Lightroom Prompt to Edit: 5 Easy Prompts to Change Your Photo

Does your photo have a dull sky, old scratches or a distracting background? The Prompt to Edit feature in Lightroom desktop takes a written instruction to change the photo. This instruction is called a prompt. Below, you will first see how to make one simple edit, then five prompt ideas to choose from for your own photo.

Cover illustration made with AI — not an actual Lightroom editing result.

4 October 2026 update: Adobe describes this as an early-access feature of Lightroom desktop. The output options include 2K and 4K choices for Nano Banana 2. Do not assume the same option exists on mobile or in Lightroom Classic. See the current steps in Adobe’s official guide.

What you need

Access to the feature in desktop Lightroom, a photo you have permission to edit, and a safe copy of the original. This guide does not promise free or unlimited generation. Check your available credit balance in the app before you generate.

First edit: turn the sky into a natural sunset

Choose an outdoor photo where the sky is clearly visible. Instead of changing the face, clothes, sky and background all at once, work only on the sky first. This makes the result easier to compare.

1. Open the photo in Lightroom and select Prompt to Edit from the left panel.
2. Paste the sunset prompt below into the Prompt field.
3. In the output settings, choose an available model and resolution; then press Generate.
4. Compare the new image with the original. According to Adobe, the generated result comes as a DNG file.

Choose a prompt for your photo

These are five separate choices; you do not need to run them one after another. The prompts are suggested starting points. The AI may give a different result depending on your photo.

1. Natural sunset sky

Replace only the dull sky with a soft natural sunset. Match the direction of light in the original photo. Preserve the buildings, trees, people and their facial features. Keep the colours believable, without an orange filter over the whole image.

How to use a prompt →

If the photo was taken at midday and has strong shadows, a dramatic sunset may look unnatural. In that case, replace “soft natural sunset” with “soft lightly clouded blue sky”.

2. Scratches on an old photo

Reduce visible dust and scratches in this old photograph. Preserve the original composition, faces, clothing and small meaningful details. Keep natural texture and gentle grain. Do not invent missing facial details or make the image look like a modern studio portrait.

How to use a prompt →

Do not assume the AI will correctly recover missing detail. In a family photo, always compare the eyes, jewellery and clothing patterns with the original.

3. Remove a dustbin from the background

Remove the small dustbin in the background. Fill that area naturally using the surrounding ground and wall. Preserve the main subject, their face and clothing, and the original lighting. Do not remove other objects.

How to use a prompt →

If there is no dustbin in your photo, replace “small dustbin” with the actual unwanted object, such as “red plastic chair”. Target one object at a time.

4. Soft colour for a black-and-white photo

Add subtle, believable colour to this black-and-white photograph. Keep the original faces, composition and texture. Use restrained colours and natural skin tones. Avoid overly saturated clothing or a modern glossy look.

How to use a prompt →

This is a creative colour interpretation. The AI does not automatically know the original colour of the clothes in an old photo. If you know the colour, write it clearly in the prompt.

5. Distracting wall marks in a portrait

Clean the distracting stains on the wall behind the person. Preserve the person's face, hair, skin texture and clothing. Keep the wall's original colour and the existing light and shadows. Do not smooth or retouch the person's skin.

How to use a prompt →

Before you save the result

Zoom in on the image and look at the face, fingers, hair edges and straight lines. Do not accept it only because you like the overall colour. If unwanted changes appear, try a smaller edit again from the original; check your credit balance before generating again and again.

Save the final photo with Lightroom’s normal export option and open the saved file to check it. Keep the original separate, so you can compare later or make a different edit.

Cannot see the option?

First check that you are using desktop Lightroom and that the app is updated. Early access availability may be different in your setup. If you cannot find the button, do not force these steps in an unrelated mobile tool; see the official guide and the app’s help options.

If the face changes, read the guide to keeping the face consistent in AI edits.

Want a different look?Build your own prompt — pick the outfit, background and lighting, then copy it in one tap.

Open Prompt Builder