ON1 Learning Center
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ON1 Photo RAW is a blazingly fast RAW photo editor that enables you to create amazing photos. Its Effects module is a major component of my photography workflow. Whether you are looking for a standalone editor or a plugin to your existing workflow, you will be thrilled with the results from ON1 Products. To help you get started, this page has a series of FREE tutorials to get you moving quickly. You'll quickly be creating fantastic photos of your own.
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The ON1 Masking Panel generates more questions than almost any other feature in Photo RAW. Here's the funny thing: most photographers don't actually need to use it.
A subtle color shift can completely change the mood of a landscape photo. In this new ON1 Effects tutorial, I build a cool-toned Winter Chill look that better matches the cold, misty feeling of the scene.
Fog is easy to add—but making it look natural takes more control than a single filter. Use Depth Mask in ON1 Effects to shape atmosphere with distance and bring realism back into the scene.
Want to edit foreground and background separately without brushing? In this video, I show how ON1’s Depth Mask lets you apply contrast up close and glow in the distance using a single slider—perfect for deep scenes like slot canyons.
Selective detail can make or break a black and white photograph. In this video, I show how to focus attention where it matters most while keeping the rest of the image soft and cohesive.
This image is packed with beautiful detail—but it needs a thoughtful touch to shine. I’ll show how Dynamic Contrast and Tone Enhancer in ON1 bring out texture and structure without pushing the photo too far.
Learn how to brighten highlights in reflections without affecting the shadows or midtones. In this tutorial, I walk through a precise masking approach using a luminosity mask and a brush tool to keep the adjustment clean and natural.
The new Depth Lighting filter in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 lets you shape light with incredible realism — no manual masking required.
The new Intersect mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 makes it simple to craft precise, detailed masks in seconds. Learn how to combine multiple selections to isolate exactly where your adjustments apply — with total control and minimal effort.
ON1 Photo RAW 2026 takes masking to the next level with the all-new Mask Layers. Learn how to combine, refine, and control each mask component independently for precise, creative adjustments in your landscapes.
Add energy and flow to your photos with the new Motion filter in ON1 Photo RAW 2026. With Pan, Zoom, and Twist modes, you can simulate dynamic camera movements and blend motion beautifully into your still images — all with precise control over what stays sharp and what moves.
ON1 Training
11th Edition - Revised for ON1 Photo RAW 2024
Organize, edit, and share your photos with ON1 Photo RAW. This well-illustrated, no-nonsense book explains everything you need to learn ON1 Photo RAW. It is the most comprehensive book on Photo RAW out there.
ON1 Photo RAW Essentials: The Photographer’s Guide To Learning ON1 Photo RAW 2024
ON1 Effects and its 30+ filters make it easy to add style and create the mood you want for your images. The 10 learn-by-example tutorials show you how to get more pop with contrast, audition and blend LUTs, correct color casts, and more.
Adding Style With ON1 Effects will help you craft your signature style and tell your story.
ON1 Tutorial Series
The Exclusion blending mode is a challenging one to explain without diving into math. And I won’t do that. Instead, I’ll show you how to use it for color grading.
Difference, as its name suggests, measures differences between two layers. I use this blending mode when I need to manually align layers.
If an ON1 Effects filter shifts color in an unwanted way, try using the Luminosity blending mode. Luminosity deals only with brightness values, protecting your photo’s hue and saturation.
The contrast increase from Vivid Light is a strong one and can overpower a scene. Temper its Opacity - and try it out for color grading (my preferred use for this blending mode).
The Soft Light blending mode has a more subdued touch than the Overlay mode. I like this mode for subtler texture blends.
The Overlay blending mode is one you should know. An excellent way to pop contrast and blend exposures, it is one of the most popular blending modes.
Color Dodge is a useful blending mode for creative and unique color grading. Its results can be harder to predict, so do be prepared for some experimentation.
Take your cityscape photos to a new level with a little field prep and the Lighten blending mode.
The default blending mode of Normal makes no special changes to the pixels in a layer. It is perfect for exposure blending and double-exposure looks.
The blending modes in ON1 change the way filters and layers interact with one another. They can be mysterious. Join me for a series of videos and articles that show practical uses for blending modes.
The new Intersect mode in ON1 Photo RAW 2026 makes it simple to craft precise, detailed masks in seconds. Learn how to combine multiple selections to isolate exactly where your adjustments apply — with total control and minimal effort.
ON1 Photo RAW 2026 takes masking to the next level with the all-new Mask Layers. Learn how to combine, refine, and control each mask component independently for precise, creative adjustments in your landscapes.
My favorite feature of ON1 Photo RAW 2025 is Depth Masks. These masks open up new, creative ways to select and adjust elements in your photos. Learn how you can take advantage of them.
Presets are great because they speed up workflow. And yes! You can incorporate masks into your presets - though there are some guidelines to follow.
Masks usually need a little refinement to finish them off. ON1's Refine Group has you covered.
Yes, you can combine the ON1 masking tools and create amazing, intricate masks with ease. However, the order in which you use the masking tools matters.
The Sky Swap AI for sky replacement arrived in Photo RAW 2022. Did you know those AI smarts can be used to quickly create masks for skies, too?
Luminosity masks kick the doors wide open for expertly-nuanced and creative edits. I want to help you understand them.
Use the Color Range mask option in any filter or adjustment to quickly make a mask that matches a color in your photo.
The Line Mask is the perfect masking tool for straight-edged subjects like architecture. But don’t let the Line Mask fool you! It has uses beyond cookie cutter shapes.
Creatively blend layers, stamp silhouettes, and watermark your photos using Custom Brushes in ON1.
For precision brush strokes, turn on the Perfect Brush in the ON1 Masking Tool for edge detection.
Confused about opacity and flow in the ON1 Masking Brush? Give me 6 minutes, I’ll explain.
Make hand-painted masks using the Masking Brush in ON1. I’ll show you all the controls and options.
Target subjects and create off-camera lighting accents using the Center and Edges shapes of the ON1 Masking Bug.
Mask horizontal or vertical sweeps of your photo quickly in ON1 using the Reflected Gradient shape of the Masking Bug tool.
Mask large areas of your photo quickly in ON1 using the Gradient shape of the Masking Bug tool.
The first article in a mini-series about masking in ON1 tools including ON1 Photo RAW and ON1 Effects.
What if your mask selects the right subject, but you don’t want the adjustment applied evenly across all of it?
In this tutorial, I combine an AI mask with a gradient using Intersect mode in ON1 Photo RAW. The result keeps the adjustment confined to the mountains while letting its strength fade naturally across the scene.