Lighter and darker values represent different amounts of selection. However, 'new AI-based masks, however, require bitmap, or image-based, support.' The AI-based masks create a grayscale image.

This required only small amounts of data. Adjustments made via brush or gradient were stored in the software as mathematical expressions. The old selection technologies were vector-based.

Working AI-based selection tools into the ACR/Lightroom masking engine required considerable work, especially when considering how to get the tools to operate within Lightroom on mobile devices. The discussions took place over about a year and a half period. To ensure that a core reworking made sense for its customers, Adobe reached out to tens of thousands of customers across ACR, Lightroom and Lightroom Classic userbases and talked to them about selective adjustment tools. 'The new Select Subject tool automatically creates a precise mask of the salient subject with a single click, and works on people, animals, and inanimate objects.' Image and caption credit: Adobe The imaging processing engine in ACR and Lightroom was incompatible, so the engine needed to be reworked at a foundational level. These tools have been well-received, so the Adobe Research Team got to figure out how to incorporate these tools into ACR and Lightroom. The impetus for redesigned masking tools was brought on, at least in part, but AI-powered selection tools such as Select Subject and Sky Replacement in Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe camera raw cc