Lightroom > Develop Module >

7 - Five Tools on Top of the Basic Panel >

Tool #5 - Adjustment Brush

Adjustment Brush

You can use the Adjustment Brush to edit locally.

For example, if the shadow on your subject's face is too dark, lighten it with the Adjustment Brush.

Do the following.

1) Do one of the following:

• Choose a preset from the menu to the right of Effect.

• Make an adjustment with the sliders.

As described with the Graduated Filter, you can't enter the optimum value.

You haven't made the "selection" yet with the brush.

So, neither you or Lightroom knows what the effect is going to look like.

Therefore, enter a value greater than what you think you should.

Then, you'll adjust the intensity of the effect after you've brushed it on your photograph.

2) Click and hold, and brush on the photograph where you want the effect.

3) Release the mouse.

Clarity

Go to Clarity.

Mistakes

If you make a mistake when brushing, press Ctrl + z to undo the last brush work.

Or, press and hold Alt, and brush over the mistake.

After you've completed the brushing, adjust the intensity of the effect.

Three Ways to Adjust the Intensity

There are three ways you can adjust the intensity of the effect.

Way #1 - Slider

Use the tool slider to adjust the intensity of the effect.

Way #2 - Arrow Keys

Press the left-and-right arrow keys.

Way #3 - Drag Left & Right on the Pin

Do the following.

1) If the pin doesn't have a black dot, click on it to make the pin active.

2) Position the cursor over the pin.

3) Click and hold.

The cursor changes to two arrows.

4) Drag left and right.

Add More Effects

You can add more effects to the area you brushed.

If the pin doesn't have a black dot, click on it to make the pin active.

Then, use more sliders.

Paint with a Color

You can "dip" the adjustment brush into any color.

1) Click the color box to the right of Shadows.

Color Box

. . . and the Select a Color window appears.

Select a Color Window

Go to Select a Color Window.

What's Masking?

When you brush, Lightroom creates a mask where you're not brushing.

This mask blocks the effect.

Let's say you've set the Exposure slider to +1.0.

When you click and hold, and drag the brush, Lightroom creates a mask where you haven't brushed.

The mask blocks the +1.0 change.

Where you've brushed, the +1.0 change is "visible."

Where you haven't brushed, the +1.0 change remains "hidden" by the mask.

Use Auto Mask

When you click and hold, and drag the brush, you're creating a mask all by yourself.

Lightroom can help you.

Select Auto Mask near the bottom of the Adjustment Brush panel.

Auto Mask continually samples the tone and color where you're brushing.

Auto Mask continually masks all other tones and colors.

Let's say you're brushing on a blue sky.

When you inadvertently brush the green leaves in the trees, Auto Mask will prevent the green leaves from being affected.

Show the Mask

If you place the cursor on the pin, the edited area will show in red.

The non-red area is masked.

If you would like to have the red area on all of the time, select Show Selected Mask Overlay in the tool bar.

Or, press o to toggle between hide and show.

To change the color of the red area, press Shift + o repeatedly.

Add a New Adjustment

If you want to make another adjustment, click New in the Adjustment Brush panel.

Or, press Enter.