Adobe Lightroom Classic 12.3 May 2026

While "Select Object" existed before, version 12.3 refined the interaction. You can now draw a rough rectangle or a lasso brush around any object (a car, a coffee cup, a stray branch), and Lightroom’s AI will snap the mask perfectly to the object’s edges. This is phenomenal for product photographers and landscape shooters who need to remove distracting elements non-destructively.

Wedding/Event:

Landscape:

Portrait:

A common question: "If I have 12.3, do I need the cloud version?" Adobe Lightroom Classic 12.3

| Feature | Classic 12.3 | Cloud 6.3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | File storage | Local drives | Adobe Cloud (1TB+) | | AI People Masks | Yes | Yes | | Adaptive Presets | Yes | No | | Face detection (People view) | Yes (advanced) | Yes (basic) | | Print module | Yes | No | | Map module | Yes | No | | Plug-in support | Yes (extensive) | No | | Mobile syncing | Via Smart Previews | Full resolution |

Verdict: Classic 12.3 remains for professionals who need printing, plug-ins, and local storage. Cloud version is for Instagram-first shooters and travelers. While "Select Object" existed before, version 12

Presets have long been a staple of Lightroom, but 12.3 introduced Adaptive Presets. These are AI-aware presets that apply adjustments only to specific parts of an image. For example, a preset called "Dramatic Sky" will automatically mask the sky and apply a dark graduated filter, regardless of where the horizon line sits.

Adobe included a starter pack of adaptive presets: Landscape:

More importantly, you can now create your own adaptive presets. If you frequently apply a specific color grade to only skin tones, you can save that as an adaptive preset. Every future portrait can use it with one click.

Lightroom Classic 12.3 is the desktop-focused Lightroom for photographers who manage large local catalogs and need advanced batch editing, tethering, local adjustments, color grading, and printing/export control.