Removing Backscatter in Lightroom: Techniques for Cleaner Shots

By Robert Herb Photography

As an underwater photographer, there's nothing more frustrating than capturing the perfect shot—you're happy with your composition, the marine life is beautifully framed, and the colors look vibrant. Then you notice unwanted white dots scattered across your image. These are backscatter, and they happen when tiny particles suspended in the water reflect your camera's light source, creating those distracting spots that can ruin an otherwise stunning photo.

Whether you're using a professional DSLR with a strobe or a compact camera inside an affordable housing, backscatter can be a persistent challenge. It's a common issue faced by many underwater photographers. Still, the good news is that Lightroom Classic (v14.5), Lightroom (cloud-based) v8.5, Lightroom Mobile (v9.5), and Adobe Camera Raw (v17.5) now include powerful AI-assisted and manual tools designed to help you remove backscatter quickly and accurately, on desktop or mobile.

Recent updates bring faster Select Background and Select Object performance, improved Select People for diver portraits (even through bubbles or masks), and Luminance Range Masking to Lightroom Mobile for the first time. These improvements make it easier than ever to restore clarity, whether you're editing a single macro shot or a week's worth of wide-angle reefscapes.

In the following sections, we'll walk through a five-method toolkit, step-by-step, so you can confidently tackle backscatter with the most current tools available.

🔗 Learn more at: info.robertherb.com/lm-2-blog

🌊 Method 1: Spot Removal Tool - For Precise Manual Cleanup

Best For: Sparse backscatter on solid backgrounds (blue water, coral walls, macro sand)

Steps:

  1. Press Q to activate the Spot Removal Tool.

  2. Zoom to 1:1 (or 2:1 for tiny specs) with Z.

  3. Choose Heal or Clone mode (Heal now blends more smoothly in v14.5).

  4. Adjust brush size with [ and ], then click on each backscatter spot.

  5. Use H to toggle visibility of the overlay pins if needed.

📸 Why It Works: This method gives you complete manual control. The improved healing algorithm produces cleaner edges around high-contrast details like dive masks or strobe arms, making it my go-to for macro nudibranch shots or bluewater backgrounds with minimal movement.

🧠 Method 2: AI Object Selection + Invert Mask - Target Background Only

Best For: Isolating a subject (diver, turtle, seahorse) and targeting backscatter behind it.

Steps:

  1. Press Shift + W to enter the Masking Panel.

  2. Use Select Background (new in v14.5) for one-click isolation, or Select Object / Select Subject for finer control.

  3. Invert if needed to switch from subject to background.

  4. Reduce Texture (-30 to -50) and Clarity (-10 to -20) to soften particle visibility.

📸 Why It Works: The new background detection is more accurate at separating divers from water, even with gear or bubbles in frame. Ideal for portraits where particle clutter competes with the subject.

🌗 Method 3: Luminance Range Masking — Remove Bright Backscatter

Best For: Backscatter in sunbeams or evenly lit bluewater.

Steps:

  1. Press Shift + W to open Masking.

  2. Select Luminance Range and click the bright area of the water.

  3. Narrow the range to target white specs only (around 70–100).

  4. Reduce Whites (-15), Contrast (-10), and Sharpness (-20) to mute the dots.

📸 Why It Works: Now in Lightroom Mobile v9.5, luminance masking lets you run this same background particle cleanup on the boat between dives. No more waiting until you're back at a desktop.

🔄 Method 4: Combine AI Masking + Spot Removal for Batch Cleanup

Best For: Dive series with repetitive backgrounds or consistent lighting.

Steps:

  1. Mask the Background or Invert Subject.

  2. Apply clarity/texture reduction to minimize particle contrast.

  3. Use Spot Removal for distracting specks.

  4. Save your adjustments as a Mask Preset (v14.5+) called "Backscatter Cleanup."

  5. Apply this preset or Sync Settings (Ctrl+Shift+S) across similar shots.

📸 Why It Works: You can now save your exact mask setup for reuse across trips, which means consistent results without rebuilding masks every time.

✨ Method 5: Lightroom Mobile - On-the-Go Cleanup

Best For: Editing while traveling light.

Steps:

  1. Open your shot in Lightroom Mobile (v9.5).

  2. Tap the Healing Tool to remove obvious spots.

  3. Use Masking > Select Background or Luminance Range to soften visible particles in bright water.

📸 Why It Works: Mobile now supports both background detection and luminance targeting, so you can run nearly the same cleanup workflow anywhere.

Example: Removing Backscatter from a Diver in Blue Water

🎯 Scenario: A wide-angle diver portrait with backscatter on both diver and water.

Step 1: Select the Diver

  • Shift + W > Select Subject, refined in v14.5 for better gear/bubble detection.

  • Name mask "Diver - Cleanup."

Step 2: Clean Diver with Spot Removal

  • Q, Heal mode, feather ~70, click on white specks.

  • Improved blending in v14.5 reduces haloing on high-contrast edges.

Step 3: Invert to Select Background

  • Texture -40, Clarity -15, optional Dehaze -5.

  • Maintains detail while lowering particle visibility.

Step 4: Luminance Range for Bright Specs

  • Target 70–100 luminance values.

  • Reduce Whites/Contrast/Sharpness.

Step 5: Save & Sync

  • Save as "Backscatter Cleanup" mask preset.

  • Sync to other shots for batch cleanup.

🧭 Manual vs AI: When to Use Each

SituationManual (Spot Removal)AI / Auto Tools
Macro shots on sand✅🔸 Background softening only
Diver portraits✅ + Invert Mask combo✅ Background clarity adjustment
Bluewater ambient scenes🔸 Luminance Mask✅ Background AI cleanup
Large batch with similar lighting🔸 Time-intensive✅ Mask Preset + Batch Sync
Mobile usage✅ Quick clone✅ AI Mask + Luminance Mask

📂 Compatible File Formats

  • RAW (DNG, NEF, ARW, CR3) - Best flexibility

  • JPEG - Fully supported

  • TIFF / PSD - After Photoshop round-trips

  • HEIC / HEIF - Supported in latest Lightroom builds

  • Compressed RAW formats like Canon C-RAW & Nikon HE* are now fully compatible with these masking and healing tools.

💡 Pro Tip: Always shoot and edit in RAW for maximum flexibility.

🌟 Final Thoughts: Embrace the Cleanup, Not the Clutter

Backscatter can be pretty frustrating, especially for those just starting out in underwater photography. It's a common issue that can make your beautiful underwater shots look speckled and less professional. However, it's important to remember that backscatter is far from unfixable. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can significantly improve your images.

Thanks to the continuously evolving toolkit in Lightroom, addressing backscatter has become easier and more effective. Features like AI masking, range masking, and advanced healing tools allow you to target and remove tiny distractions quickly and precisely. These innovations give you more flexibility than ever before, making the editing process both accessible and rewarding.

As you surface from each dive and review your shots, don't be quick to dismiss images that appear speckled or imperfect. Instead, see them as opportunities for learning and improvement. With some targeted adjustments, such as applying spot healing or adjusting masking settings, you can transform those photos into stunning, portfolio-worthy images that truly capture the clarity, vibrant colors, and beauty of your underwater adventures.

Remember, every photographer encounters challenges, and persistence combined with these modern editing tools will help you create awe-inspiring underwater images that stand out. Keep experimenting, stay patient, and enjoy the journey of evolving your underwater photography skills.

- Bob Herb
📷 info.robertherb.com/lm-2-blog

🐠 Ready to Dive Deeper?

Enroll in my upcoming training series to learn these techniques and more. Email me at bob@robertherb.com

🧭 What's Next?

🟦 Have you tried any of these techniques yet? Share your edits using #RobertHerbPhotography.
🟦 Want to see these workflows in action? Sign up for my upcoming training course at RobertHerb.com or reach out at bob@robertherb.com
🟦 And don't forget—new blogs drop weekly at Robert Herb Photography Blog

Until next time… dive deep, shoot smart, and let Lightroom bring your vision to the surface.

Written by Robert Herb – Empowering underwater photographers to capture and enhance the beauty of our oceans since 1978

Stay tuned for more in-depth insights into underwater photography. Let's dive deeper into the art and craft of capturing the marine world! If you have any comments or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Get ready for an exciting underwater photography adventure! For more details on my upcoming online training course, check out my "Training" page at RobertHerb.com or email me at bob@robertherb.com.

I am eagerly anticipating your valuable feedback and suggestions. 

Sincerely, 

Bob Herb

photo
Robert Herb
Robert Herb Photography

+1 (714) 594-9262‬  |  +504 9784-0024  |  www.RobertHerb.com

Bob@robertherb.com  |  Roatan, HN or Aliso Viejo, CA (USA)


facebookinstagram

Location: Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras

Comments

Post a Comment

Please let me know your comments.

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

Follow "Robert Herb Photography Blog / Tips & Tricks"

The Most Popular Posts from This Blog!

The Importance of Strobes in Underwater Photography from Robert Herb Photography

By Robert Herb Photography
Image
The Importance of Strobes in Underwater Photography from Robert Herb Photography Underwater photography can be a stunning and captivating way to capture the beauty and mystery of the world beneath the waves. But taking great underwater photos requires a unique set of skills and equipment. One essential piece of gear that every underwater photographer should have in their kit is a strobe. A strobe is a powerful flash that provides additional light for underwater photography. It is designed to simulate natural sunlight, which can be scarce or diffused in the underwater environment. Without a strobe, your photos may appear dark, blurry, and lack contrast and color. There are several reasons why strobes are essential in underwater photography. Here are just a few: 1.     Overcoming the limitations of natural light - The further you descend underwater; the less light is available to illuminate your subject. This can make it difficult to capture the vibrant colors and fin...
Read more

Some Basic Steps to Use for Processing Underwater Photos Using Lightroom from Robert Herb Photography

By Robert Herb Photography
Image
Underwater photo processing can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can easily edit your underwater photos in Lightroom to bring out the best in them. Here are a few things to keep in mind when editing underwater photos: Adjust the exposure.  Underwater photos are often underexposed, so it's important to adjust the exposure to make them brighter. You can do this by increasing the exposure slider in the Develop panel. Remove backscatter.  Backscatter is the tiny particles of plankton and other debris that can be seen in underwater photos. It can be a nuisance, but it's easy to remove. Simply use the Spot Removal tool to select the backscatter and then click the Delete button. Adjust the white balance.  The white balance of underwater photos can be affected by the color of the water. To adjust the white balance, use the White Balance tool to select a neutral reference point. You can do this by clicking on a piece of white co...
Read more

A Beginner's Guide to Underwater Macro Photography

By Robert Herb Photography
Image
Introduction: Beneath the ocean's surface lies an enchanting realm awaiting exploration through the lens of a camera. Among the various techniques available, underwater macro photography emerges as a captivating and rewarding option, especially for beginners. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the nuances of macro photography, exploring its distinctions from wide-angle approaches, the advantages of starting with macro, and how even budget-friendly cameras or smartphones can yield impressive results. Decoding the Depths of Macro Photography Underwater: Macro photography involves the intimate capture of small subjects, bringing to light intricate details often overlooked by the naked eye. Transcending onto the underwater canvas, this technique allows photographers to venture into the microcosm of marine life, unveiling the vibrant colors and unique textures of diminutive creatures such as nudibranchs, shrimp, and coral polyps. Divergence from Wide-Angle Photogr...
Read more