Excire Search 2026 Supercharges Your Lightroom Workflow With AI

Pattern Recognition Company (PRC) has officially launched Excire Search 2026, the latest version of its powerful AI-driven plugin for Adobe Lightroom Classic. This update is designed to significantly streamline the post-processing workflow for both photographers and videographers by introducing a host of intelligent new features.

The new Excire Search 2026 plugin brings dedicated AI culling tools, a redesigned search panel, smart focus detection, and—for the first time—video organization capabilities, all while building on the robust search and categorization features of its predecessors.

Automate Culling with Intelligent AI

One of the most significant additions to Excire Search 2026 is its configurable AI-powered culling system. Photographers can now group images based on scene, content, or subject matter. The plugin can then automatically sort these photos by analyzing eye sharpness, face sharpness, overall clarity, or even aesthetic quality.

This system allows users to automatically apply selection and rejection flags, dramatically speeding up the process of finding the best shots from a large photoshoot. By minimizing manual sorting, photographers can dedicate more time to the creative aspects of their work.

A Redesigned and Integrated Search Panel

The plugin introduces a new Excire Search panel that integrates directly into the Lightroom Classic interface. This panel can be used as a compact toolbar for quick searches or expanded into a full window that includes image previews. This allows users to instantly check for details like face sharpness or confirm a subject's identity without leaving their workflow. The redesign makes Excire's powerful AI tools more accessible and less disruptive to the editing process.

Expanding Into Smart Video Management

Excire Search 2026 now extends its AI capabilities to video files. The plugin analyzes a representative frame from each video to automatically generate relevant keywords. This makes video clips searchable and easy to categorize within Lightroom, allowing users to maintain a unified media library for both photos and videos. This eliminates the need for separate management systems and streamlines asset organization.

In addition to these new features, the plugin retains its full suite of established AI tools, including natural language prompt searches, similarity searches, face and people recognition, and duplicate detection.

Privacy First with Local Processing

Excire Search 2026 prioritizes user privacy by performing all AI analysis directly on the user's local machine. No files are ever uploaded to the cloud, and no data is shared with third parties. This ensures photographers maintain complete control and confidentiality over their work. Other technical improvements include support for HEIC and PSD files and faster processing for panoramic images.

Tangible Benefits for Modern Photographers

The combination of AI-powered culling, precise focus detection, and integrated video management offers real-world advantages, especially for those managing large catalogs. Event and portrait photographers can now rapidly identify the sharpest images of their subjects and discard out-of-focus shots. For videographers, automatic keywording makes locating specific clips effortless. Ultimately, the plugin is engineered to save valuable time while keeping the photographer in full creative control.

Pricing and Availability

Excire Search 2026 is available for both Windows and macOS starting September 17, 2025. A full license costs $199, though it is available for a special launch price of $179. Users of Excire Search 2022 and 2024 can upgrade for $99 and $69, respectively. A 14-day free trial is also available for those who want to test the new features.

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Image credits: Pattern Recognition Company