Backlit portraits can leave your subject too dark while the background looks perfect. In this tip, learn how to use Depth Masking and Depth Lighting in ON1 Photo RAW to fix that instantly. Brighten your subject without blowing out the background or creating messy halos. It’s a fast, natural-looking way to take your portraits from flat to polished.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to relight a backlit portrait without overexposing the background

  • Why masking is more effective than global adjustments for this scenario

  • How to use the Depth Lighting filter for quick, natural results

  • How to control foreground and background separately for better subject separation

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2026ON1 Photo RAWIntermediate / AdvancedDylan KoteckiEffectsDevelopTips & TechniquesEditExposure & LightFilters, Effects, StylingMasking & SelectionsPortraitsLocal