The improved masking tools in Camera Raw are a game changer.
My typical workflow is to use the excellent improved Noise Reduction tool for the entire image. But I no longer use the main sharpening tools on the entire image, as that will result in sharpening of the background noise, etc. I go directly to the Masking tools, and apply sharpening, texture etc only to the subject(s). This helps keep the background bokeh soft & dreamy.
But some tools are not available on the Masking Page. The Sharpening is more limited, and other tools like “Vibrance” can only be applied globally.
I suggest integrating the Masking Features onto the main controls page, allowing all adjustments to be masked as needed. Why have limits on this powerful feature? Make masking unlimited as in Photoshop.
The difference is that many of the tools in Camera Raw are more useful when applied to a RAW image than re-entering camera raw as a filter on an image that has already been processed.
The masking tools are fairly comprehensive, and powerful. It would help however to add just a bit more masking control as in photoshop.
(for what its worth, I am a long time PS user, commercial retoucher, nature photographer, as was a Beta Tester for PS 1.0)
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