The new ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2, now released, features new options, from tethered shooting with Nikon Z cameras to an AI Quick Mask tool powered by, you guess, machine learning.

Photo editing tools continue to evolve for each new version, and the most recent update to ON1’s solution is an example of the path followed. The new release, a free update to ON1 Photo RAW 2019, introduces a series of new features requested by users or deemed important, covering everything from a powerful new masking feature that leverages AI for generating masks as well as performance enhancements and new camera support.

https://youtu.be/rMPadm6zy60

The AI Quick Mask Tool is probably what will grab more attention, as it offers, yet, another solution for a task that for years was difficult and time consuming. With machine learning (or AI) it seems everything is easier and achievable, although, sometimes, the use in real world solutions reveals masking continues to be a task that requires time and patience. There are no magic solutions, in fact, and while all these new powerful features are welcome, and do make workflows faster, there continue to be limitations, as the use of different masking tools seems to demonstrate.

Masks with a few guiding strokes

Still, the AI Quick Mask Tool from ON1 is a welcome addition to the software, as it does work almost automatically in a series of situations, and will also give users a good starting point in others. Powered by machine learning, the tool can create, says the company, “high-quality masks with just a few strokes as guidance while understanding color, tone, and textures to identify boundaries and create a detailed mask in a fraction of the time compared to other masking techniques”.

https://youtu.be/sMpyUJIMOUM

The regular tools used with masks are present, so you can adjust your final images as much as needed, but as the videos here demonstrate (I hope) the tool does work to make masking less time consuming. ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2, though, is more than just a new masking tool. The update also adds supports to more cameras, as the Leica D-Lux 7 and Panasonic DMC-TZ101, and adds tethered shooting support for the Nikon Z 6, Z 7 and D850.

New lens profiles, faster Browse

Lens correction profiles, for both old and new lenses, are also included, and users will find the following references added: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, Chinon 75-205mm f/3.8, KMZ Industar-50-2 3.5/50, KMZ Jupiter-37AM MC 3.5/135, Nikon AI-S Nikkor 105mm f/2.5, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm f/1.2 Pro, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm f/1.2 Pro, Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 Pro, Pentax-FA 28-70mm f/4 AL, SLR Magic 8mm f/4, SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | C 017, SIGMA 30mm f/1.4 DC DN | C 016, Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 Di VC USD F012, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2.

In terms of performance, ON1 continues to improve the software.  The video card (GPU) is now leveraged to speed-up common processes like returning to Browse, copy/pasting layers and masks as well as some exporting and plug-in tasks, says the company, pointing also to the fact that some bugs were fixed and there are many other are many other under-the-hood improvements every user will appreciate.

Perpetual license and membership

ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2 is available now for new customers for $99.99, and is a free upgrade for owners of the ON1 Photo RAW 2019 version. Previous owners of any ON1 product can upgrade for $79.99. ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2 is also available as part of an ON1 Plus Pro membership for a for $129.99/year (Reg: $149.99/year). ON1 Plus Pro includes a perpetual license of ON1 Photo RAW along with in-depth post-processing and photography education from the industries best trainers such as Matt Kloskowski, Hudson Henry, Tamara Lackey and many more.

One note on the ON1 Plus Pro membership, as it seems to confuse some people. The subscription of the membership has nothing to do with the licensing of the software, which is always sold with a perpetual license, meaning that if you give up your annual membership you can still continue to use the software, which can be installed in five different computers. Also, you’re not forced to upgrade the software to a new version, if you believe the upgrade brings nothing that interests you.

A 30-day free trial of ON1 Photo RAW 2019.2 is also available for download from the ON1 website. If you previously ran the trial of ON1 Photo RAW 2019, the trial period is reset in version 2019.2, so you can also try this newest update free for another 30 days.