Lightroom edits photos from words: specify the change and check what must stay

On September 29, 2026, Adobe released Lightroom desktop 9.6, adding Prompt to Edit. Choose an example prompt or describe how you want to restore, retouch or transform a photo, then generate an edited result.

The official guide labels it an early-access feature. It is part of Lightroom desktop; Lightroom Classic, mobile and web should not be treated as having the same entry point.

For some edits, this shifts the starting question from “Which tool do I click?” to “What should change in this photo?” You still need to compare the generated result with the original. A clear request does not guarantee that every detail will be preserved accurately.

Start by saying what the result should look like

Consider an old photograph of a building with obvious white scratches. You may know what needs fixing without knowing how to combine repair tools. A text entry lets you state both the change and what must remain, then inspect the result. It can be a starting point for exploring restoration or color adjustments.

The useful part is not writing a very long prompt. It is specifying both what to change and what not to change. “Fix this photo” does not explain how much the address lettering, building outline or black-and-white appearance matters to you. Including those constraints still expresses a request, not a substitute for checking.

Clear details in a generated image do not prove that those details existed in the original scene. For a family keepsake or creative presentation, retain the original and choose a version you like. For historical identification, evidence or precise records, do not treat model-generated texture as an original fact.

Install or update Lightroom desktop through Adobe's official entry, sign in with your Adobe ID and confirm an applicable subscription or trial. The official FAQ distinguishes the desktop trial from the paid full version. This feature remains in early access; check the panel's generation-credit balance rather than treating installation as unlimited use.

1. Open the photo. In its detail view, choose Prompt to Edit on the left or from the View menu. Start with a photo you have permission to edit and whose original you have retained.
2. Specify the change and what must stay. Select an example such as Fix dust and scratches, then adapt the Prompt text. A trial request: “Reduce the white scratches while preserving the building outline, address lettering and black-and-white appearance. Do not add people.” These are acceptance criteria, not guaranteed results.
3. Check output settings and credits. The guide lists Nano Banana 2 in 2K or 4K. The credit icon shows the remaining balance. Create stack groups the result with the original, but grouping currently works only in Cloud.
4. Generate and compare. Select Generate, then find the resulting DNG beside the original or in its stack. Compare scratches, address lettering, window edges and the building's shape. If something that should remain has changed, adjust the request and retry or keep the original.

The full guide also supports saving customized prompts. Before reuse, replace any preservation conditions that do not fit the new image. DNG is the generated result's file format here, not proof that the result was captured directly by a camera.