ON1 Press Releases

ON1 Announces Photo RAW 2026 with Advanced AI Tools, Masking Layers, and New Creative Filters

September 2, 2025

September 2, 2025 – Portland, OR — ON1 Inc. is excited to announce ON1 Photo RAW 2026, the latest version of its all-in-one RAW photo editor for professionals and enthusiasts. The new release, officially available this fall, delivers next-generation enhancements to three of the most-used editing areas—Resize AI, Masking, and Effects—while also introducing user experience updates, grayscale support, and expanded camera compatibility.

“Photo RAW 2026 isn’t just about adding new features,” said Dan Harlacher, VP of Product at ON1. “It’s about improving the core tools photographers rely on every day and making AI editing more flexible and reliable. From stunning super-resolution to the most accurate masks we’ve ever shipped, this release brings real-world value to every customer.”

Masking Overhaul: More Power, Easier to Use

The biggest masking update since Super Select AI gives photographers more control and speed when selecting and adjusting parts of an image. They can work faster, make more accurate selections, and achieve better results with less effort. The update includes:

One-click Subject & Background Masks: Photographers can easily isolate subjects or backgrounds for targeted adjustments.
New Mask Layers: Users can stack, combine, or subtract multiple masks for each layer or filter, providing full control without destructive edits.
Improved AI Edge Quality: Cleaner edges around hair, branches, and other complex shapes reduce the need for manual touch-ups.

New Effects & Filters: More Creativity, Less Complexity

ON1’s most popular module, Effects, is now easier and faster to use. Four all-new filters have been added, along with workflow improvements that help photographers find their favorites quicker, start with the look they want, and enjoy a smoother editing process from start to finish. The upgrade includes:

Depth Lighting: Adjust lighting and color of the foreground and background to emphasize subjects.
Split Field: Simulates a split diopter effect to enlarge backgrounds without losing wide-angle foregrounds.
Double Exposure: Allows photographers to quickly blend subjects with artistic backgrounds.
Motion Filter: Adds realistic camera movement (ICM) after the shot.
Favorites and Search in Add Filter Dialog: Customers can tag go-to filters, hide unused ones, and streamline filter selection.
Starting Point Presets: Offers options to mimic the look of Adobe® Lightroom® or Capture One®, or to set a personal default stack.

Resize AI 2026 — Now Fully Integrated in Photo RAW 2026

With Photo RAW 2026, Resize AI 2026 is built directly into the core application, giving every customer access to ON1’s most advanced super-resolution technology without needing a separate app or plugin.

Two brand-new AI models headline the integration:

2026 Highest Quality Model – A state-of-the-art generative AI model that recreates fine details, restores sharpness, and removes noise and artifacts from even the smallest or lowest-quality images. Perfect for extreme crops, AI-generated art, or vintage photos that need restoration.
2026 Standard Model – Optimized for speed and batch work, this model still outperforms previous versions when dealing with noisy or compressed input, making it ideal for large projects and older GPUs.

Photographers can now enlarge images, clean up noise, and add creative edits while keeping their workflows fully non-destructive.

“I have used a trial of ON1 Resize 2026 applied to various types of image from portraits to landscape and I am very impressed. Whilst I have used ON1 PhotoRaw for most of my editing since 2018, I have been using Topaz Photo AI for some years specifically for upscaling as the previous version of ON1 Resize introduced odd textured artifacts on smooth surfaces. My tests show this has been eliminated and the newest version of ON1 Resize 2026 BEATS Topaz by a country mile,” says Chris, a happy ON1 customer.

Other New Features and Experience Improvements

Beyond the major upgrades, Photo RAW 2026 includes a range of improvements designed to make editing faster, smoother, and more customizable for photographers. These updates benefit everything from working with older photos to personalizing the workspace. Highlights include:

Negative Mode: Ideal for photographers digitizing film negatives with interchangeable lens cameras—automatically inverts and color-corrects scans.
Grayscale Support: Native support for editing grayscale images from legacy cameras and scans.
UI Improvements: Popular panels can be docked on either side, tool panes floated, and workspaces customized with more control.
Improved Perspective Tools: Separate controls for horizontal and vertical keystoning, with automatic scaling to eliminate blank edges.
First-Run Experience: A guided onboarding process that helps new users, especially those migrating from other platforms, get started faster.
Expanded Camera Support: Sony RX1R III, Alpha 6400A, DSC-RX100M7A, OM System OM-5 II, Fujifilm X-E5, Panasonic Lumix DC-S1IIE, DMC-GX7MK2, DC-G97, DC-ZS99/TZ99, and more.

Price and Availability for This Fall

Customers can pre-order ON1 Photo RAW 2026 today at a special reduced price and begin using Photo RAW 2025 right away, with the upgrade to the 2026 version included at no additional cost when it is released this fall. ON1 Photo RAW 2026 provides a complete standalone photo editor, while the MAX Edition expands functionality by allowing photographers to run Photo RAW and all its tools as plugins inside Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Apple Photos, Capture One, Affinity Photo, and Corel PaintShop Pro. The MAX Edition is also available through the Photo RAW MAX Subscription and the Everything Plus Subscription, which include future upgrades along with additional ON1 apps. A free 30-day trial will also be available at launch.

For photographers seeking a fast, powerful, and affordable Lightroom alternative with AI photo editing and non-destructive workflows, ON1 Photo RAW 2026 delivers a compelling option.