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Dan Rodney/3 min read

Camera Raw as a Filter

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Master Photoshop at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop's Photoshop Bootcamp covers retouching, compositing, color correction, and pro editing.

Gain valuable insights on the application of Camera Raw as a non-destructive smart filter, utilization of the Dehaze feature, and mastering masking techniques in Camera Raw with this comprehensive tutorial on Photoshop.

Topics Covered in This Photoshop Tutorial:

Applying Camera Raw As a Non-Destructive Smart Filter, Using Dehaze, Masking in Camera Raw

Exercise Preview

preview camera raw filter

Photo Copyright © Dan Rodney, danrodney.com

Exercise Overview

Camera Raw has some great features not found elsewhere in Photoshop (like Dehaze, Clarity, etc.) so it would be helpful to be able to use it on any image, not just RAW files. In this exercise you’ll learn how to apply Camera Raw as a filter to any image.

Applying Camera Raw As a Filter

  1. From the Photoshop Class folder, open 5E Napali coast.tif.

    NOTE: This is a lower-resolution image, so it may not be as large on your screen as some of the previous images. This is still a usable image for certain uses though. Not every file you work with will be high resolution.

  2. Choose View > Fit on Screen.

  3. Filters are destructive unless applied to a smart object. So go into the Filter menu and choose Convert for Smart Filters.

    If you see a message about enabling re-editable smart filters, click OK.

  4. Go into Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
  5. On the right are many sections, start by opening the Basic section (it’s the first one at the top).

  6. Drag the Dehaze slider to the right. Notice the hazy/light areas get darker with better contrast and color saturation. End up with Dehaze set to 100.

    NOTE: You normally don’t have to go this high, but it works well for this image.

  7. Notice there’s now some noise (graininess) in the sky. In the sections on the right, expand the Detail section (you may have to scroll down to see it).

  8. We have to be careful that we don’t remove useful details while removing noise:

    • Set Color Noise Reduction to 15 (going too high with this can reduce color saturation in certain areas, so be careful)
    • Set Noise Reduction to 9

  9. The sky could use some more noise reduction, but the rest of the image doesn’t need any more (additional noise reduction would eliminate details we want to keep). Luckily you can select areas inside of Camera Raw.

    On the top right of the window, click on Masking camera raw masking

  10. In the options on the right:

    • Under Create a New Mask click Sky.
    • Scroll down to the bottom and in the Detail section set Noise Reduction to 35

  11. Notice in the image that where the sky meets the mountains sometimes there’s a green band of color (called fringing), which is especially noticeable in the pointy peak towards the left.

    In the Detail section increase Defringe to 100

  12. This image is looking much better! Click OK at the bottom right.