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C
Corniger
Inspiring
August 17, 2026
Question

AI-free workflow (without automatic AI tags)

  • August 17, 2026
  • 8 replies
  • 47 views

I would like to know which “AI” processes are counted and automatically tagged as such.

Since I’m required now to mark images as “Made with AI” and I’m still not sure how that truly applies; I’d like to see how much of the LR features that made it worthwhile I can still use without having to have my clients put AI badges all over the place, or having to provide them with 10 different versions for Social media so the markings are “clearly recognizable” on an iphone 4s as well.

Discussing the principle of “faking”, i.e. retouching vs. doing it with/without AI is futile in the face of EU lawmaking, but what processes would I have to circumvent so my work doesn’t get automatically flagged via creator cloud?

As much as I love the AI mass masking features, I’ve done well without them for decades and I’d rather live without my work being inadvertently AI tainted. Imo, many automated processes are and have been using some sort of artificial intelligence, video games with “opponents” always did. The question is when did marketing rename those algorithms to fit the AI trend?

Thanks in advance for pointers!

    8 replies

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 17, 2026

    In my opinion, it is very unlikely that an authentic camera captured photograph is going to get flagged as AI created, just because one of the current so called “AI” features in Lightroom was used to process it, organise it or to assist you with making local adjustments to it.

    When Subject detection is used for a mask yes that is an AI based and trained algorithm, but the local adjustments applied onto that masked area are themselves standard Lightroom. Similarly, AI may be involved in Face detection but the only actual effect for the image is that it is so keyworded - no differently in the result, than if this had been a manual keyword assignment by you. 

    I suppose the generative fill option for cloning can invent brand new pixel content which has not derived only from the source picture - but what that content will consist of, is very constrained in practice. 

    We cannot (yet) verbally prompt LrC for this photo of my sister-in-law to be made to resemble Elvis Presley a little less (or more), nor for that cloned-out bush to be replaced with a unicorn juggling baby sharks that are on fire. If-when those overt alterations do become available, I would expect that LrC will be applying a suitable “AI-modified” marker on the fly, and that we will all consider that a good and useful thing! Provided, it is not triggered too easily.

      C
      CornigerAuthor
      Inspiring
      August 18, 2026

      I also don’t think it’ll be marked as “AI created”, but “AI modified”.
      When stuff like this comes up, it’s a clear indication something isn’t working right, or misinterpreted. Denoise imo does NOT misrepresent the situation/image/scene. 

      Camera RAW now has an option to switch off GenAI entirely: https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/desktop/whats-new/release-notes.html (second item of the August release, but it’s marked as “non compatible”, since it requires Windows 11, which is a no-go), so hopefully that will be implemented in LR as well. 

      If it’s not possible to find out how to circumvent AI in Adobe’s software and allegedly it’s being introduced in all sorts of tools, since it simply supposedly creates better results.

      Those flagging mechanisms are good (since “creating” with GenAI, imo, has no value whatsoever), but introduce a new kind of nightmare for people who want to upload their stuff to Meta platforms, which allegedly don’t differentiate between the various embedded AI labels, they just slap on the AI label. That’s clearly a no go for me. And I can’t prohibit my clients posting my work on Social media.

      For now, I’ll try an alternative until this is resolved.

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      August 17, 2026

      There is no universal answer to this. However, you appear to have external requirements to mark images, the people who put forth these requirements ought to have specifics on this.

      C
      CornigerAuthor
      Inspiring
      August 17, 2026

      There’s a specific set of ugly badges that you’re NOT required to use. So it’s everything but clear - notoriously.

      My main question is though which components of LR I can no longer use so neither I, nor my clients have to deal with this.

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      August 17, 2026

      Sorry, I really struggle with your question. What is the validity of an answer given to you in the Adobe Community when the decision about whether or not you are applying AI tags properly is going to be made by others (not the people who might answer here at the Adobe Community)?

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