Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 2021 V10.4.0

Adobe doubled down on GPU acceleration in this release. The improved GPU pipeline offloaded more tasks to discrete or integrated graphics cards, including:

Click the R key or the "Before/After" icon’s dropdown to enable Reference View. This places a static reference image next to your current edit—invaluable for matching color tones across a session.

Although v10.4.0 was primarily a maintenance release, it arrived with cumulative improvements from the v10 cycle. Here are the highlights: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 2021 v10.4.0

It might seem counterintuitive to use a 2021 version in 2025 or later. However, many working photographers intentionally stay on v10.4.0. Here’s why:

Introduced earlier in v10, the Texture slider received subtle algorithm tweaks by v10.4.0. Unlike Clarity (which affects midtones and can create halos), Texture targets high-frequency detail. In v10.4.0, applying Texture to skin or foliage rendered more naturally, with fewer artifacts in out-of-focus areas. Adobe doubled down on GPU acceleration in this release

A typical .0 release is essential for tethered shooting and RAW compatibility. v10.4.0 added support for several key cameras launched in early-to-mid 2021, including:

Additionally, new lens profiles were added for Canon RF mount lenses (e.g., RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro) and Sony E-mount third-party lenses from Sigma and Tamron. Additionally, new lens profiles were added for Canon

Many long-time users will tell you that they stay on v10.4.0 because of what it fixed as much as what it introduced.

One of the standout capabilities integrated into the 2021 release cycle, including v10.4.0, is the Super Resolution feature found within the "Enhance" dialog.

Powered by Adobe’s machine learning engine, Adobe Sensei, Super Resolution allows photographers to quadruple the resolution of an image.