How to use Lightroom’s tools to remove unwanted elements in photos

Whether it’s a stray sign or a person in the background, Lightroom’s updated tools make cleanup easier than ever.

This in-depth video from Gareth Evans with Park Cameras explores Lightroom Classic’s tools for removing unwanted objects from photos. Evans starts with the basics, like the Remove tool, which uses Adobe’s AI to intelligently fill in selected areas. For simple distractions like signs or small groups of people, this tool often works seamlessly. If the first result isn’t perfect, you can tweak or update the selection so Lightroom can try again. This makes quick solutions possible even for beginners.

The video also covers the Heal and Clone tools, which provide more control for fine-tuning edits. Evans explains that the healing tool merges selected areas with their surroundings, while the cloning tool copies and pastes parts of the image. These options are useful when the AI ​​has difficulty recreating natural textures such as plants or sand. Blurring and adjusting the opacity of the clone tool can create smoother transitions, especially in complex scenes.

For more sophisticated edits, such as removing large objects or multiple people, the video relies on Lightroom’s generative AI feature. This advanced option not only fills the selected area but also generates multiple variations for you to choose from. This is particularly useful for maintaining realistic textures and lighting in complicated edits. Evans demonstrates how this tool can handle difficult scenarios, such as clearing a crowded beach or deleting light stalls from a studio recording. The ability to refine results by regenerating fills or adjusting masks adds another level of precision.

Evans also emphasizes the importance of knowing when to move beyond Lightroom and into Photoshop. While Lightroom is great for most cleanup tasks, Photoshop offers more control for very detailed edits. The video shows how tools like the Lasso tool and Generative Fill in Photoshop can handle complex problems like removing large textures or changing backgrounds. Seamless integration between Lightroom and Photoshop allows you to switch between the two programs without losing your edits. Check out the video above for the full scoop from Evans.