Lightroom Classic 15.4.1 (macOS): Lens Blur Brush Refinement "Blur" Option Appears to Behave Like "Focus"

Forum|Forum|1 month ago
July 5, 2026
15 replies
83 views

In 15.4.1 I have found that in Lens Blur the Blur option of Brush Refinement seems broken. Using it does the same as the Focus option. Anyone else noticed this?

I am running the Mac version.

Srishti Bali

Community Manager

Hi @shikamu

Apologies for the delayed response. I’m hopeful that the issue has been resolved by now.

If you're still experiencing the issue, please update Lightroom Classic to the latest version, 15.5, and check whether the issue persists.

If the issue continues after updating, please share the following details so we can investigate further:

System Info from the Help > System Info menu
A sample file that demonstrates the issue
A short screen recording showing the issue

Additionally, please try manually resetting the Lightroom Classic preferences. Before resetting, make sure to back up your preferences and other custom settings/folders.

You can follow the steps shared here: [https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/desktop/introduction-to-lightroom-classic/reset-preferences.html#:~:text=Method%202%3A%20Manually%20delete%20the%20preferences%20file]

Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks, Srishti Bali | Community & Engagement Strategist, Digital Imaging | Adobe

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

So you are saying that using the Blur brush actually brings that part more into focus, rather than blurring it? No, I do not see this in Lightroom Classic 15.4.1 on my Mac. What are your hardware specs and what version of MacOS are you using?

-- Johan W. Elzenga

shikamuAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you for your reply.

I am running an M2 Pro 12/19 Macbook Pro 32gb, 1tb SSD. MacOS 15.7.7.

I opened the raw file in LrC again just now and confirm that the Blur option does the same as the Focus option, i.e., both bring things back into focus.

I tried it with another photo just now and it works properly, but it was a simple case of opening a raw file, clicking on Auto to set some basic develop settings and then using Lens Blur.

I went back to the problem photo and it has a fair amount of editing before the use of Lens Blur. I am looking at the History panel. There is a crop, develop adjustments, an AI mask of a person, and a linear gradient mask. While using Lens Blur I made various Update Depth Refinement adjustments. Also, Update Focus Range. And the use of the Blur and Focus options in Brush Refinement. Along the way there was an Update AI Settings also.

shikamuAuthor

Known Participant

It is getting even weirder. On the problem photo I decided to start from scratch so in the history I went all the way back to the very beginning, the Import step. I then decided to try Lens Blur at the very beginning with no other steps between Import and Apply Lens Blur. I found that even in this case the Blur option in Brush Refinement acts like Focus.

To be even more precise, Blur is not identical to Focus. Focus makes the brush area in focus, but with this crazy Blur I see that the very central part of the brush is blurred but the outer area (which is the largest part) is in focus. I will provide 3 screenshots of a portion of the photo. All with same brush size.

Before using Brush Refinement: