Techniques for tuning an image editing operator for reducing a distractor in raw image data are presented herein. The image editing operator can access the raw image data and a mask. The mask can indicate a region of interest associated with the raw image data. The image editing operator can process the raw image data and the mask to generate processed image data. Additionally, a trained saliency model can process at least the processed image data within the region of interest to generate a saliency map that provides saliency values. Moreover, a saliency loss function can compare the saliency values provided by the saliency map for the processed image data within the region of interest to one or more target saliency values. Subsequently, the one or more parameter values of the image editing operator can be modified based at least in part on the saliency loss function.