Lightroom Classic Is Regressing: Feedback from a Professional User

Dear Adobe Team,

I’ve been a loyal Lightroom Classic user for over a decade, and I have to say: the recent changes in version 13 and beyond are deeply disappointing.

Core tools that were once intuitive—like Radial Gradients—are now buried under inconsistent interface logic, requiring obscure keyboard shortcuts just to behave as expected. Masking behavior is unpredictable, overlays frequently obscure adjustments, and persistent UI elements like unexplained red dots introduce needless distraction.

These aren’t innovations. They’re regressions—frustrating, unnecessary, and disconnected from the realities of professional use.

I’ve reverted to version 12.5, the last stable release fit for actual work. I strongly urge your team to reconsider its design priorities and return to building tools for working photographers, not for feature checklists.