Adobe’s latest update to Lightroom 9.6 and Lightroom Classic 15.6 aims to improve the software’s ability to remove unwanted reflections from windows, glass, and water—a common post-processing challenge that many photographers encounter daily. The newly added Reflections option in the Remove panel promises cleaner results with fewer artifacts, although real-world testing shows that the outcome can vary depending on the scene.
The update, released on September 29, targets complex surfaces where reflections distort the image. A slider-based control lets users adjust the effect from full removal to partial, giving a degree of flexibility that was missing in earlier versions. Photographer Glyn Dewis put the feature through three different scenarios. In the first case, a window dominated the composition and the Reflections option cleared the reflections completely, delivering a clean look. In a second street-level portrait where Dewis’ own reflection was visible, the adjustment made no visible change, leaving the unwanted glare untouched. The third image appeared clean at first glance, but a closer inspection revealed lingering ghosting around a picture frame, showing that the algorithm can still miss fine details.
When the built-in option does not achieve the desired result, Adobe offers an alternative called Prompt to Edit. This generative feature remains in early access and allows users to type their own request, after which the system creates a new image file. The workflow, however, carries risks. A request to clean reflections in a portrait with three problematic windows not only eliminated the glass glare but also shifted the overall saturation and introduced errors in the text that appeared behind the glare, demonstrating that the AI can over-process the scene.
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The generative fixes rely on two versions of Google’s Nano Banana 2 model, which operate at 2K or 4K resolution. Processing at the lower setting consumes 20 generative credits, while the higher resolution costs 30 credits. Because there is no preview before you spend them, the 4K version came back at a much lower resolution than the original, with lettering in the windows turned to nonsense. Dewis works around these inconsistencies by importing the generated file into Photoshop, then masking only the affected areas so the rest of the photograph remains untouched.
Many photographers find that avoiding reflections in the first place is simpler than trying to erase them later. A circular polarizer can reduce glare on glass and water when the camera is angled between 30 and 40 degrees to the surface, although its effect weakens if the photographer stands directly in front of a window. For straight-on compositions, pressing a rubber lens hood against the glass blocks most of the unwanted bounce, and using a dark background or a piece of fabric behind the subject can further minimize reflection. In portrait work, repositioning lighting so it does not strike the glass at the same angle as the lens helps prevent softboxes from turning windows into bright, featureless panels.
