Copying ACR masks to multiple images

[midoeats]

Can we please get a way to apply mask corrections to multiple files/photos in Camera Raw? I cannot believe that this is a limitation in your technology guys. It makes no sense to expect us to have to re-draw and re-edit all the masks work from Camera Raw to apply it to their files with the same needs.

Thanks.

[TheDigitalDog]

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/how-do-i-write-a-feature-request/idi-p/123863...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/how-do-i-write-a-feature-request/idi-p/1238...

[midoeats]

Sorry if I am in the wrong place. But the Customer Support person I was talking to didn't send me the correct link to my query.

[TheDigitalDog]

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@midoeats wrote:

Sorry if I am in the wrong place. But the Customer Support person I was talking to didn't send me the correct link to my query.

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You were instructed on how to file a feature request in my first reply.

[Erik Bloodaxe]

This feature already exists.

"Copy selected edit settings" in the dropdown menu. 

[TheDigitalDog]

Indeed: 

https://jkost.com/blog/2022/10/everything-you-need-to-know-about-masking-in-adobe-camera-raw.html

When Copying and Pasting Masks: 

• When you copy and paste a mask to a different image, if the destination image has any masks, you will have the option to Merge the masks (add the pasted masks to the existing masks) or replace the masks (deleting any existing masks).
• When copying/pasting AI driven masks (Select Subject, Sky, Background, Objects, and People) masks from one image to another, the masks will be recomputed automatically.

[midoeats]

"When you copy and paste a mask... bla bla bla" But how do you actually copy and paste it??! That is not mentioned anywhere.

[TheDigitalDog]

"When you copy and paste a mask... bla bla bla" But how do you actually copy and paste it??! That is not mentioned anywhere.

By @midoeats

https://www.makeuseof.com/adobe-camera-raw-lightroom-how-to-copy-masks/

[midoeats]

That is not true and I tried what you are saying and it doesn't work.

[Erik Bloodaxe · Accepted solution]

I don’t know what you are implying is not true.

As pointed out above, there are several ways to copy masks from one image to another.

Try these steps:

1. Open in Camera Raw the image from which you wish to copy masks while simultaneously opening all the images you wish to copy the masks to. You can open as many images as you like, memory permitting.
2. In the filmstrip, select the image from which you wish to copy the masks then in the dropdown menu (point at this image and click on the three dots) select “Copy Selected Edit Settings” (Note the keyboard shortcut if you intend to use this lots.)
3. In the "Copy Edit Settings" dialogue which opens, select just “Masking” (or any other settings you may wish to copy as well.) Click “Copy”
4. Now select all the images you wish to copy to. In the dropdown menu again, choose “Paste Edit Settings” (Note keyboard shortcut again)

That’s it!

[midoeats]

Hey Erik,

Thanks for your response and for everyone else's, but trust me guys I've followed all of your instructions and either it's not true or possible to copy masks across images or my version of Camera Raw is defective (which I am sure its not because it's updated from Adobe CC regularly of course).

All of the instructions you guys mentioned and the links with the turtorials, copy all of the slider settings but not the masks.

[TheDigitalDog]

Try resetting your ACR preferences, better? 

Hold down the Command key and select Photoshop > Preferences > Camera Raw (macOS) or hold down the Ctrl key and select Edit > Preferences > Camera Raw (Windows).

Click Yes in the dialog that asks "Delete the Camera Raw Preferences?"

[alexanderschmidt]

As I just stumbled upon this thread: While copying masks by the presented methods is perfectly fine, some people might wonder, how to copy only a certain mask to other images (and not a whole cluttering bunch of masks).

I've found it out by accident and I haven't seen this documented anywhere.

• Open the images in ACR.
• While having your source image in view select the other images, that shall receive the specific mask.
• Select the mask to be copied.
• Make a minor adjustment, or best: use a slider, that has a default zero value, and change it. Then double click on the slider handle to reset it to zero again.
• The touched mask should now appear in the other images.You can now (with the other images selected) change the settings of this mask and these changes will update on the other images, too. You can also delete the mask and it will be deleted from the other images.

I hope it helps.