This is a very close to launch preview of the beta version of ON1 Photo Raw 2026. There may be slight differences between this version and the released version, and this preview will be updated as a review on release of ON1 Photo Raw 2026. I have put many hours into testing this software, and I use it for my professional work, as well as for my own personal work
The world of photography is constantly evolving, and keeping your editing software up-to-date is crucial for taking advantage of the latest technological advancements. For users of ON1 Photo RAW 2025, the question is not if to upgrade, but when to embrace the new features offered in the latest release of ON1 Photo RAW. This newest version delivers significant improvements, primarily powered by next-generation AI, that streamline your workflow, enhance creative control, and elevate your final images.
Here is a comprehensive look at what the latest ON1 Photo RAW offers over its 2025 predecessor and why you should consider making the switch.
The Evolution of AI and Masking: Precision Redefined
While ON1 Photo RAW 2025 boasted impressive AI tools, the current version takes subject selection and masking to a whole new level of precision and flexibility, especially with complex subjects.
1. Next-Generation AI Masking Engine
The core improvement lies in a fundamentally enhanced AI masking engine. The latest ON1 Photo RAW produces sharper, more accurate edges on the most challenging details, such as hair, fine tree branches, smoke, or fog.
- One-Click Subject & Background Masks: Creating accurate masks for your subject or background is now faster and more effortless than ever before.
- Improved AI Edge Quality: This refinement means fewer manual touch-ups, saving you significant time in complex edits and composites.
2. All-New Mask Layers
A major architectural leap in the newest version is the introduction of Mask Layers. Previously, complex masking often required multiple steps and workarounds. Now, you can:
- Stack, Combine, or Subtract multiple masks for each layer or filter.
- Independent Controls: Each mask layer gets its own refine controls (density, feather, levels), offering unparalleled non-destructive control for intricate selections.
Creative Control and Artistic Filters
The effects module—a long-time favourite feature of ON1 users—has been expanded with powerful new creative filters and workflow enhancements.
3. New Creative Effects Filters
The latest ON1 Photo RAW introduces several unique filters that unlock new artistic possibilities:
- Depth Lighting: This filter uses AI-powered depth analysis to independently adjust the lighting and colour of the foreground and background, allowing you to emphasize your subject and create cinematic depth.
- Split Field: Simulates a split-diopter lens effect, which can enlarge or bring backgrounds closer without distorting wide-angle foregrounds—perfect for landscape photography.
- Double Exposure: A quick and easy way to blend two images together for artistic, layered compositions.
- Motion Filter: Helps simulate a camera motion or motion blur effect, useful for adding drama or conveying speed.
4. Effects Workflow Enhancements
The editing workflow has been refined for speed and personalization:
- Filter Favourites & Search: Quickly find your go-to filters and hide unused ones for a cleaner, faster workflow.
- Starting Point Presets: Apply a base look or your favourite filter stack with a single click at the start of your edit, allowing for consistent results and faster editing.
Integrated Power: Resize AI 2026 Built-In
In a significant move for print and high-resolution photographers, ON1 Resize AI 2026 is now fully integrated into the main ON1 Photo RAW application (previously a separate application or process). This integration brings the industry-leading photo enlargement technology directly into your non-destructive workflow.
- Highest Quality AI Model: This new model utilizes generative AI to expertly recreate fine detail, restore sharpness, and turn small, noisy images into high-quality enlargements up to 10x with remarkably natural results.
- Standard AI Model: Optimized for batch processing, offering speed while still delivering superior enlargement results.
Essential Workflow and Performance Updates
Beyond the major features, the current ON1 Photo RAW includes numerous quality-of-life and technical improvements:
- Native Grayscale Support: Better handling and editing capabilities for images from dedicated grayscale cameras or scanned monochrome files.
- Negative Mode: A dedicated mode for photographers digitizing film negatives with DSLRs, which automatically inverts and colour-corrects scans.
- UI Improvements: Customizable workspaces, with the ability to dock popular panels on either side and float tool panes, offering greater control over your editing environment.
- Expanded Camera Support: Continual addition of support for the latest camera models, ensuring your newest RAW files open correctly and quickly.
ON1 Photo RAW 2026 represents a substantial upgrade over the 2025 edition, driven by advancements in its AI platform. The new Mask Layers and built-in Resize AI 2026 are arguably the two most compelling reasons for an immediate upgrade, promising to save photographers hours of work while delivering higher-quality results. The new creative filters and enhanced edge detection simply solidify its position as one of the most powerful all-in-one photo editors on the market.
For photographers serious about efficiency, non-destructive control, and staying ahead of the curve with cutting-edge AI tools, the upgrade to the latest ON1 Photo RAW is a necessary and highly valuable investment.
Conclusion
In my usage, ON1 Photo Raw 2026 (Beta 1 & 2) have been pretty stable, with only a few minor crashes. The performance of 2026 seems a little faster than 2025, at least in Beta state (this could well change in the release versions). I find the masking to be much more accurate than it was in ON1 2025, although there is still room for improvement.
I still find that ON1 Photo Raw 2026 lacks behind other software when it comes to AI generative fill tasks, although it is improved over previous versions. I also noticed that the portrait module seems to have been neglected yet again. Maybe there have been a few tweaks, but in my tests, I can not say that I have seen anything revolutionary that lets me see there is a difference.
My laptop that I have used for this preview has an AMD Ryzen 7 5000 series, with 16GB RAM and an RTX3050 graphics card. This configuration plays perfectly and effectively with other software such as Adobe products, Luminar Neo, DXO and Darktable.
If you would like to purchase the software, you can use this link here.
One Camera One Lens Photography 
I appreciate your detailed description and impressions of ON1 PR 2026. I’ve been impressed with it since 2017, and have been upgrading each year (buying the version, rather than subscribing.) I’ve enjoyed their continued feature development and bug fixes.
I agree with you that their Portrait module has stagnated. Their face-recognition has been surprisingly slow, and misses faces often. The reconstruction/restoration is significantly inferior to TopazLabs regarding this.
ON1 emphasis continues to be on new images, and preference for raw files. I do a lot of image restoring from scanned prints, slides and negatives. I often help friends with their images which are predominantly JPG with some newer Apple phones generating HEIC files. I still find ON1 PR insufficient, and I call up Photoshop Elements 14 (the last version I bought) for some handling of dust, creases, cracks, tears and re-filling missing areas.
Even with my complaining there’s plenty I still find worthwhile with ON1 PR.
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Thank you. Although I use ON1 as a primary editor for work, I too, pop across to other programs. It would be perfect if ON1 done everything, and since everything well… I’m sure in time, certain areas will be addressed.
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ON1 definitely earns its spot among the top-tier editors these days. I haven’t used or tested it myself (I’m a hopeless RawTherapee addict, after all 😉), but based on what I’ve seen and read in AI comparisons and performance analyses, your conclusions seem spot-on. A pity there’s no Linux version, which already makes it a no-go for me. Still, it’s a solid piece of software – not cheap, but reasonably priced compared to the heavyweights. You do need a capable machine to make it shine, that’s for sure. Well-written and genuinely interesting review, Mark.
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I have been an On1 PhotoRaw user for many years. It has a great many excellent features, but it is a memory hog and has become virtually unusable for me with an M2 Mac Mini that I was advised to buy by On1‘s support tech. After a year and a half of going around and around with this guy, who insists that everything is fine and won’t admit that he gave me bad advice, I am completely fed up with this company. They used to be good, but no more.
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I have been active in the ON1 community for a while, and I have noticed some have had issues. I use Windows, and not had any problems at all with ON1, but I do understand your frustrations.
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