One of the most difficult tools to consistently use in Lightroom is the dehaze slider. Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your edits with this tool.
As its name suggests, the dehaze slider was initially intended to remove the look of fog that can sometimes appear in an image. The slider has only been around for a few years, although in that time it has graduated to a consistent adjustment rather than a special effect only needed for a few images. However, this tool provides several negatives that can often ruin a picture if not used properly.
In this video, Lightroom expert Matt Kloskowski explains the good and bad of the dehaze tool. When you dehaze an image, you are essentially adding contrast and saturation quickly, causing the foggy parts of an image to clear up. The issue is that when you don't use it well, it’s one of those tools that are notorious for causing an image to look overdone. In his video, Kloskowski shares several landscape images and explains when the dehaze slider would be helpful, or when merely using another tool such as a gradient would be best for the task. In my experience, this tool has become a staple in my basic editing presets, but only in small portions.
If you are new to editing your images in Lightroom, the dehaze slider can be a great asset or a constant temptation to overcook your image. Take a look at the video above to learn how to best use this tool consistently.
