Distraction Removal: Dust (Camera Raw and Lightroom Classic)

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

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:

[waltoncreative]

I don't understand how this clunky interface is helpful. Yes when the dust extraction is turned on it manages to find most of the dust. BUT then when you want to retouch something else you have to TURN OFF the dust extraction to enable the normal retouching menu. Surely there must be a better way to make this feature work so it is possible to retouch BOTH at the same time?

[HeronM]

It barely worked for me when I tested it on .dng  and .tif files from scanning/reversing film negatives with a DSLR. Sometimes it didn't detect anything (see attached). There should be a way to adjust the tool so more dust is detected. Selecting undected dust in LR doesn't save any time for me over Spot Healing Brush in PS.

[Erik Bloodaxe]

That is because this tool is designed to remove sensor dust spots. It says at the outset, in the topmost post:

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

[david33015609syfd]

doesnt work at all lmao

[Erik Bloodaxe]

Your comment is meaningless without further elaboration. Please supply some details.

[craigd80112855]

Yeah... I just wanted to say that this feature is absolutely useless. Generative Remove did not replace the spark plugs on my '72 Chevy Impala, nor does it make me delicious fruit smoothies in the morning, nor listen as I share my most intimate secrets.  It ONLY removes most of the dust in my "digitial" photos (whatever THAT means).  Adobe should be ashamed that they have produced something that doesn't do something they never said it would actually do in the first place ...just beacuse I want it.  Totally useless and I am angry!  ANGRY, I tell you!

[Erik Bloodaxe]

This feature was designed to remove sensor dust spots only, nothing else. For me it works with 99% perfection.

[craigd80112855]

Ahhh, yes.  I forgot that Vikings aren't known for their sense of humor.

[martins26997302]

Fantastic, works great!  Thank you very much!

[ed_nl@ch]

After some testing I found some problems, when a dust spot (mostly in blue sky) is close to a 'normal' object the removal takes a part of the object, making it worse. In the object there was before remove no visible dust. If manual adjustment or reject would be possible, that will be an improvement   

[johnt41947401]

Adobe started this thread in July 2025 and invited people to try the new feature and let them know what their thoughts were on it and since then we now have 10 pages of comments which fall in to one of 3 categories broadly speaking:

1) Its great and saves a lot of time etc etc

2) It doesn't work to varying degrees along with a brief explanation of what its not doing (This is my position which is why I've stopped using it for the time being)

3) Its been used for other things and people have highlighted issues or made suggestions about what could be added in the future etc etc

Considering its now 5 months since Adobe created this post which has generated 200+ comments, isn't it about time they responded with whats going to happen next ? @Rikk Flohr: Photography care to comment please considering you started this post?

[jkborys]

This is a fantastic idea. I just wish it we could dial in the sensitivity. I get a lot of dust spots from using live view mode underwater. It pics out some of them but nowhere near all of them. I would also like to see a feature that included water spot removal. Very similar to dust spots, they are spots on the dome ports that appear underwater. Keep up the great work. 

[R�my_BRUNEAU2553]

Bonjour,

Génial...

Pourriez vous faire la même fonctionnalité pour corriger automatiquement les pixels morts sur les capteurs endomagés par des impacts de faisceaux lasers? Ces pixels morts sont inamovibles, donc après apprentissage de leur localisation suivant le format 2x3, 4x3, 16x9 etc... prise de vue portrait ou paysage, LRC pourrait nettoyer automatiquement les photos. Changer un capteur coûte très cher et cette nouvelle fonctionnalité ferait le bonheur de nombreux photographes.

Merci

[mkauff]

Excellent, amazing how well it works.