Skip to main content
Rikk Flohr-Retired
Adobe Employee
July 10, 2025
Question

Distraction Removal: Dust (Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic)

This post applies to Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic.

 

Dust Removal is no longer in Early Access status and can be found in the Remove edit panel for Camera Raw & Lightroom Classic. Dust Removal helps remove distracting spots in an image that may be caused by dust on a camera's sensor and is also effective on dust on the rear lens element.

 

Once enabled, your image will be scanned, and any detected dust spots will be automatically removed using Content-Aware Remove. For refinement, you can select one or multiple spots to delete or refresh. Batch removal is also supported; simply select the "Dust" checkbox under "Remove" in the copy settings dialog.

Please note that scanned negatives are not in the scope of this feature at this time. 

 

  • Dust spots on scans tend to be located in the focal plane, with the negative and very sharp, while sensor dust is typically positioned out of the focal plane and therefore not in focus.
  • Scanned negative dust typically appears as white spots on a darker background, whereas perceived sensor dust tends to appear as dark spots in lighter areas. 

 

We would love to hear your feedback on Dust Removal! Please give it a try and let us know what you think:
 

  • How is it useful?
  • How could it be more useful?
  • What could we do to improve your experience?

 

Lisa Ngo, Product Manager


Also see this video by @brianmatiash where he demos the feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwpUX4b6igY 

 

Posted by:

407 replies

Inspiring
August 13, 2025

I tried dust removal just now on a b&w negative, raw file shot with mirrorless camera. I opened the file via LR, so it would have my adjustment to positive, and then in PS went to Camera Raw. I enabled dust distraction removal, and got "no dust spots were found in this photo," despite some obvious dust, see screenshot. 

 

I wonder if this is mainly/only intended for sensor dust, or potentially also for film scans?

Translate
Rikk Flohr-Retired
Adobe Employee
August 13, 2025

Please see the note on Scanned Negatives in the top post. @jimtron 

Translate
Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org
Participant
August 18, 2025

I'm just replying to this post since you are an Adobe employee.  When you click "report" from the app, you are not exposed to the caveat.

Translate
Participant
August 13, 2025

És fantàstic- Tèstalvia un munt de feina. M'agrada molt!

Translate
ln119
Inspiring
August 13, 2025

Remove Dust work fine. Can we have a kind of preview as in Refelections and the possibilitie to Undo some spots removal.
Thanks.

Translate
Erik Bloodaxe
Legend
August 13, 2025

"For refinement, you can select one or multiple spots to delete or refresh."

See first post above.

Translate
chelbertelchen
Participating Frequently
August 13, 2025

I used it now the whole morning and afternoon because I had to work on many pictures of a friend and his dirty lens... 😄 
It is absolutely faboulus so far! THANK YOU!!!

Translate
Participant
August 13, 2025

Lo de quitar manchas... GENIAL¡¡¡ Ahorra un montón de tiempo. 

Translate
Participant
November 12, 2025

molaria poder tener una accion que limpie arrugas de fondo

 

Translate