LRC Ai Denoise issues

Discussions
1

I’m using Lightroom Classic and have tried to use the Ai noise reduction. In the preview the non-enhanced view comes up but the “enhanced” view is a blank screen. If I go ahead and hit the enhance button anyway I get a message that the enhancement failed because of an unknown error. Any ideas about what’s going on?

2

Not sure, Bill. I just tried it on my Windows 11 machine and it worked fine, albeit rather slowly. I don’t normally use it as I prefer DxO’s PureRaw. It’s not outrageously expensive and I’ve always had good results, plus you get optical corrections built in since that’s where they got their start.

3

Here’s some things to try Bill!

Causes of AI Noise Reduction Errors in Lightroom Classic
Your experience—where the “enhanced” preview is blank and the AI noise reduction fails with an “unknown error”—is a known issue in Lightroom Classic. This problem can be caused by several factors, most commonly:
• Graphics Processor (GPU) Issues: Outdated, buggy, or incompatible graphics drivers are a frequent cause. Lightroom’s AI features, including Denoise, rely heavily on the GPU, and if the driver is not up to date or has compatibility problems, the enhancement can fail and previews may appear blank.
• File Type or Format: AI Denoise works only on true raw files (e.g., .CR2, .NEF, .ARW). It does not support JPEG, TIFF, PSD, or reduced-resolution raw formats like Canon’s mRAW or sRAW. Attempting to use it on unsupported formats will result in errors.
• Insufficient Disk Space or Permissions: The Denoise feature creates a new enhanced file. If Lightroom cannot write to the destination folder due to lack of space or permissions, the process will fail.
• Corrupted Temporary Files: Sometimes, temporary files or configuration files related to GPU settings can become corrupted, causing Lightroom to misdetect your hardware or disable GPU features.
• Recent Software Updates or Bugs: Some users have reported that after updating Lightroom Classic, Denoise stopped working, even though it worked previously. This could be due to new bugs or compatibility issues introduced in the latest version.
Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check File Type
    • Make sure you are using a true raw file, not a JPEG, TIFF, PSD, or reduced-resolution raw file. AI Denoise will not work on unsupported formats.
  2. Update Graphics Drivers
    • Go to your GPU manufacturer’s website (Nvidia, AMD, Intel) and download the latest drivers. Do not rely on Windows Update for this.
    • If you recently updated your drivers and the problem began, try rolling back to a previous stable version, as some recent drivers have had issues with Adobe products.
  3. Check GPU Settings in Lightroom
    • Go to Preferences > Performance and ensure “Use Graphics Processor” is set to “Auto” or “Custom” with all options enabled.
    • If the issue persists, try toggling this setting off and on, or set it to “Custom” and check all boxes.
  4. Clear GPU Configuration Files
    • Delete the file Camera Raw GPU Config.txt and any TempDisableGPU2 or TempDisableGPU3 files. These are found in:
    • Windows: C:\Users$$username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\
    • macOS: /Users/username/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/
    • Restart Lightroom after deleting these files to force it to re-evaluate your GPU hardware.
  5. Free Up Disk Space and Check Permissions
    • Ensure there is enough free space on the drive where your Lightroom catalog and original files are stored.
    • Make sure Lightroom has permission to write to the destination folder.
  6. Try Disabling Other GPU-Intensive Applications
    • Close other applications that may be using the GPU, such as browsers with video playback, video editors, or games. This can free up enough GPU memory for Denoise to work.
  7. Test With a Different Catalog or Computer
    • If possible, try running the Denoise feature on a different computer or with a new Lightroom catalog to rule out catalog corruption or system-specific issues.
    Additional Notes
    • Some users report that after following the above steps, especially deleting the temporary GPU files and restarting, the issue is resolved.
    • If the problem persists after all troubleshooting, consider rolling back to a previous Lightroom Classic version if the issue started after an update.
    • If you are using an older GPU, it may no longer be fully supported by the latest Lightroom updates.