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Anshul_Saini
Community Manager
Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
Community Manager
August 4, 2026
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Lightroom Classic v15.5 is Here: Better Masking Controls, Render to DNG, and More

  • August 4, 2026
  • 21 replies
  • 1020 views

The August 2026 release of Lightroom Classic (v15.5) brings a mix of creative enhancements, workflow improvements, and reliability fixes designed to help you edit with greater precision and confidence. From more refined masking controls to a new way to create rendered DNG files, this update focuses on giving photographers more flexibility while also addressing a wide range of issues reported by the community.

 

What’s New

Lightroom Classic v15.5 introduces enhanced masking capabilities with new Feather and Edge controls, giving you finer control over photo masks and more creative editing possibilities. Cropping workflows are also improved with the ability to temporarily adjust photo opacity, making it easier to see cropped-out areas and accurately frame your images.

For photographers who want a fresh starting point after extensive edits, the new Render to DNG option allows you to save a rendered DNG file with all current edits permanently applied. This creates a non-raw version of your image that can serve as the foundation for further editing.


The release also improves catalog reliability by automatically detecting and prompting you to repair issues related to lrcat-data files. In addition, support has been added for new GoPro camera models and select GoPro, Laowa, and SIGMA lenses.

Learn more about the latest updates here.

 

👉 Download the latest version of Lightroom Classic here.​​

 

Bug Fixes:

See the full list of bug fixes here.

 

How to Update

To get Lightroom Classic v15.5, open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app, navigate to the Apps tab, and update Lightroom Classic to the latest version. Once installed, you'll immediately have access to the new editing controls, workflow enhancements, camera and lens support updates, and the latest fixes.

 

Join the Conversation

Have you tried the new Feather and Edge masking controls or the Render to DNG workflow? We'd love to hear how these updates fit into your editing process. Share your favorite new feature, creative workflows, or any improvements you've noticed since updating to Lightroom Classic v15.5.

      21 replies

      jackdaw
      jackdaw
      Participating Frequently
      September 13, 2026

      There seems to be a bug in version 15.5.1, causing my nvidia 1660 super graphic card to loose connection with my Eizo monitor. Monitor displays error display port and never comes back online, while Windows and LR still seem to be running (hd light on pc). Only solution is a restart. Windows 11 and nvidia display drivers are all up to date and working with this configuration for years. Windows reports LiveKernelEvent 141. Reverting back to 15.5 solves the issue. Disabling gpu in LR also worked in 15.5.1, but that means a very slow LR.  

      Giddy_Sunshineec7d
      Participant
      September 13, 2026

      The new masking controls look like a really useful improvement, especially for photographers who need more precise selections. I actually used this kind of masking workflow while designing images for my own website  (wage calculator) and the extra control makes it much easier to make clean, targeted adjustments. Render to DNG also seems interesting for workflows where you want to continue editing from a fully rendered version.

      Marcus-J-T
      Known Participant
      September 9, 2026

      15.5.1 just installed itself but there’s no information about it at either of these two places - please update them so that we know what’s in it?!

      https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/desktop/introduction-to-lightroom-classic/whats-new.html


      https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/desktop/troubleshooting/fixed-issues.html

      oliviaparker09
      oliviaparker09
      Participating Frequently
      September 7, 2026

      This looks like a solid update! The improved Feather and Edge masking controls and the new Render to DNG option should be especially useful for more precise editing workflows. Glad to see reliability fixes included as well.

      oliviaparker09
      oliviaparker09
      Participating Frequently
      September 5, 2026

      This looks like a solid update for Lightroom Classic users. The improved Feather and Edge masking controls and Render to DNG workflow sound especially useful for more precise editing. It’s also great to see several reliability and camera support improvements included.

      mariot84283269
      Participant
      September 1, 2026

      My lightroom is now unusable how slow it is. Tried reinstal and new gpu drivers. Everything is even slower now.

      i9 13900 64 GB ram and 3080Ti GPU

      ljc576
      Participant
      August 31, 2026

      Lightroom 15.5 has crashed and I can’t get it to restart!!!

      DanSidious
      Participating Frequently
      August 29, 2026

      This version 15.5 broke handling most video formats on PC for me. 15.5.1 doesn’t seem to fix it - anything on the horizon?

        curt.gallery
        curt.gallery
        Known Participant
        August 22, 2026

        I have been playing around with edge and feather and they help some. I surprised at how poorly LR does at masking period. You can see the clearly lighter areas between the trees that it missed. Compared to other tools this is a poor result. Also, what is the deal with the long delay in switching between images now. You click the thumbnail and 20 seconds later it is displayed. 

        scott_4838
        Participant
        August 19, 2026

        Render to DNG only lets you do one file at a time, even if multiple are selected. Seems like a basic oversight.

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