Everything New In Lightroom Desktop v8.0 (Adobe MAX 2024 Update)

As an avid Lightroom user, there's nothing more exciting than Adobe Max season. Every year, Adobe introduces new updates across their creative apps, and 2024 is no different. Lightroom has received some highly anticipated updates, especially if you've migrated from Lightroom Classic. If you're as enthusiastic about photo editing as I am, you're in for a treat with the release of Lightroom Desktop 8.0. In this post, I’ll highlight my top five favorite new features that will significantly enhance your workflow and editing experience.

Also, if you want to learn more about the updates that Lightroom got on its Mobile and Web surfaces, check out this Adobe blog article. You may see a video from someone very familiar. 😉

1. Smart Albums – Customize Your Photo Organization Intelligently

One of the standout new features is Smart Albums, a much-needed addition that Lightroom Desktop users have been requesting for years. If you're coming from Lightroom Classic, you're likely familiar with Smart Collections, where you set rules to automatically group images based on criteria you define. Smart Albums brings this same functionality to the cloud-based Lightroom ecosystem, but with a twist.

Creating a Smart Album is easy. Simply click the “Create Smart Album” button, and you're prompted to set your criteria, such as rating, capture date, or even specific search terms powered by Lightroom’s Sensai AI. For example, I can create an album for all my four-star photos taken in 2019 or combine filters to create even more precise groups, like four-star bird photos taken with my Sony a7R V in 2024. Lightroom’s AI search automatically identifies subjects like birds without the need to manually add keywords or metadata, making the organization process incredibly efficient. And the best part? As you add more photos, the album updates itself automatically.

2. Edit in Third-Party Apps – Seamlessly Enhance Your Photos

Another game-changer is the ability to edit photos in third-party apps directly from Lightroom. Whether you need to upscale an old scanned photo using Topaz Gigapixel AI or apply noise reduction in Topaz Photo AI, Lightroom now lets you send your images to these external editors seamlessly.

The process is straightforward: simply right-click on your image, select “Edit in,” and choose your preferred app. Lightroom automatically creates a TIFF file and sends it to the 3rd party app. To ensure smooth integration, remember not to change the file name and save it back as a TIFF to the source folder. This new functionality makes Lightroom more versatile, especially when you need editing features beyond what is available in Lightroom.

3. AI-Powered Denoise for iPhone ProRAW – Cleaner Images, Less Hassle

For those shooting in ProRAW on their iPhones, Lightroom has enhanced its AI-Powered Denoise to support these files. Previously, only specific RAW formats were compatible, but now iPhone photographers can enjoy cleaner images without losing details, especially in low-light situations.

I tested this on an iPhone 15 Pro Max image, and the difference was clear. Lightroom’s AI denoise algorithm significantly reduced the noise in dark areas, delivering results that surpassed Apple's own image processing. This feature is a must-try for anyone shooting in ProRAW who wants to maintain a high level of image quality.

4. Content Credentials and CAI – A Step Toward Transparency

In an era where authenticity is increasingly important, Adobe has integrated Content Credentials as part of its work with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI). This feature allows you to embed metadata that tracks the edits made to your images, providing transparency about AI use and other modifications.

You can choose to attach these credentials when exporting your image or upload them to the Content Credentials cloud. The details are embedded in your image file, and anyone who inspects the photo can see whether AI was used, which tools were applied, and even who created the image. It's a great way to maintain credibility, especially when sharing photos on platforms where authenticity matters.

5. Improved Generative Remove – More Control, Less Hassle

Finally, Adobe has enhanced the Generative Remove tool, giving you the ability to make multiple selections at once. In the past, you could only remove one area at a time, but now you can select several areas, and Lightroom will handle them simultaneously. This speeds up the editing process when you're cleaning up distractions in your photo.

Each selection also retains its own set of variations, so you can tweak each area individually without affecting the others. This small but impactful update is perfect for photographers who want to streamline their workflow while still maintaining control over each element of the image.

These five new features are just the beginning. With each update, Lightroom continues to evolve, providing photographers with more powerful tools to organize, enhance, and share their images. If you’re a Lightroom Classic user considering a transition to Lightroom Desktop or if you’re already immersed in the cloud-based ecosystem, these improvements are sure to enhance your editing experience.

Learn How To Use Lightroom Everywhere!

For a comprehensive guide on managing and editing your photos across all Lightroom platforms, check out my course, Lightroom Everywhere. This course has been updated with these new features and will help you get the most out of Lightroom.