot multiple exposures, typically one at the metered exposure, one underexposed, and one overexposed, then merge them together. The resulting file holds detail in both the shadows and the highlights that no single exposure could capture.

ON1 HDR handles the merge automatically. Load your bracketed exposures, let ON1 align and combine them, and then apply the HDR Look preset in Effects to bring out the dynamic range. Modern HDR editing tends to be subtle, because the over-processed look that defined the style in the 2010s has largely fallen out of fashion. Aim for natural. If a viewer can tell it’s HDR, you’ve probably gone too far.

4. High Key

High-key photography is bright and low-contrast, with tones pushed toward white. It works beautifully for snow scenes, beach portraits, product photography on a white background, and editorial fashion. The mood is usually clean and optimistic.

To create a high key look in ON1 Photo RAW, open your image in the Develop pane and push the shadows slider to +100 and the blacks slider to +30, then raise the exposure until the image feels appropriately bright. The Sunshine effect can add a gentle glow on top. For portraits, Portrait AI can retouch skin while preserving the airy feel that defines the style.

5. Low Key

Low key is the inverse. Dark tones dominate, highlights are used sparingly, and the subject emerges from shadow. This editing style is especially strong for single-subject portraits, still life, and any image where mystery or intimacy serves the story.

Start in the Develop pane by reducing the shadows slider to -100 and the blacks slider to -30, then nudge the whites and highlights up just enough to preserve detail in the brightest areas. The Grunge effect, with its dark preset, adds texture and atmosphere without crushing the shadows further. Low-key photography editing styles reward careful local adjustments, so use ON1’s AI masking to keep your subject separated from the darkened background.

6. Glow

A glow look adds warmth, softness, and a dreamlike quality that flatters landscapes and portraits in equal measure. Sunset and sunrise images are natural candidates, but the glow style also works well on backlit portraits, golden-hour scenes, and any image that already has warm light you want to amplify.

ON1 Photo RAW’s Glow effect offers presets you can hover over to preview on your image in real time. Pick a starting point, then adjust the intensity and softness sliders. Pair the Glow effect with a subtle boost in the orange and yellow channels for a richer, warm-weather look.

6 Trending Editing Styles in 2026

Alongside the classics, a handful of newer editing styles are shaping what photographers are creating right now. These types of photo editing styles show up constantly on portfolio sites and social feeds, and they’re worth adding to your creative toolkit.

1. Cinematic (Teal and Orange)

The cinematic look borrows color grading techniques from film production. Shadows get pushed toward teal or cyan, skin tones and highlights lean warm, and contrast stays relatively flat. The effect creates the feeling of a movie still, and it’s become one of the most requested editing styles for wedding films, travel stories, and narrative portrait work.

2. Moody and Matte

Moody editing is defined by lifted blacks, reduced saturation in specific channels (often greens and oranges), and a matte finish that feels lifted from a magazine editorial. It’s a dominant style for outdoor portraits, engagement sessions, and lifestyle content.

3. Bright and Airy

The bright and airy style is the go-to for wedding photographers, family portrait photographers, and lifestyle content creators. Images feel light, open, and pastel, with soft shadows and a slight warmth that flatters skin tones. If you’ve scrolled a wedding photographer’s portfolio recently, you’ve seen this style.

4. Dark and Moody

The dark and moody style trades the brightness of airy editing for depth and drama. It works well in food photography, interior shots, and any portrait where atmosphere matters more than showing every detail. Shadows are rich, highlights are restrained, and the color palette is deliberately muted.

5. Minimalist and Clean

Minimalism is less about sliders and more about restraint. A clean editing style uses natural color, controlled contrast, and almost no added effects. The goal is to let composition and light carry the image without the edit calling attention to itself. This is one of the more popular photo editing styles for architecture, product, and editorial work.

6. Cross-Processed and Creative Color

Cross-processing originally referred to developing film in chemistry intended for a different film stock, which produced color shifts. As a digital editing style, it’s become shorthand for bold, unexpected color choices: greens that skew cyan, skies that lean magenta, skin tones pushed warm and saturated. It’s a style that rewards experimentation and a willingness to break the rules of traditional color correction.

AI-Driven Editing Techniques That Shape Modern Styles

AI tools have changed how photographers approach editing styles, because the technical work of isolating a subject, cleaning up a scene, or matching a look is now much faster. A few AI-driven techniques are especially useful when you’re experimenting with different types of photo editing styles.

• AI masking for style-specific adjustments: Super Select AI in ON1 Photo RAW lets you isolate the subject, sky, or background with a click. Once you have a clean mask, you can apply your style treatment to just the background, keeping your subject looking natural while the atmosphere around them shifts to match your chosen look.
• Sky Swap AI for mood changes: A moody, stormy sky can transform a flat landscape into a dramatic one. Sky Swap AI replaces skies automatically and blends the lighting to match, so the swap looks native to the scene.
• Portrait AI for style-aware retouching: Skin retouching has to match the editing style, so a heavy retouch looks wrong on a moody image, and a minimal retouch can undercut a bright and airy edit. Portrait AI detects faces and applies adjustments you can dial in to match the style of the shoot.
• Generative Erase for minimalist looks: Minimalism depends on removing visual clutter. Generative Erase removes distracting elements from the frame and fills in the space with content that looks like it was there all along.
• NoNoise AI for clean low-light edits: Many moody and cinematic editing styles favor low-light scenes, which means noise. NoNoise AI cleans high-ISO files while preserving the detail your style depends on.

AI tools support creative judgment rather than replacing it. They speed up the technical steps so you can spend more time on the artistic choices that actually define your style.

How to Develop Your Own Signature Style

Most photographers start by copying the editing styles of others, which is a reasonable way to learn the technical side. The transition from copying to developing your own style usually involves a few shifts in how you approach editing.

Edit in Batches Rather Than One at a Time

Your style becomes visible when you look at ten or twenty images together. Editing in batches lets you see whether your choices hold up across a body of work, rather than looking good on a single image.

Save Your Decisions as Presets

When you find a combination of settings you like, save it as a preset in ON1 Photo RAW. Over time, your personal preset collection becomes the foundation of your style. You can apply it to new images and adjust from there.

Look At Your Portfolio With Fresh Eyes

Every few months, review your work and look for patterns. The photos you’re proudest of usually share editing decisions in common. Those decisions are your style, whether you’ve articulated them or not.

Study Photographers Outside Your Genre

If you shoot weddings, spend time looking at cinematographers. If you shoot landscapes, study painters. The visual vocabulary of editing styles is shared across creative fields, and the ideas that feel fresh in your niche often come from borrowing from another.

Commit to Consistency, Then Allow Evolution

A recognizable style takes time to build, so resist the urge to change everything after every new trend. At the same time, don’t let consistency become a cage. Your style should grow with your skill and your taste.

Frequently Asked Questions About Photography Editing Styles

How do I choose a photo editing style that suits me?

Start by collecting images you love from other photographers, across any genre, and look for what they have in common. Look at how the shadows are handled, whether the color palette leans warm or cool, and what the overall contrast looks like. Those patterns are the beginning of your own editing style. From there, experiment with similar settings on your own work and adjust until the results feel like yours.

What’s the best photo editing software for trying different styles?

Look for software that offers non-destructive editing, strong preset support, and a wide range of effects and color tools in one application. ON1 Photo RAW is built for this kind of experimentation, because you can stack effects, try different presets on the same image, and undo everything if you want to start over. A 30-day free trial lets you test it with your own photos.

Are presets and LUTs a shortcut, or a legitimate part of an editing style?

Both, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Presets and LUTs are meant as starting points rather than finished edits. Most professional photographers use presets as the base layer of their editing style, then adjust from there for each image. ON1’s free Lightroom presets and free LUTs are good places to start if you want to experiment with different editing styles without building everything from scratch.

Looking to improve your photo editing workflow in ON1 Photo RAW 2026? In this month’s Partner Spotlight, talented photographers share video tutorials designed to help you edit faster and more creatively using ON1’s powerful AI photo editing software.

These videos explore some of the most useful features in ON1 Photo RAW—including Super Select AI, advanced photo masking tools, Depth Mask, layers, and workflow techniques that make editing easier and more flexible. Whether you’re refining landscapes, editing wildlife photos, or experimenting with different creative directions, these tutorials will help you get more from your editing process.

If you’re searching for a smarter Lightroom alternative editing workflow or simply want to sharpen your skills with ON1 Photo RAW, these expert tips will help you work more efficiently while achieving better results.

ON1 Photo RAW 2026 Editing Tutorials from Expert Creators

• Two tools that help you experiment without losing edits
• Faster masking with Super Select AI
• A faster approach to layers and masking
• Editing landscapes by distance with Depth Mask
• A complete bird photo editing workflow

Experiment with Edits Using Versions and Snapshots

Sometimes the best way to improve your editing is simply giving yourself room to experiment. In this tutorial, Anthony Morganti shares two helpful features in ON1 Photo RAW 2026: Versions and Snapshots. These tools allow you to explore different editing directions while preserving your original work, making it easier to test creative ideas and compare results.

Featured Video: Tips to Get The BEST Edit Possible in ON1 Photo Raw

Use Super Select AI for Faster Photo Masking

Targeting specific areas of an image is one of the most powerful ways to improve your edits. In this video, Free Will Photos demonstrates how Super Select AI makes localized adjustments simple and precise in ON1 Photo RAW 2026. You’ll see how quickly you can isolate subjects, apply creative edits, and build more unique looks without complex masking.

Featured Video: Localized Adjustments Made Easy With Super Select AI In ON1 2026

Faster Masking and Layer Workflows in ON1 Photo RAW

Efficient masking can dramatically speed up your editing workflow. In this tutorial, Silent Peak Photo shows how to work quickly with layers and masks in ON1 Photo RAW. These techniques help you apply targeted adjustments faster so you can move from RAW file to finished image with less effort.

Featured Video: 5-Minute Masking! The FASTEST Way to Edit in ON1 Photo Raw (PRO Tutorial)

Landscape Photo Editing with the Depth Mask Tool

Landscape scenes frequently contain foreground, midground, and background elements that benefit from different adjustments. In this video, ON1 Guru Scott Davenport demonstrates how the Depth Mask tool allows you to edit by distance using a single slider. It’s a powerful technique for shaping light and contrast throughout the scene without complicated selections.

Featured Video: Edit by Distance: Use ON1 Depth Mask for Powerful Landscape Edits

Wildlife and Bird Photo Editing Workflow in ON1 Photo RAW

Editing wildlife photography often requires careful decisions about sharpening, color, and detail. In this walkthrough, Free Will Photos shares their complete workflow for editing bird images in ON1 Photo RAW 2026. Along the way, they explain the reasoning behind each adjustment, helping you understand not just what to do, but why it works.

Featured Video: ON1 Photo RAW 2026: Edit Bird Photos (Decisions & Techniques!)

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If you’ve just downloaded a set of Lightroom presets and aren’t sure what to do next, you’re in the right place. Installing Lightroom presets is a quick process.

First, go to the Develop module → Presets panel → click “+” → Import Presets — and once they’re in, applying them takes just a single click. This guide walks through every method: desktop (Lightroom Classic), mobile, bulk importing, and troubleshooting when things don’t go as expected.

What Are Lightroom Presets?

A Lightroom preset is a saved collection of edit settings. Exposure, color grading, tone curves, sharpening, and more can be applied to any photo instantly. Think of it as a one-click recipe for a specific look or style.

Why photographers use presets:

• Speed: Apply a consistent look across dozens of photos in minutes instead of hours.
• Consistency: Keep your portfolio or client gallery cohesive without re-dialing the same settings repeatedly.
• Style: Explore creative directions like film emulation, moody landscapes, bright airy portraits all without starting from scratch every time.

Whether you’re just getting started or building a professional workflow, presets are one of the fastest ways to level up your editing.

What You Need Before You Install Presets

1. Downloaded preset files

Preset files are typically delivered as a ZIP archive. Extract the ZIP first, most operating systems let you right-click and select “Extract All” or “Unzip.” Place the extracted files somewhere easy to find, like your Downloads folder.

2. Know your file type

Lightroom presets come in two formats:

• .XMP — the current standard, compatible with Lightroom Classic CC 7.3 and newer. This is what most modern preset packs use.
• .LRTEMPLATE — the legacy format used by older versions of Lightroom. Lightroom Classic can still import these, but they’re less common now.

3. Desktop vs. mobile differences

Lightroom Classic (desktop) uses file-based importing. Lightroom Mobile doesn’t support direct file imports the same way, it relies on syncing via Adobe Creative Cloud or the DNG method covered below.

How to Install Lightroom Presets (Desktop — Lightroom Classic)

Step 1: Open the Develop Module

Launch Lightroom Classic and click “Develop” in the top-right module bar. You can also press the keyboard shortcut “D” to jump straight there. You’ll need to have at least one photo open or selected in your library.

Step 2: Find the Presets Panel

On the left side of the Develop module, you’ll see a panel called “Presets.” Click the arrow next to it to expand the panel if it isn’t already open.

Step 3: Click “Import Presets”

Just to the right of the Presets panel header, you’ll see a small “+” icon. Click it to open a dropdown menu, then select “Import Presets.”

Step 4: Select and Import Files

A file browser window will open. Navigate to the folder where your preset files are saved, typically your Downloads folder. Select the .XMP or .LRTEMPLATE files you want to import. You can hold Shift or Ctrl/Cmd to select multiple files from the same pack at once, then click “Import.”

Step 5: Confirm Presets Are Installed

Once imported, your presets will appear inside the Presets panel, organized into folders by pack name. Hover over any preset name to see a live preview on your photo in the Navigator panel at the top left. Click to apply.

How to Install Lightroom Presets (Mobile)

Lightroom Mobile doesn’t support direct file imports from your device the way the desktop version does. Here are the two main methods:

Method 1: Sync via Adobe Creative Cloud (Recommended)

If you have an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, install the presets in Lightroom Classic on your desktop first (steps above). Lightroom Classic will automatically sync your presets to Lightroom Mobile via the cloud. This is the most seamless method, no extra steps required once the desktop install is done.

Method 2: DNG Method (No Desktop Required)

Some preset creators distribute presets as .DNG files specifically for mobile use. To use these:

1. Transfer the DNG preset files to your phone (via email, cloud storage, or AirDrop).
2. Import the DNG files into Lightroom Mobile like you would any photo.
3. Open a DNG preset file in Lightroom Mobile, then tap the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right.
4. Select “Create Preset” and save it. Your preset is now available to apply to any photo.

How to Use Lightroom Presets

Once installed, applying a preset takes one click:

1. Open a photo in the Develop module (Classic) or tap a photo (Mobile).
2. In the Presets panel, browse your installed packs and hover to preview.
3. Click the preset name to apply it.

After applying, you’re not locked in. Presets are a starting point — adjust exposure, white balance, or any other slider to dial in the exact look you want. Presets work on both RAW and JPEG files, though RAW files give you more latitude to tweak after applying.

How to Install Multiple Presets at Once

If you downloaded a large preset pack, you don’t need to import files one at a time. During the import step, simply select all the .XMP files in the folder, use Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to select everything, then click “Import.” All presets in the pack will be installed in a single operation, grouped together in the Presets panel.

For preset packs delivered as a folder structure, you can also drag the entire extracted folder directly onto the Presets panel in Lightroom Classic.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Presets Not Showing Up

If your presets aren’t appearing after import, the most common cause is that Lightroom is set to show only presets compatible with your current photo. In the Presets panel, click the panel options (the small “+” menu) and make sure “Show Partially Compatible Presets” is checked. Also try restarting Lightroom, occasionally a fresh launch is all it takes.

Wrong File Type

If you’re trying to import a file and Lightroom won’t accept it, check the file extension. Lightroom Classic accepts .XMP and .LRTEMPLATE. If your preset came as a .ZIP file, you need to extract it first before importing.

Lightroom Version Issues

Very old preset packs built for Lightroom 4 or 5 may not import cleanly into modern versions. Check the preset creator’s website for an updated version. Most reputable pack makers offer free updates.

Mobile Sync Problems

If presets installed on desktop aren’t showing up in Lightroom Mobile, make sure:

• You’re signed into the same Adobe ID on both devices.
• Lightroom Classic’s sync is enabled: go to File → Start Syncing in the top menu.
• Allow a few minutes for the sync to complete — large libraries can take longer.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Presets

Adjust after applying. Presets are a starting point, not a final answer. After applying one, fine-tune exposure, highlights, and shadows to match the specific lighting of your shot.

Use batch editing. Apply a preset to one photo, then use Lightroom’s “Sync Settings” feature to push those edits to an entire shoot at once. This is one of the biggest time-savers in a professional workflow.

Build a consistent editing style. Over time, identify two or three presets you return to most often and treat them as your signature look. Tweak them until they feel like your own, then save the modified version as a new preset.

Free Lightroom Presets from ON1

Looking for high-quality presets to start with? ON1 offers a growing library of free Lightroom presets crafted for real-world photography across every genre.

Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, street photography, or travel, the collection includes looks ranging from clean and natural to bold and cinematic. Each preset is designed to work as a strong starting point you can adjust to suit your shot.

Download Free Lightroom Presets from ON1 →

Lightroom Presets vs. Editing Manually

Speed vs. control is the classic trade-off, but with presets you don’t actually have to choose. Presets give you instant speed and a consistent creative direction, while Lightroom’s sliders give you the control to refine from there.

When presets win: Batch-editing a large event shoot, maintaining a consistent Instagram aesthetic, or quickly exploring different styles without starting from zero each time.

When manual editing wins: Complex lighting situations that no preset can account for perfectly, or building a totally unique look from the ground up.

In practice, most experienced photographers use both: presets as a fast baseline, manual adjustments for the finishing touches.

Installing Lightroom Presets Is Easy

Once you’ve done it once, the whole process takes under a minute. Download your preset pack, extract the ZIP, open Lightroom Classic, and use the Presets panel to import. From there, you’re one click away from a completely transformed photo.

Ready to get started? Browse and download free Lightroom presets from ON1 and start experimenting with your editing today.

Lightroom Presets FAQs

How do I install presets in Lightroom Classic?

Go to the Develop module, open the Presets panel on the left, click the “+” icon, select “Import Presets,” and navigate to your downloaded .XMP or .LRTEMPLATE files. Select them and click Import. Your presets will appear in the panel immediately.

Why won’t my presets show up after importing?

The most common reasons are: (1) the ZIP file wasn’t extracted before importing, (2) Lightroom is filtering out partially compatible presets, check the panel settings to enable them, or (3) you need to restart Lightroom after importing.

Are presets compatible across devices?

Presets installed on Lightroom Classic will sync to Lightroom Mobile via Adobe Creative Cloud as long as sync is enabled and you’re signed into the same Adobe ID. Mobile-only presets in DNG format do not automatically sync to desktop.

Do presets work on RAW and JPEG files?

Yes, Lightroom presets work on both RAW and JPEG files. RAW files give you significantly more flexibility to adjust the preset after applying it, since they retain more tonal information than JPEGs.

Photography is all about capturing the right moment—but even the best shots can have common mishaps. The good news? With ON1 Photo RAW and its suite of AI tools, you can correct these in seconds, keeping creativity flowing instead of workflows stalled.

1. Overexposed Highlights? Bring Back Detail with Smart Recovery

Bright skies or blown-out highlights got you down? No sweat. Brilliance AI intelligently finds tone imbalances—including skies and water—and brings them back to life with one click. For stubborn highlights, Layer-based Local Adjustments let you mask and refine perfect detail.

2. Too Much Noise or Grain? Clean Up Fast

High ISO or low-light conditions often leave unwanted grain. That’s no longer a problem—NoNoise AI removes noise while keeping details sharp, all in an instant. Use it inside ON1 Photo RAW or as a standalone when you need clean, crisp results.

3. Flat, Dull Skies? Swap or Enhance Instantly

A dull sky can kill a photo’s mood. With Sky Swap AI, ON1 detects and masks the sky automatically—just choose a new one from the 231 included (or bring your own)—and watch the image transform naturally.

4. Unwanted Objects? Remove Them Easily

Blemishes, stray objects, or distractions—gone in a flash. The powerful Generative Eraser tool lets you remove any element from your image with a single brush stroke, all while preserving realism.

5. Missing Sharpness or Detail? Sharpen with AI Support

Sometimes photos look soft or out of focus—especially action shots. TackSharp AI uses smart algorithms to restore clarity and crispness fast, bringing the focal point back into focus.

Bonus Tip: Enhance Portraits in Seconds

Shooting portraits? Portrait AI is your best friend. It auto-detects faces and applies flattering, natural adjustments—from skin smoothing to eye enhancements—all with intuitive sliders.

Why ON1’s AI Tools Work So Fast (and Seamlessly)

Ready to Make Editing a Breeze?

Try ON1 Photo RAW for free today and experience how intuitive, AI-powered editing can make photo fixes instant—and fun.

Looking to master ON1 Photo RAW in French? Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a seasoned photographer, learning in your native language can make all the difference. We’re excited to showcase French-speaking creators who are sharing their favorite tips, techniques, and workflows—entirely in French.

From landscape editing to creative effects and deep dives into the latest ON1 features, these photographers are here to guide you through the software and help you elevate your editing game.

Tutorials with Eddy Kinol

Eddy Kinol shares clear, in-depth tutorials for photographers who want to get the most out of ON1 Photo RAW. His videos often explore advanced tools and creative techniques, all explained in a way that’s approachable and easy to follow.

Featured Video: Mastering the Depth Mask in ON1 Photo RAW 2025.2 HDR Filter, Density, Color Gamut

Eddy walks through how to take advantage of the new depth mask feature, combining it with local HDR adjustments for more precise and creative edits.

Watch Eddy’s Channel

Louis Lavoie Photo

Louis Lavoie creates educational videos for photographers of all levels. His tutorials are ideal for beginners looking to become comfortable with ON1, as well as experienced users seeking to refine their post-processing skills.

Featured Video: ON1 EFFECTS 2025 : Des fonctions méconnues pour sublimer vos photos

This tutorial reveals some lesser-known tools in ON1 Effects that can enhance your workflow and add a unique signature style to your images.

Watch Louis’ Channel

Dragonstreet Photography

Dragonstreet’s channel blends creative photo editing with the spirit of travel. The tutorials are straightforward and beginner-friendly, often exploring new features as they’re released.

Featured Video: 5 points forts d’ON1 Photo RAW

In this video, Dragonstreet shares five standout features that can streamline your workflow and unlock new creative possibilities in ON1 Photo RAW.

Watch Dragonstreet’s Channel

Enjoy learning in French?
Add your language to your ON1 profile so we know to make more content like this.

Learning in your native language can make a big difference—especially when diving into new editing tools. In this edition of our Partner Spotlight, we’re featuring two talented German-speaking creators who share practical ON1 Photo RAW tutorials in German. From exploring new features to mastering workflows, their videos are a great way to sharpen your skills and get inspired—no translation needed.

Klaus Mohr PHOTO

Klaus Mohr explores editing software from a practical perspective, with a focus on tutorials and honest comparisons. His ON1 Photo RAW videos are great for users who want to dig deeper into tools and evaluate real alternatives to the subscription model.

Featured Videos:

• Neu in ON1 Photo RAW 2025.2 – App-Funktionen & Beispiele

  A quick tour of what’s new in version 2025.2, including updated features and workflow examples.

• Schnauze voll von Adobe? Ist ON1 eine echte Alternative?

  A direct look at why ON1 Photo RAW might be the best alternative to Adobe subscriptions.

• Maskierungstechniken in ON1 Photo RAW

  An advanced tutorial on masking techniques for users ready to go beyond the basics.

Watch Klaus Mohr’s Channel

Bjoern Ruhwedel

Bjoern Ruhwedel’s channel blends photography tips, editing workflows, and photo tours into hands-on tutorials that help you get more out of every shot. His style is clear, enthusiastic, and packed with real-world applications.

Featured Video:

• Bilder speichern und zum Strahlen bringen mit ON1 Photo RAW 2025

  Learn how to enhance and save your images with ON1 Photo RAW 2025, step by step.

Watch Bjoern Ruhwedel’s Channel

Enjoy learning in German?
Add your preferred language to your ON1 profile—it helps us know if we should create more content like this.

Photographing insects like butterflies and dragonflies isn’t just about quick reflexes—it’s about patience, creativity, and using the right gear and photo editing software. In his new book, Photographing Butterflies and Dragonflies, Mark Overmars shares the lessons, techniques, and editing workflow he developed over the course of a year of focused shooting. Whether you’re into macro photography or nature photography in general, Mark’s story is full of practical insights and inspiration, especially if you use ON1 Photo RAW for your edits.

In this post, Mark discusses the challenges of butterfly and dragonfly photography, shares a few favorite images, and explains how ON1 software helped bring over 200 photos in his book to life. You can also download the full ebook, Photographing Butterflies and Dragonflies, for free—packed with practical tips, editing techniques, and inspiring images from his journey.

What Inspired the Book?

Mark Overmars wrote his first book after six months of intense insect photography, mostly using a macro lens and a flash setup to highlight every small detail. However, when it came to photographing larger, more active insects like butterflies and dragonflies, that approach proved ineffective.

“These insects are much harder to get close to, and they don’t sit still for long,” he explains. “So I had to change everything—gear, technique, and creative approach. That’s what this new book is all about.”

Download the free ebook→

Why Butterflies and Dragonflies Make Great (but Difficult) Subjects

Photographing butterflies and dragonflies takes real skill. Unlike slower insects, they’re easily startled and constantly on the move. A telephoto lens becomes essential because you can’t get close enough for macro.

“Lighting was also a big challenge,” says Mark. “A flash with a diffuser didn’t work well at longer distances, so I had to rely more on natural light and fast adjustments.”

This shift forced him to explore new composition techniques, putting more emphasis on the background and environment to complement the insect, rather than just zooming in.

Creative and Technical Shifts in the New Book

In Photographing Butterflies and Dragonflies, Mark explores how switching from macro to telephoto changed not only his gear but also how he thinks about composition.

He explains:

“I used to fill the frame with the insect. Now, I include more of the environment. The background plays a huge role, so I needed to find ways to keep it soft and non-distracting while making the subject pop.”

One trick? Shooting low to the ground with a long lens to create pleasing blur and harmony between the subject and the setting.

Favorite Photos and the Stories Behind Them

Purple-barred Yellow Moth
This moth stays low to the ground and is extremely alert. Mark got the shot by taking a low-angle position with a 400mm lens, blurring the background just enough to let the colors shine without distractions.

Hairy Dragonfly
Capturing this dragonfly was a stroke of luck. “Most of the time, they won’t stay still. But this one paused long enough for me to grab a close-up.”

Green-eyed Hawker
Shooting insects in flight is nearly impossible—but not always. Mark caught this dragonfly mid-hover using a slow shutter speed to leave motion in the wings and create a sense of action.

How ON1 Photo RAW Helped Edit 200+ Images

Mark used ON1 Photo RAW editing software exclusively to enhance and finalize the photos in his book. “I don’t use presets or automated tools. I like to stay in control of each photo,” he says. Here’s what worked best for his macro and telephoto shots:

Go-To ON1 Tools

• AI Masking in ON1 Photo RAW: Ideal for isolating the insect from its background.
• Tack Sharp AI: Enhanced detail on subjects like wings and eyes.
• Dynamic Contrast: Added punch to the insect while softening the background.
• Selective Blur & Vignettes: Helped pull attention to the main subject.
• He also utilized the built-in ON1 RAW editor tools for cropping, rotating, and enhancing colors naturally, without overprocessing.

Realism vs. Creativity in Editing

“I only make changes that could realistically happen in nature,” Mark says. He doesn’t change insect colors or use generative fill. However, cropping, sharpening, improving contrast, and removing minor distractions are all fair game—especially when light and composition aren’t ideal at the moment of capture.

Editing macro photos in ON1 gives him the flexibility to keep his photos natural while still creating something visually stunning.

How Feedback Inspired More Work

Mark’s first book was downloaded more than 5,000 times. The response? “Very positive,” he says. “That encouragement motivated me to write the second one. I love sharing my work and helping others grow.”

Why ON1 Photo RAW Is His Go-To Editor Across Genres

Whether he’s shooting flowers, butterflies, or dragonflies, Mark relies on ON1 photo editing tools to manage and enhance every image. “It’s fast, flexible, and gives me full control. I don’t need Photoshop or Lightroom,” he says.

If you’re new to editing, Mark suggests taking a few hours to learn the basics of editing photos with ON1 Photo RAW—the effort pays off.

Tips for Aspiring Insect Photographers

1. Shoot RAW + JPG. Keep editing options open.
2. Frame wider than you need. Gives room to crop later.
3. Expect distractions. Think ahead to how you’ll fix them in post.
4. Don’t stress over lighting. Many issues can be fixed in the ON1 software.
5. Learn editing. A few minutes of processing can turn a decent shot into a great one.

About the Author: Mark Overmars

Mark is a retired computer scientist, amateur nature photographer, and ON1 Photo RAW power user. In 2023, he photographed over 15,000 insects and published a book from the experience. In 2024, he followed up with a new book focused on butterflies and dragonflies. His website, insectphotography.org, and Medium articles offer tutorials, stories, and behind-the-scenes looks into his photography journey.

He shoots with a Canon R7, various macro and telephoto lenses, and edits entirely using ON1 Photo RAW for nature photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ebook Photographing Butterflies and Dragonflies about?

The free ebook by Mark Overmars shares a full year of techniques, tips, and editing workflows for photographing fast-moving insects like butterflies and dragonflies.

Is the ebook really free to download?

Yes! ON1 is offering the ebook Photographing Butterflies and Dragonflies as a free download directly from the ON1 Bookshelf—no purchase required.

What camera gear does Mark Overmars use for insect photography?

Mark uses a Canon R7 with a 100–400mm telephoto lens for dragonflies and butterflies, and a 100mm macro lens for smaller insects.

How did Mark edit the photos in the book?

Mark used ON1 Photo RAW exclusively to edit all 200+ images, utilizing features like AI Masking, Tack Sharp AI, and Dynamic Contrast.

Can ON1 Photo RAW be used for both macro and telephoto editing?

Absolutely. ON1 Photo RAW is highly flexible, making it ideal for macro close-ups and telephoto compositions alike—especially with its masking, contrast, and sharpening tools.

What are some key challenges of photographing butterflies and dragonflies?

These insects move quickly, are easily startled, and don’t allow for controlled lighting. That’s why Mark relied on natural light, a telephoto lens, and post-processing in ON1.

ON1 Photo RAW has come a long way, and its AI-powered features are a big part of why photographers are switching from traditional workflows. From subject masking to noise reduction and sky replacement, ON1’s AI suite is designed to speed up editing while keeping the final image professional and polished.

But here’s the truth: like any tool, AI is only as effective as the hands using it.

In this post, we’ll explore how to get consistently great results with ON1’s AI features, common pitfalls to avoid, and tips for when to trust automation—and when to take the wheel.

The Power of ON1’s AI Tools: A Quick Overview

ON1 Photo RAW includes several standout AI tools, including:

• Super Select AI – Click and adjust specific areas of your photo without brushing or masking manually.
• NoNoise AI – Clean up high-ISO images while retaining detail.
• Sky Swap AI – Replace dull skies with dramatic ones in just a few clicks.
• Resize AI – Upscale images with stunning sharpness and clarity.
• Portrait AI – Automatically smooth skin, enhance eyes, and retouch portraits.

These tools can save hours—but only if used intentionally.

Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Trusting the Default Settings Too Much

AI tools often apply strong adjustments by default. For example, NoNoise AI might smooth out an image but leave it looking plasticky.

Tip: Always review the result at 100% zoom and manually tweak sliders to balance noise reduction with detail retention.

2. Overdoing Sky Swaps

Sky replacement is fun—but overused or mismatched skies can quickly make a photo look fake.

Tip: Match sky lighting and color temperature to the original scene. Use the “Relight” and “Mask Refinement” sliders to blend edges naturally.

3. Losing Creative Control

Some users rely too heavily on AI, leading to a uniform, generic look across their portfolio.

Tip: Use AI as a starting point, not the final step. Combine AI results with your own creative adjustments using Local Adjustments, Layers, and Effects.

4. AI Masking Isn’t Always Perfect

Even Super Select AI or Sky AI can miss fine edges—especially with hair, tree branches, or complex subjects.

Tip: Zoom in and use the Refine Mask tool to correct edges. Don’t be afraid to touch up with a manual brush for precise results.

Real-World Example: Supercharging a Landscape Edit

Let’s say you’ve shot a sunset landscape, but the sky is washed out and the foreground lacks contrast. Here’s how you can enhance it using AI tools without over-editing:

1. Sky Swap AI: Choose a matching sunset sky and use the “Relight” option to blend lighting with the foreground.
2. Super Select AI: Target the foreground and bump up contrast, warmth, and clarity.
3. NoNoise AI: Apply noise reduction to the shadow areas only (using a mask) to keep detail in sunlit parts.

With three tools and five minutes, your image is transformed—naturally.

When NOT to Use AI

While ON1’s AI tools are powerful, sometimes a manual approach still wins:

• Fine Art Photography – When subtle tonal control matters more than speed.
• Composites/Graphics Work – Where pixel-level precision is key.
• Product Photography – Where color fidelity and realism are non-negotiable.

Pro Tip: Combine AI for global changes, and use manual tools for finishing touches.

Final Thoughts

ON1’s AI features are more than shortcuts—they’re creative accelerators. But to get the best results, treat AI as a collaborator, not a crutch.

Refine your edits, learn the tools, and keep your personal style front and center.

Have a favorite AI tip or a photo transformed by ON1’s tools? Tag us on social media or submit your edit for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post!

Related Resources:

• ON1 Official Tutorials
• ON1 Plus User Forums
• Start Your Free 30-day Trial of ON1 Photo RAW