P: Option to Base New Masks on Original RAW Data (Pre‑Global Adjustments)

🔍 Problem

Currently, new masks in Lightroom are generated based on the already edited image, which includes all global adjustments such as exposure, contrast, and color changes. This causes issues like:

• Lost dynamic range: Blown-out highlights or clipped shadows are impossible to isolate cleanly.

• Limited slider headroom: Mask adjustments are relative to the modified state—not the untouched RAW—so fine tuning the sky or subject becomes tricky after global edits.

• Unpredictable behavior in layered workflows: Subsequent global changes can affect earlier masks in unexpected ways.

💡 Proposed Solution

Introduce an optional toggle in the mask settings:

“Base this mask on original RAW image” (✔️ default off)

What it does:

• Makes mask previews and initial slider neutral positions refer to the unedited RAW.

• Allows sliders (exposure, contrast, whites, etc.) to operate using the full dynamic range available in the RAW.

• Ensures consistent and predictable mask behavior, regardless of global edits made after mask creation.

🛠️️ Interface Design

Within the Mask panel (accessible via the ⋯ menu in the mask thumbnail):

☐ Base mask on original RAW (pre-globals)
ⓘ This mask will ignore current global edits and use the untouched RAW data as its baseline.

Benefits

• Enables precise local adjustments on bright skies or deep shadows, even after bold global changes.

• Supports a more robust non-destructive workflow.

• Greatly reduces the need for workaround steps like layer duplications or complex adjustment orders.

• Aligns with Lightroom’s ethos of being both nondestructive and flexible.