RapidRAW 1.5.3: depth masks and GPU optimization

RapidRAW 1.5.3: New Depth Masks and Accelerated Rendering

RapidRAW 1.5.3 is a release of the open-source RAW image editor built on Rust, React, and Tauri. The app size remains compact—around 30 MB. GPU acceleration enables real-time processing of tools: exposure, contrast, shadows, highlights, HSL mixer, tone curves, noise reduction, sharpening, and vignetting. Source code is available on GitHub under AGPLv3.

The viewer and rendering have been rewritten for stable performance on PCs with 4K screens and low-end laptops. Fullscreen mode and masking feel more natural. Added automatic cropping during lens distortion correction and batch processing of negatives.

Key Interface and Tool Improvements

The update improves masking hotkeys, especially for the brush. The temperature/tint slider now features a color gradient. The loading indicator shows real progress for batch operations.

New Features

• Depth Masking: Isolates areas by distance from the camera. Ideal for bokeh effects, local lighting adjustments, or selecting objects at a fixed depth.
• Fast Gap Filling: Local inpainting model replaces the basic algorithm. Object removal delivers better results without external AI connectors.

Thumbnails render only in the visible screen area, speeding up navigation through large collections. Added a flat list view as an alternative to the thumbnail grid.

Performance Optimizations

The library loads faster. ROI (regions of interest) rendering is improved for lag-free zooming. A new real-time preview quality selector lets you balance speed and detail.

GPU rendering maintains responsiveness across all devices. Batch tasks, including negative conversion, now include a progress bar.

| Feature | Change in 1.5.3 |

|---------|-------------------|

| Viewer | Completely rewritten for cross-device compatibility |

| Masks | Hotkeys + depth |

| Inpainting | Local model, no AI connector |

| Library | Faster loading, lazy thumbnails |

| Preview | Quality selector |

Key Highlights

• Depth masks enable precise layer control without manual tracing.
• Local inpainting simplifies object removal without cloud dependencies.
• Optimized ROI rendering and lazy thumbnails reduce load on low-end hardware.
• Auto-cropping for distortion and batch negatives speed up workflows.
• Preview quality selector adapts performance to your hardware.

RapidRAW remains an alternative to proprietary editors, with a focus on speed and GPU acceleration. It's ideal for mid- and senior-level developers building photo and video pipelines that require cross-platform support.

— Editorial Team