Summary
Anthony Morganti provides a detailed walkthrough of ON1 Photo RAW’s automatic and AI-powered editing features, designed to help beginners quickly achieve high-quality photo edits and learn the software’s workflow. He emphasizes that although ON1 is a comprehensive tool that can initially feel overwhelming, its AI tools like Brilliance AI and Super Select AI simplify the editing process by automating tone, color, and local adjustments. Morganti demonstrates how these tools intelligently create masks for different elements in an image (such as sky, flora, water, or sculptures), allowing targeted edits without manual selections. He also explores additional AI features like AI-assisted cropping and straightening, and explains how to fine-tune AI results through sliders and local adjustments. Throughout the video, Morganti highlights his preferred effects, such as dynamic contrast and subtle vignettes, and provides practical tips on balancing AI-generated edits with manual tweaking. The video closes with advice on how these AI tools not only speed up editing but also help users understand ON1’s editing principles, encouraging them to build their own workflows confidently.
Highlights
- ON1 Photo RAW offers powerful AI tools that simplify photo editing for beginners.
- Brilliance AI automatically adjusts tone, color, and applies local masks for elements like sky and flora.
- Super Select AI enables precise selection of individual elements for applying effects such as dynamic contrast and color adjustments.
- AI-assisted cropping and straightening tools help quickly improve composition.
- Users can fine-tune AI edits using sliders for amount, tone, and color independently.
- Applying subtle vignettes is a recommended finishing touch to enhance images.
- The AI features help users learn ON1’s workflow and develop their own editing style.
Key Insights
- Brilliance AI as a Starting Point for Beginners: Brilliance AI acts as an intelligent assistant that automatically interprets the image, adjusting global tone and color while creating local masks for distinct areas like sky and flora. This reduces the intimidation factor for new users and provides a solid base edit that can be further customized, making ON1 more accessible. The ability to fine-tune the AI’s output empowers users to learn the underlying editing controls gradually.
- Super Select AI Enables Targeted Local Edits: Unlike traditional manual masking methods, Super Select AI uses scene recognition to allow quick, accurate selection of individual elements such as skies, sculptures, or grass. This precision minimizes tedious manual work and encourages creative experimentation by letting users apply localized effects like dynamic contrast or color adjustments independently to each element, enhancing overall image balance.
- Dynamic Contrast as a Versatile Effect: Morganti consistently favors the dynamic contrast effect when working with Super Select AI. This effect adjusts contrast at different detail levels (small, medium, large) and can be fine-tuned from shadows to highlights. It enhances texture and depth, making key image elements stand out naturally without over-processing, demonstrating the power of combining AI selection with effective effects.
- AI-Assisted Cropping and Straightening Streamline Composition: The AI crop tool quickly suggests optimal cropping and straightening adjustments, addressing common beginner challenges in framing. While automatic crops sometimes require minor manual adjustments, this feature saves significant time and improves composition, reinforcing how AI tools complement user input rather than replace it.
- Fine Control and Flexibility Remain Crucial: Despite the automation, Morganti emphasizes the importance of manual refinement. Adjusting AI effect amounts, toggling tone and color separately, and tweaking masks ensure that edits remain personalized and subtle. This balance between automation and control prevents over-editing and helps photographers retain their creative vision.
- Local Color Adjustments Add Tonal Variation and Realism: Subtle modifications to color swatches within selected areas—such as brightening yellows or darkening greens—introduce tonal variance that avoids flatness, especially in foliage or grass. These nuanced adjustments enhance depth and realism, showcasing how AI selections paired with detailed color work elevate the image quality.
- Learning Through AI Tools Builds Workflow Confidence: Using AI features as a learning scaffold demystifies the complex ON1 interface. As users see how AI builds masks, applies effects, and adjusts sliders, they gain insights into how different edits interact. This experiential learning fosters confidence to move beyond presets toward developing individualized workflows and creative control within ON1.