P: AI Masks Require updating and/or disappear

[Shelemiah]

Hello,

I recently had a call with Adobe support with no luck. I have found some threads on this but nothing presents a solution and it seems hard to find what the actual issue is.

If I edit a client gallery and use any healing brush tool or AI masking tool, the mask or healing brush/generative AI will get a red dot underneath after going back to the start of the gallery, my AI edits are gone....

I also noticed this happens 100% of the time when I quite and reopen lightroom, I can fix the mask, update ai settings but it just resets each time I open lightroom.

We tested a new catalogue, we tested a bunch of things with no luck. 

We really need a fix on this Adobe it is killing workflow, not sure what broke this setting. I can't revert to an old version because I have lots of photos (I do 1 catalogue per year) and can't go back weeks of client work.

Also this catalogue was started at the begining of 2025 so there is no version 13 of this catalogue to revert to and test.

PLEASE HELP ADOBE!

[talented_warmth0396]

User presets, with AI Mask, on a shortcur on Loupedeck. --> AI mask error 

[jrsforums]

@talented_warmth0396 loupedeck/Logi did not properly code the API for presets, so AI settings are set, but not executed.  I have submitted to Logi and they are , supposedly, looking at.  I have not seen any error notice because of this (other that the orange/yellow update button).....but as I think about it, I tried for AI profile and Denise, not masking.

EDIT:  just tried one of Adobe's sky mask presets....same problem....set, but needs pressing of update button

[talented_warmth0396]

It's not a bug in Louoedeck. It's a "bug," or I almost suspect it was intentionally created by updates to Lightroom Classic or a Camera Raw update. Unfortunately, I suspect Adobe deliberately implemented these limitations.

[johnrellis]

In LR 13.3 (May 2024), LR's SDK for plugins added an additional parameter "updateAISettings" to the method photo:applyDevelopPreset().  If the parameter is false (the default), the preset is applied to the photo but AI settings are not updated; if true, then the AI settings are updated. Prior to LR 13.3, photo:applyDevelopPreset() would never update AI settings.

Evidently, Logitech and Loupedeck haven't updated their plugins in the year-and-half since then to take advantage of the new SDK feature.

[jrsforums]

@talented_warmth0396 JRE explain the changes to the SDK that Adobe clearly announced to the world.  You have not explained your problem in detail.  If it is not what I or JRE describe, please let us know exactly what your problem is and/or how it is different.  

while paranoia and conspiracy theories can be real, I would need an understanding of who you think Adobe would gain an advantage to hurt Loupedeck or Logitech.  They do not compete for the same products and Loupedeck/Logi success with Lightroom would only help increase more users of LRc

EDIT:  BTW....while the lack of execution of LRc AI presets (supplied or created) is annoying, I have reduced the problem by implementing a KB shortcut on the Loupedeck to update AI setting as needed.

[C.Cella]

@jrsforums you say"lack of execution of LRc AI presets (supplied or created)"

I don't see this issue.

All Ai presets are immediately computed.

I get missing Ai only in case of failed detection as usual.

Can you please provide the steps you are doing when seeing the issue ?

EDIT
Sorry I initially quoted the wrong user.
Fixed

[jrsforums]

@C.Cella Are you using a Loupedeck or Logi keypad?  If I select a preset directly on LRc, it executes the AI.  If I set up a button on Loupe/Logi to run the preset, the preset is loaded (history, check boxes, etc) but the 'update AI' button turns orange/yellow indicating need to execute.

if you are using Loupedeck and it works for you, how are you setup?

i am on latest software on Loupe/Logi software and LRc (Loupedeck) profile.  If 

[tonyhartphoto]

@jrsforums What Loupedeck hardware are you running? I am using the Loupedeck+ but given the issues with 14.4/5 I have been very wary about updating thus far.

I am aware that Loupedeck was bought by Logitech and have not updated my Loupedeck software to the latest versions because of countless horror stories discussed on Facebook Loupedeck support groups. Therefore I remain on LR 14.5.1 and Loupedeck 5.9.1.19365 (incidentally a truly ridiculous public facing version number...)

[C.Cella]

@jrsforums 
When using Loupedeck do you see the modal progress scope for update Ai settings?
I.e. this one:

If not then it's like @johnrellis said and at Loupedeck they didn't update the code.

.

[jrsforums]

@C.Cella nope, do not see that until the 'update AI' button is pressed.

[jrsforums]

@tonyhartphoto CT, Live, & Live S.  Software version 6.2.1.  All work fine with LRc

[C.Cella]

@jrsforums ok Loupedeck didn't update the code.

They should update it immediately and, you know what, it's actually three letters to add.

I recommend to write their support.

I will write to one of their employees myself. 

[jrsforums]

@C.Cella have conversed with there Logitech support multiple times (ticket 4365778)

[C.Cella]

@jrsforums avoid using Loupedeck to apply Presets.

@johnrellis Worth also adding that photo:applyDevelopPreset() has serious usability problems and it is presenting too many modal progress scopes.

The alternative is to use catalog:updateAiSettings() to do the job but that means creating extra history step and bloat catalog.

.

[jrsforums]

@C.Cella i have eased the problem on Loupedeck by adding a KB shortcut button (ctr-alt+W, as I remember) to do 'Update AI'  works a lot faster than mouse/pen over to press it on screen....and the combo of preset button and update button are a lot faster that searching for preset in left panel.

EDIT: Actually....I just had a thought....Loupedeck has multi-step actions.  I might try to combine them at some point....at least the ones I use the most.

[C.Cella]

@jrsforums yes that is a workaround but it unfortunately means two steps in history.

1. apply preset (missing Ai).

2. Update Ai Settings

It's catalog bloat.

In theory searching for Presets with Lightroom should be the best way to work but in practice (due due to missing operator) searches return too many results.

I have created over 650 custom presets myself and I can't remember the exact name of each, search supposedly should help us but doesn't.

.

[jrsforums]

@C.Cella I'm actually not a fan of presets....650!!...how do you ever remember them, much less find them 😀

I really only use presets when the SDK does not provide for it in Loupedeck (or not implemented by them) or no KB shortcut available.  Things such as 'Denoise', 'adaptive Color' (or other profile), 'Landscape mask', etc.

[C.Cella]

@jrsforums 

I use Presets Groups...carefully named groups.

e.g

Masking Ai / Ground Artificial

Masking Ai / Ground Natural
Masking Ai / Vegetation

etc...

I don't remember the exact name of each preset but I know where to find them.

.

[lauraf52386078]

We use multipe editors and transfer Catalogs from their devices to our devices. Catalog File plus data Folders. We are seeing AI settings not transferring automatically (as set by the editors). we have to update the AI settings. Is there a correct procedure so we would see the AI Settings chose by the editors? (as opposed to the hacks in this thread or maunally updating on our side?

[Wlodarczyk_MRPiPS]

After updating to Lightroom Classic v15, AI masks stopped updating automatically when syncing develop settings across photos. In previous versions (14.x and earlier), AI masks such as Subject, People, and Sky would recalculate automatically after copying or syncing settings. In v15, a yellow “Update AI” icon appears, but Lightroom no longer updates the masks automatically. Each photo requires a manual “Update AI Settings” action, which makes batch editing impractical. Additionally, even after manually updating an AI mask, it sometimes resets or disappears. The mask object remains in the panel, but the mask itself turns completely black, with no selection inside it. This happens randomly across photos and affects various types of AI masks.

[Aleke]

Hi @Wlodarczyk_MRPiPS, welcome to the community!
It sounds like the file storing your AI edits might have gotten corrupted. When that happens, the app keeps asking you to update your AI masks. The good news is your edits aren’t lost—you’ll just need to let Lightroom regenerate that file. Here’s how:

1. Close Lightroom.
2. Go to the folder that contains your Lightroom catalog.
3. Rename the .lrcat-data file to old.lrcat-data, or move it out of the folder.
4. Reopen Lightroom, it will create a new lrcat-data file.

You’ll need to update your previous AI masks once more, but if this works, Lightroom shouldn’t keep asking you to update them again afterward.

Let us know how it goes!
Alek

[Wlodarczyk_MRPiPS]

Thanks again for the earlier suggestion about deleting the .lrcat-data file — it did help at first, and for a short time Lightroom Classic v15 worked normally. Unfortunately the issue has come back. After a few days the AI masks once again stop updating after syncing settings, and some of them even reset to a blank/black mask. Removing the .lrcat-datafile fixes it only temporarily.

Because the problem keeps returning in the same way, it seems to be an underlying bug in this version of Lightroom rather than a one-time corruption. At this point the issue is affecting normal work and even caused a crash. It looks like something in v15 is repeatedly breaking the AI mask data.

[britt_9857]

I’m running into a really frustrating issue in Lightroom Classic.

Whenever I make adjustments to a photo and then continue editing other images, the edits I made to that first photo seem to disappear. I then have to click the yellow warning icon in the top-right corner and reapply the masks and settings almost every single time.

What on earth has happened??

At this point I’m exporting every photo immediately after editing it, just to avoid losing my work — otherwise I’m doing everything twice. It’s incredibly frustrating!

(I’ve installed the latest Lightroom Classic update.)

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @britt_9857

It sounds like Lightroom Classic isn’t retaining your AI masks and adjustments when you move between photos, and the edits only reapply after clicking the yellow warning icon. That definitely shouldn’t be happening, especially if you’re on the latest update. To help narrow this down, could you share a bit more?

• Are the affected files RAW, JPEG, or HEIC?

• Does this happen with every image, or only some?

• Are you syncing the catalog with Lightroom cloud or working only locally?

• Any recent changes in your workflow, new catalog, moved files, external drive, etc.?

• A screenshot of the yellow warning icon you’re seeing would also help.

Once we have this info, we will be able to assist you better.

Regards,

Srishti

[britt_9857]

These are RAW files. It doesn’t happen with every image, but it does occur with most of them. I haven’t been able to figure out why it works correctly sometimes and not at other times — as far as I can tell, I’m following the exact same steps for each photo.

I’m working locally only. All images are stored on an external hard drive, which is how I’ve been working for years without any issues. My usual workflow is:
I place the RAW files on an external drive, import them into Negative, make my selection, export that selection into a folder in Lightroom, run them through ImagenAI, and then continue fine-tuning them in Lightroom Classic.

This problem started suddenly about three weeks ago, when I noticed during export that the edits were not applied as expected.

I’ve attached a screenshot of the yellow warning icon for reference.

Thank you for your help!