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Participant
October 12, 2026
Question

Lightroom Classic SDK and AI Training – Section 6.16

Hello Adobe Community,

I am exploring the development of a local desktop photo-editing tool that integrates with Lightroom Classic through its official SDK.

Before proceeding, I would like clarification regarding Section 6.16 of the Adobe Developer Terms of Use (June 18, 2024), concerning machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The proposed workflow includes:

  1. Analyzing RAW photographs owned by the user, using locally developed image-processing algorithms.

  2. Calculating exposure, white balance, contrast, and color adjustments.

  3. Applying those adjustments through the official Lightroom Classic SDK while preserving non-destructive editing.

  4. Potentially training a local AI model to learn editing preferences from Lightroom Develop settings and edited photographs, but only if explicitly permitted by Adobe.

My questions are:

  1. Is it permitted to use independently developed algorithms to calculate photo adjustments and apply them through Lightroom Classic SDK APIs?

  2. Does Section 6.16 prohibit training or evaluating AI models using Lightroom Develop settings or Lightroom-exported photographs, even when the original RAW files belong to the user?

  3. Does the restriction also apply to personal, non-commercial use?

  4. Is there an official Adobe licensing or developer contact who can provide written clarification or authorization?

No Lightroom-derived data has been collected for AI training, and no AI model has been trained using Adobe-derived data.

I understand that community replies may not constitute official legal authorization. I would appreciate guidance from Adobe staff or direction to the appropriate licensing team.

Thank you.

    1 reply

    johnrellis
    Legend
    October 12, 2026

    Best of luck with this! And good luck trying to determine what the Terms of Use mean and require and the de facto enforcement of those terms of use. There are third-party tools such as Imagen AI that do what you’ve described, and I doubt (but don’t know for a fact) that they’ve obtained permission from Adobe, even though 6.16 clearly prohibits what they do.

     

     

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