This post applies to Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic. Dust Removal is no longer in Early Access status and can be found in the Remove edit panel for Camera Raw & Lightroom Classic. Dust Removal helps with removing distracting spots on an image that may be caused by dust on a camera's sensor. Once enabled, your image will be scanned, and any detected dust spots will be automatically removed using Content-Aware Remove. For refinement, you can select one or multiple spots to delete or refresh. Batch removal is also supported; simply select the "Dust" checkbox under "Remove" in the copy settings dialog.Please note that scanned negatives are not in the scope of this feature at this time. Dust spots on scans tend to be located in the focal plane, with the negative and very sharp, while sensor dust is typically positioned out of the focal plane and therefore not in focus. Scanned negative dust typically appears as white spots on a darker background, whereas perceived sensor dust tends to appear as dark spots in lighter areas. We would love to hear your feedback on Dust Removal! Please give it a try and let us know what you think: How is it useful? How could it be more useful? What could we do to improve your experience? Lisa Ngo, Product Manager Also see this video by @brianmatiash where he demos the feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwpUX4b6igY Posted by:

Rikk Flohr_Photography

Community Manager

Question

Distraction Removal: Dust (Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic)

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
July 10, 2025
157 replies
17159 views

This post applies to Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic.

Dust Removal is no longer in Early Access status and can be found in the Remove edit panel for Camera Raw & Lightroom Classic. Dust Removal helps with removing distracting spots on an image that may be caused by dust on a camera's sensor.

Once enabled, your image will be scanned, and any detected dust spots will be automatically removed using Content-Aware Remove. For refinement, you can select one or multiple spots to delete or refresh. Batch removal is also supported; simply select the "Dust" checkbox under "Remove" in the copy settings dialog.

Please note that scanned negatives are not in the scope of this feature at this time.

Dust spots on scans tend to be located in the focal plane, with the negative and very sharp, while sensor dust is typically positioned out of the focal plane and therefore not in focus.
Scanned negative dust typically appears as white spots on a darker background, whereas perceived sensor dust tends to appear as dark spots in lighter areas.

We would love to hear your feedback on Dust Removal! Please give it a try and let us know what you think:

How is it useful?
How could it be more useful?
What could we do to improve your experience?

Lisa Ngo, Product Manager

Also see this video by @brianmatiash where he demos the feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwpUX4b6igY

Posted by:

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J

johnt41947401

Inspiring

I've tried using it a few times, whilst it finds some of the dust spots it then doesn't remove them. I've stopped using it as its not working, I'll try it again when its been upgraded to be more effective.

D

default4n2q5q4g607q

Participant

fungerar bra

C

craigd80112855

Participant

I am enjoying this thread. Especially the complaints. There are certainly some constructive concerns and some great ideas for a wish list. However, there are some who are being offered the very beginnings of a combustion engine, and are demanding a brand-new Rolls Royce. I think we need to remember that these are the early stages of development for this feature. I truly believe that Adobe will make this a more competent addition. They have told us that this is currently a feature that is in its nascent form and we were told upfront that it is only for dust and only for digital so far. Patience friends! It WILL improve and grow and will (probably...possibly) eventually have a solution for all things "negative."

C

Colorful_force3394

Participant

Just did my upgrade to LR 15 and tried the new dust removal. Unfortunately it did not work. It identified the dust well, but the auto remove did not work.

P

Pavel VK

Participant

Amazing! Love it!

*** Please Add Wires and telephone poles Removal Next! This will take the world of retouching to the next level!

H

haydonperrior

Participating Frequently

Please add the ability to remove dust from scanned negatives... an actual real issue photographers face, unlike people just not cleaning their lens/sensor.

JBedfordPhoto

Inspiring

Very happy to FINALLY receive Dust Spot Removal in LRCC15!

It's working relatively well so far, but I would llove to see implemented more dust removal for scans, not just dust spot removals for digital sensors.

U

uwe_3714

Participant

Why does this feature not apply to 100%? It detects 20% of the sensor spots. A sensitivity slider might be an improvement. And the spots weren't removed completely. It looks like it works with reduced coverage of 80%.

R

Raphael Francisco_Put9636

Participant

I usually don't care much about AI features, some are cool, but removing dust?
BOY IT'S MARVELOUS!
I have countless photos that I left on my archives, waiting for this day.
So far, so good! Thanks guys, this is the way!