Adobe has significantly improved the Generative Fill feature in Photoshop, a groundbreaking tool that empowers users to transform their photo-editing workflow. Additionally, the company has introduced several new features that complement Generative Fill, further expanding the creative possibilities for designers and journalists.
One notable addition is the “Firefly Image 3 Model” within Photoshop, a text-to-image generator specifically trained on Adobe stock imagery. This ensures that the generated images are not derived from artists’ work without their consent. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact differences between earlier models and Firefly Image 3, Adobe highlights its superior photographic image quality, precise controls, enhanced prompt comprehension, and generation variety.
For journalists like myself, the use of AI to alter images may raise questions. I primarily use Generative Fill sparingly, similar to the Spot Fill feature in the Windows’ Photos app, which removes unwanted specks or dust using AI. Now, Generative Fill has been expanded to allow cropping beyond an image’s boundaries, effectively enlarging the entire scene. This is particularly useful for enhancing small product images or logos found within presentations, ensuring accurate representation without compromising visual quality.
Generative Fill enables the creation of neutral backgrounds when needed by simply “cropping out” an image and letting the AI generate a replacement. Despite providing a prompt, the goal is to extend the existing image rather than creating a completely new one. The AI accurately identifies areas to remove and generates replacements, eliminating the need for manual object selection and manipulation.
Adobe has further enhanced Generative Fill by allowing users to specify the content they want filled in, such as adding a castle to a beach scene. Now, users can utilize a reference image to guide the AI, allowing for more precise results. Three suggested options are provided, and users can iterate on one by selecting it as a reference image.
Additionally, Photoshop now offers the ability to create images from scratch using Generative Fill. Users can start with a blank canvas in the Contextual Task Bar or the Tools panel. This feature fills a gap in Photoshop’s functionality, bringing it closer to other image generation tools on the market.
Photoshop also introduces “upscaling” through its Enhance Detail feature, which uses AI to sharpen images. Finally, users can now remove a background and generate a new one in a single step, eliminating the need for manual selection, masking, and addition.
Over the years, Photoshop’s complexity and time-consuming nature have been barriers to its adoption. However, Adobe’s recent AI additions have transformed the software, making its tools faster, more efficient, and more accessible. As a senior editor, I often rely on Microsoft news and chip technology, and these AI enhancements have significantly streamlined my workflow, enabling me to produce visually appealing content with greater ease and efficiency.
