Lightroom Masking Tips
Local adjustments without the plastic look — practical masking habits in Lightroom.
Global sliders fix the base. Masks finish the story. Keep them subtle enough that nobody notices the tool.
Start broad, refine narrow
Use Subject or Sky first, then subtract with a brush. Stacking three careful masks beats one aggressive brush.
Luminance ranges
Target midtones for clarity; avoid crushing shadows just because the slider is available.
Before export
Toggle masks off/on. If the photo collapses without them, you leaned too hard. Dial back.