P: Reflection Removal feedback (CR & LrClassic)

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

This post applies to Adobe Camera Raw plug-in.  

Adobe Camera Raw team is sharing an early look of our new Reflection Removal feature, which removes reflections caused by plate glass surfaces from photos. 

Note: 

• The feature currently only works on raw photos. Support for JPEGs & HEICs is added in the April 24 Update.

• There is a known issue on some Windows machines where the feature may produce a corrupt image. We are working on a fix for the upcoming release. 

Check out HelpX for more detailed usage information. For more technical information on the underlying technology, please refer to this Blog post. 

Getting started with the Reflection Removal feature: 

• Make sure you have the “New AI Features and Settings Panel” Technology Preview enabled in the Camera Raw plug-in Preferences dialog (requires restarting the host application to activate). 

• Go to the Remove panel [B] , and in the “Distraction Removal” section, click on the “Reflections” checkbox. 

• Optionally adjust the slider after the ML model is done computing. 

• Use the rest of the Camera Raw tools just like you would otherwise. 

When using the slider, the key values to note are: 

• 0 – the input photo

• 100 – de-reflected (window reflections removed) photo 

• -100 – reflection photo (what the window was reflecting towards the camera) 

Please try the feature and share feedback in this community forum. It would help to include details like how you access Camera Raw (via Adobe Bridge or Photoshop), your computer system details, and as much information about what you like or do not like about the resulting photo quality. Our team will continually monitor this thread to track issues to improve the future experience. 

When to use Reflection Removal

The feature is designed to deal with large-area reflections when shooting through windows. Many other types of reflections occur in nature and are captured in photographs, but this feature may not recognize and handle those. We plan to work on expanding the supported reflection types in the future. 

Example use-cases for the feature include: 

• Looking through windows inside-out (e.g., from the car, airplane, room windows, etc.) 

• Looking through windows outside-in (e.g., shop windows) 

• Museums (e.g., paintings behind glass, glass case exhibits, etc.) 

How best to use Reflection Removal

For best results, try the new feature following these suggestions: 

• Apply Reflection Removal before applying any other edits to the photo, except for Enhance features such as Denoise
  • The changes made to the photo may be quite profound and render any changes you already made inappropriate.
  • If you plan to use both Enhance (Denoise, Super Resolution, or Raw Details) and Reflection Removal on a photo, it is better to apply Enhance first.
• Play with the feature slider and adjust the removal strength as appropriate.
• If you applied Adobe Adaptive (beta) profile prior to running the Reflection Removal feature, please update it or you may see traces of removed reflections still present in the photo (Adobe Camera Raw will remind you to do this).

Boris Ajdin: Product Manager, Emerging Products Group 

Update (01-16-2025)

To improve the performance and results of this feature, it is important that examples of images that are failing to properly remove the reflections are forwarded to the team via your report.  A large variety of file formats are allowed as attachments in these forum posts. The best option is to attach your image's raw file directly to your feedback post. Note that there is a 50 MB limit on an attachment's file size. If your raw file is too large to attach, the best option is to share the file via a file-sharing service (Dropbox or similar) and then share the link in your feedback post. Thank you for continuing to provide feedback on this Tech Preview!

If you have already shared your raw file with us - thank you!

~Rikk

Posted by:

[VICENTE269896324jkf]

With these directions from our frien Conrad I was able to open the NEF files and process then with the reflection removal feature. Hope you can do it too. Regards

To enable any feature requiring raw data, avoid Camera Raw Filter, and instead open the image directly into the full Camera Raw processor using any of these methods:

• From Photoshop, use the command File > Open and select the raw file. 
• From the desktop, drop the raw file directly into the empty Photoshop application window. 
• From Bridge, select the file and choose the command File > Open in Camera Raw. 
• From Lightroom Classic, select the file and choose Photo > Edit In > Open as Smart Object in Photoshop, then double-click the raw smart object layer (or choose Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Contents). 

[KasiaD]

Hi,

I have used the new removal feature on Nikon NEF files taken as far back as 2007 and new ones from December 2024 without problems. In fact with some very good results.

My workflow is Import original file to Lightroom CC then "Export to" Photoshop 2025 via CR.

In the LR Export settings I only chose the "Export Location" folder and have "File Settings" set to "original format".

In PS Preferences I have under "File Handling" - File Compatibility - Camera RAW Settings - Prefer Adobe Camera Raw for Supported RAW files.

In CR Preferences I performed the step in the introduction above

• Make sure you have the “New AI Features and Settings Panel” Technology Preview enabled in the Camera Raw plug-in Preferences dialog (requires restarting the host application to activate). 

When exporting from LR the nef copy automatically opens in CR with Photoshop in the background.

The Remove (B) panel icon is active and I'm able to use the Reflections Removal tool and make any other changes before I open it in PS.

I hope this helps.

[paull4771161]

I had the same problem with Canon raw. Don't go via Lightroom. Drop the
draw file directly on to Photoshop, the ACR should open automatically with
your image and the refection tool should be available. That said I noticed
mixed results, often nothing was changed, only pics taken head on to the
glass with myself in the reflection were corrected, even then not as good
as the demo's on YouTube.

[Eric29489323q7t4]

So far from reports we've been seeing, mixed results predominantly result from users who are applying the tool to reflections that it intentionally is not designed to handle. Please consider sharing your failure cases so we can learn what you are wanting to do.

From Lightroom (Classic) you can remove reflections as follows

1. Right click on the raw photo

2. Select "Edit In --> Open as Smart Object in Photoshop"

3. In Photoshop, double-click the layer (a smart object)

4. The Adobe Camera Raw window will appear

5. Select the remove icon to remove reflections.

[Stefan Official]

I was able to achieve fantastic results. Thanks for this cool feature!

Now it just needs to be integrated into Lightroom 🙂

[Eric29489323q7t4]

Could you share the original that contains the reflections?

[thomasd88842858]

Simply does not work on my iMac 2020, Sequoia, one more continuing problems that dont seem to ever go away starting since Adobe went to the rental model....which is fine for them but not me......doesnt matter if its dng or CR2

[NZBayman]

It's not working for me - says my file type is incompatible. Have tired using a RAW file (NEF), and DNG; before attempting any other edits. What file format is supported?

[Eric29489323q7t4]

Many users are reporting this, but thus far we have found that these all result from workflows that accidentally open the raw as if its not a raw image. Please share the specific steps you are taking. Meanwhile, here is how I open images:

1. Open photoshop,  select file->open, and chose the raw file (e.g., NEF)

or

2. Open Lightroom Classic, find the RAW image, right click, select "Edit In --> Open as Smart Object in Photoshop", and then double click the smart layer when Photoshop opens.

Please let me know if those do not work for you.

[Marty_Bigos8577]

I would like to say that this tool made many of my photos from a train trip in Alaska from Fairbanks to Seward and a bus trip in Palm Springs looking at mid-century modern houses(including Frank Sinatra's). I look forward to more integration into Lightroom as the multi step dance to remove the reflection gets a little tiresome when processing over 100 photos. 

For those'd that have problems with images that don't meet the criteria of this tool, such as reflections off of cars or water,  I suggest looking into a tool that has been in use for over 50 yrs and works well with digital cameras, a circular polarization filter. 

Marty

[Eric29489323q7t4]

Thanks Marty! Is there a place where we can view your work that uses reflection removal?

[Marty_Bigos8577]

Eric -

Here is Frank Sinara's house in Palm Springs taken from inside a van.

[Eric29489323q7t4]

Thanks. Nice shot!

[KasiaD]

I did a different test today. I had a photo with a reflection caused by my grey grad filter. I used the reflection removal tool and it worked really well. Will need to remember this if it happens again in future. Normally I would delete the image.

 

[Sylvester5ED2]

Reflections removal A+, however when I try to save the DNG and open in lightroom it still has the reflections, odd the preview doesn't show the reflections???

Also open in photoshop from lightroom makes it a tif and then the camera raw reflection removal doesn't work. 

Thanks. 

[Arnold Staniczek]

Doesn't it work with NEF files?

[Arnold Staniczek]

Sorry, the error was sitting in front of the computer.... it works! 

[massimoc34505475]

Hi,

Am an ex Adobe employee (10 years ago, when we switched to CC 🙂

I am using the Reflection removal very successfully but have noticed an issue where fringes are significantly increased and the Defringing is unable to correct it any longer.  Admittedly, I am using the Reflection removal for images that it was not designed for (for example where only a case with glass appears in the picture and not where the whole picture is a pane of glass).  Note in the enclosed file that Reflection removal has an effect on the reflection in the case but it modifies the frine on the edge of the case and in the lamp above.  Nonetheless, I wanted to inform you of my observation.  RAW file enclosed.

Thanks and best regards

[Eric29489323q7t4]

It seems that the attachment didn't make it. Could you attach the images to show what you are seeing?

[massimoc34505475]

There you go.  Thanks for any input

[massimoc34505475]

I am getting this message: "

Correct the highlighted errors and try again.

The attachment's 2024-04-28 - 122523.dng content type (image/dng) does not match its file extension and has been removed."

I do not understand why, as it is a DNG file, created from a CR2 file and it edits correctly in both CR 17 and PS 2025

[Eric29489323q7t4]

You can screen-shot the result. I think most people are doing that to make the image uploader happy.

[Chapps-LA]

I thought I'd share a particularly successful use case of the reflection removal tool. I had thought that a photo I took at the Metropolitan Museum in New York was unusable, due to reflections and haze, and the reflective coating on this encaustic (colored wax) mummy portrait from Roman Egypt. But the tool saved the photo very effectively. The three attachments show the RAW file (denoise was used), the resulting image with reflections removed (not yet adjusted for color and lighting issues), and the image showing exactly what reflections were removed. As a great deal of my work involves my photographing museum displays (with no special lighting), this is a big deal for me. 

I'm crossing my fingers that you rapidly evolve the tool to work with JPEGs and TIFFs, as there are times I don't have my professional camera with me, and have to use an iPhone to record a display - I have tons of 'unusable' reflection-ruined photos in those formats.

[Eric29489323q7t4]

Wow, that's a terrific example! We are working on JPEG/TIFF support. In the meantime, many iPhones support RAW as follows: Settings->Camera->Formats->ProRAW. Then when you are using the camera app, in the upper right you'll see an option to turn on RAW capture for your shot.

[Chapps-LA]

Oh, I know the RAW setting on the iPhone very well. Unfortunately, my old iPhone 15's RAW setting produced some very poor results (possibly a software bug), so I'd try to shoot with both RAW and default settings, just to see which ones came out best. My newer iPhone 16 Pro Max has far better results, although it still struggles with gold metallics, removing all highlights (impossible to retrieve with LR or PS, because they just don't exist). For most official museum visits, I bring my Canon with me, and always set it to RAW, which still stuns me to see how much detail I can retrieve even from poorly lit displays.