Remove reflections with this amazing new tool

James Paterson gets great results using Reflection Removal in Camera Raw

- James Paterson

On a recent trip to the zoo, I was drawn to this alligator because of the interesting combination of colours cast by the mixed lighting. However, shooting through the glass of the enclosure meant I couldn’t find an angle without the distracting reflections of the slatted wall behind me. The best option at times like this would be to use a circular polarising filter, which helps to cut through reflections. But what if we don’t have one to hand?

The new Reflection Removal feature in Photoshop’s Camera Raw plugin can be a game-changer for images like this. It employs AI to isolate and remove the reflection and, unlike some automated tools, it is spectacularly good. Not only does it get rid of unwanted reflections, but it also has a party trick up its sleeve. It untangles the reflection so you can actually see it as a standalone image. It’s like you’re able to split the photo into two layers, one of the scene behind the glass and the other of the reflection on the surface. In an age of rapid AI developments and all manner of generative frippery, this is one tool that is purely functional and genuinely useful to photographers.

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