AI Is Changing Photo Editing: Zoner Photo Studio X Simplifies Masking and Working with Light

8. April 2025 | News Press Releases The Zoner Photo Studio X Spring Update brings major improvements that significantly speed up and refine photo editing. The key new feature is enhanced masking, where AI automatically detects key elements in an image, allowing users to edit them instantly. With this update, ZPS X continues to demonstrate that world-class tools are being developed in Czech software labs at a remarkably accessible price.  

AI-powered masks let you get right to editing

Previously, selecting objects in photos had to be done manually. Now, AI-powered Masking Tools automatically detect and select people, backgrounds, skies, and other essential parts of an image. “This makes selection much faster and allows for more detailed editing,” says Jan Kupčík, product manager for Zoner Photo Studio X. “In just seconds, the photographer can brighten a subject’s face, darken the sky, or fine-tune colors selectively.”

All local adjustments can now be applied to masks and easily added or subtracted as needed. What does this mean? For example, you can adjust the color of the water’s surface without affecting the boat floating on it. Or, if you want to make the boat stand out, you can quickly select it and use Masking Tools for precise adjustments. Instead of complex selection, you simply click and AI performs the operation for you. Instead of spending hours carefully selecting the sky from between tree branches or selecting any other object, AI now handles the heaving lifting so you can focus on creative adjustments instead.

Quickly edit an entire series of images

Users will love the ability to transfer masks they’ve created to multiple photos, such as those in a documentary or wedding series. AI adapts to the new composition of each image, saving time on repetitive editing.

“With this new feature, users can skip the tedious clicking and object selection for every photo in an album. Instead, they can edit an entire series with just one click,” explains Jan Kupčík of Zoner Photo Studio X.

More flexible masking and greater control over light

The new masking system allows users to combine different masking tools within a single adjustment. This means more control and a clearer workflow. In addition to AI-powered selections, the spring update enhances masking based on brightness levels and color range. This allows users to:

• Target brightening and darkening of specific areas without affecting the rest of the image, ideal for high-contrast photos.
• Perform selective color adjustments without manually selecting individual subjects, perfect for refining highlights and shadows in skin tones by adjusting orange hues.

New tools for showcasing your photography

The Spring Update also makes it easier to present your photography on social media. In ZPS X, users can now create dynamic collages, including carousels. A single photo can be split across multiple canvases for a seamless transition between images. The same technique can be used to design an eye-catching feed by dividing one image into multiple sections.

Another great addition is the ability to spread a photo across multiple prints, making it simple to create diptychs or triptychs. These layouts can be designed quickly and easily right in ZPS X.

Support for HEIF and HEVC formats

The update also introduces support for the increasingly popular HEIF and HEVC formats, widely used by modern cameras and smartphones. Users can now easily view, edit, and export these files—including HDR outputs. With comprehensive format support, HEIF and HEVC images can be opened in ZPS X regardless of the device they were captured on.

Precision in the details: Fine-tune highlights and new Chromatic Aberration effect

The spring update includes even more improvements for precise editing control:

• Lights and Shadows Clarity—Clarity can now be adjusted separately for highlights and shadows, allowing for refined contrast adjustments without affecting the entire image.
• Chromatic Aberration—A new option under Effects, inspired by the cinematic world, adds a trendy color fringing to contrasting edges, giving photos a vintage, analog look.

Update availability

The Zoner Photo Studio X Spring Update is available starting today for all users as part of their subscription. New users can try ZPS X free for seven days at www.zoner.com. A one-year license is available at an affordable price that is significantly lower than competing photo editing software.

About ZONER Inc.

ZONER Inc. is a Czech technology company specializing in software development for photo editing and management. Its flagship product, Zoner Photo Studio X, is quickly gaining popularity in international markets.