Unleash Your Creativity: A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Generative AI in Photoshop
Hey there, fellow creative! Are you ready to witness some serious magic in your photo editing workflow? Imagine being able to effortlessly extend backgrounds, remove unwanted objects with a blink, or even generate entirely new elements just by typing a few words. Sounds like something out of a futuristic movie, right? Well, with Adobe Photoshop's groundbreaking Generative AI features, that future is now.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the incredible world of Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Generative Remove, showing you exactly how to integrate these powerful AI tools into your Photoshop projects. Get ready to transform your images and unlock new dimensions of artistic expression!
Step 1: Getting Started – Is Your Photoshop Ready for AI?
Before we dive into the fun stuff, let's make sure your Photoshop setup is ready to harness the power of generative AI. This is crucial for a smooth experience!
Sub-heading: Check Your Photoshop Version
First and foremost, you'll need the latest version of Adobe Photoshop. Generative AI features like Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Generative Remove are constantly being updated and improved, often appearing first in the Photoshop Beta app before making their way to the main release.
To check your version:
Open Adobe Photoshop.
Go to Help > About Photoshop (Windows) or Photoshop > About Photoshop (Mac).
Ensure you have a recent version. If you're not updated, open your Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application and update Photoshop. It's often beneficial to have the Photoshop (Beta) app installed as well, as new generative AI features often debut there first.
Sub-heading: Understanding Generative Credits (Important!)
Adobe's generative AI features, powered by Adobe Firefly, consume "generative credits." Think of these like tokens for using the AI. Most Creative Cloud plans include a monthly allocation of these credits.
What are they? Generative credits are consumed when you "Generate" content using AI features. For example, each time you click "Generate" in Generative Fill, it uses credits.
Do they run out? Yes, you have a monthly limit. However, even if you run out of credits, you can still use the generative AI features, though the generation process might be slower.
Where to check? You can usually monitor your generative credit usage within your Adobe Creative Cloud account online.
Step 2: Mastering Generative Fill – Adding and Replacing Content
Generative Fill is arguably the most revolutionary of Photoshop's AI tools. It allows you to add new objects, replace existing ones, or even remove elements by simply describing what you want.
Sub-heading: How to Add New Objects with Generative Fill
Let's imagine you want to add a cute little dog to your serene landscape photo. Here's how you do it:
Open your image in Photoshop.
Make a Selection: Use any selection tool (Lasso Tool, Rectangular Marquee Tool, Object Selection Tool, Quick Selection Tool, etc.) to draw a rough selection in the area where you want the new object to appear. Don't worry about being too precise – Generative Fill is incredibly smart at blending.
Tip: For best results when adding a new object, try to shape your selection somewhat like the object you intend to generate.
Activate the Contextual Task Bar: Once you've made a selection, the Contextual Task Bar will usually appear directly below or above your selection. This handy bar provides quick access to relevant actions.
Click "Generative Fill": In the Contextual Task Bar, click the "Generative Fill" button.
Enter Your Prompt: A text box will appear. This is where the magic truly begins! Type a descriptive prompt of what you want to generate. Be specific but concise.
Examples:
"Golden retriever puppy sitting"
"Vintage bicycle parked by a lamppost"
"Fluffy white cloud"
Click "Generate": Once your prompt is entered, click the "Generate" button.
Explore Variations: Photoshop will take a few moments to process, and then it will present you with three different variations of your generated content in the Properties panel.
Choose Your Favorite or Generate More: Click through the variations to see which one best fits your vision. If none are quite right, simply click "Generate" again in the Properties panel to get three new options.
Nondestructive Editing: Notice that Generative Fill creates a new Generative Layer in your Layers panel. This is fantastic because it means your original image remains untouched, allowing for easy edits and adjustments later.
Sub-heading: How to Replace Existing Objects with Generative Fill
Want to swap out a mundane background or replace a distracting element? Generative Fill makes it a breeze.
Open your image in Photoshop.
Select the Object to Replace: Use a selection tool to carefully select the object you want to replace. Make sure your selection encompasses the entire object.
Pro Tip: For complex objects, try "Select Subject" (Select > Subject) or the Object Selection Tool for a good starting point, then refine with the Lasso Tool if needed.
Click "Generative Fill": As before, the Contextual Task Bar will appear, and you'll click "Generative Fill."
Enter Your Replacement Prompt: In the text box, describe what you want the selected object to be replaced with.
Examples:
(If you selected a car) "Vintage red convertible"
(If you selected a tree) "Flowering cherry blossom tree"
Click "Generate": Let Photoshop work its AI wonders.
Review and Refine: Browse through the generated variations in the Properties panel and select the best fit. You can generate more if needed.
Step 3: Expanding Your Canvas with Generative Expand
Ever taken a photo that's just a little too tight, or you need more room for a specific composition? Generative Expand is your new best friend. It intelligently extends your image, filling in the new canvas with content that seamlessly matches the existing photo.
Open your image in Photoshop.
Select the Crop Tool: From the Photoshop toolbar, select the Crop Tool (keyboard shortcut: C).
Expand Your Canvas: Click and drag the handles on the crop border outwards to extend your canvas in the desired direction (or all directions). The newly added canvas area will typically appear transparent or filled with your background color.
Activate "Generative Expand": Once you've expanded the canvas, the Contextual Task Bar will appear, offering the "Generative Expand" button.
Choose Your Expansion Method:
No Prompt (Contextual Fill): If you don't enter any text in the prompt box and simply click "Generate," Photoshop will analyze the surrounding pixels and fill the expanded area with content that naturally extends the existing image. This is perfect for simply making an image wider or taller.
With Prompt (Creative Fill): If you want to fill the expanded area with something specific (e.g., extend a sky with "starry night sky"), you can type a prompt before clicking "Generate."
Click "Generate": Watch as Photoshop magically extends your image, creating a cohesive and believable new environment.
Select a Variation: As with Generative Fill, you'll be presented with several variations to choose from in the Properties panel. Pick the one that best suits your needs.
Generative Layer: A new Generative Layer will be created, allowing you to easily adjust or remove the generated content.
Step 4: Effortless Removal with Generative Remove
Sometimes, you just need to make things disappear. Generative Remove, often integrated within Generative Fill, allows you to intelligently remove unwanted objects or distractions from your photos, blending the area seamlessly.
Open your image in Photoshop.
Select the Unwanted Object: Use a selection tool (Lasso Tool is often great for this) to loosely select around the object you want to remove.
Key Tip for Removal: When removing an object, it's often more effective to make a slightly larger, looser selection around the object, rather than a tight, precise one. This gives the AI more contextual information to work with.
Click "Generative Fill" (or "Remove" in Beta):
In the current main release of Photoshop, you'll generally click "Generative Fill" in the Contextual Task Bar.
Crucially, for removal, you will leave the prompt box BLANK. This tells Photoshop to analyze the selected area and replace it with content that matches the surroundings.
Note: In the Photoshop (Beta) app, a dedicated "Remove" button might appear in the Contextual Task Bar when you make a selection, which specifically leverages a different AI model optimized for removal and may not consume generative credits. If available, use that!
Click "Generate": Photoshop will analyze the selected area and its surroundings, then generate content that effectively removes the object while maintaining the integrity of the image.
Review and Choose: Just like with adding and expanding, you'll get three variations in the Properties panel. Choose the one that looks the most natural.
Tips for Getting the Best Generative AI Results
While incredibly powerful, generative AI works best with a little guidance. Here are some tips to maximize your success:
Be Specific with Prompts: The more descriptive your prompt, the better the AI can understand your intent. Instead of "flower," try "red rose with dew drops."
Keep Prompts Concise: While descriptive, avoid overly long or complex sentences. Focus on key elements.
Start with Loose Selections for Removal: As mentioned, for removing objects, a slightly larger, less precise selection often yields better blending results.
Consider the Context: Photoshop's AI is highly contextual. The generated content will always try to blend naturally with the surrounding image. Think about the lighting, perspective, and textures of your original photo when crafting prompts.
Iterate and Experiment: Don't be afraid to click "Generate" multiple times to explore different variations. Sometimes the third or fourth attempt is the charm!
Utilize Reference Images (if available): Some advanced generative AI features (especially in the beta versions) allow you to upload a reference image to guide the generation style. Keep an eye out for this!
Combine with Traditional Tools: Generative AI is a powerful addition to Photoshop, not a replacement. After generating content, you might still want to use traditional Photoshop tools like the Clone Stamp, Healing Brush, or adjustment layers to fine-tune and perfect the result.
Understand the Limitations: Generative AI is constantly evolving. While impressive, it's not perfect. Highly complex or extremely specific requests might require multiple attempts or manual refinement. The resolution of generated content is currently capped (often at 1024x1024 pixels for the generated "patch"), so for very large prints, you might see some limitations.
Conclusion: A New Era of Creativity
Generative AI in Photoshop, particularly with features like Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Generative Remove, has truly opened up a new era for digital artists, photographers, and designers. What once took hours of meticulous work can now be achieved in moments, freeing up your time and energy to focus on the overarching creative vision. Embrace these tools, experiment fearlessly, and prepare to be amazed at what you can create! The possibilities are virtually limitless.
10 Related FAQ Questions: How to...
How to access Generative AI features in Photoshop?
You can access Generative AI features like Generative Fill and Generative Expand primarily through the Contextual Task Bar that appears when you make a selection or use certain tools (like the Crop Tool). You'll also find some AI-powered tools under the Edit and Filter > Neural Filters menus.
How to use Generative Fill to change a background?
How to change a background: Select your subject using a selection tool (like "Select Subject"), then go to Select > Inverse to select the background. Click "Generative Fill" in the Contextual Task Bar and type a prompt describing your desired new background (e.g., "Misty forest at sunrise").
How to make Generative Fill remove an object instead of replacing it?
How to make Generative Fill remove an object: When you select an object you want to remove and click "Generative Fill," leave the prompt text box completely blank and then click "Generate." Photoshop will then attempt to seamlessly fill the area based on the surrounding pixels.
How to extend an image without cropping in Photoshop?
How to extend an image without cropping: Use the Crop Tool, drag the crop handles outwards to expand the canvas, and then click "Generative Expand" in the Contextual Task Bar. You can leave the prompt blank for a natural extension or add a prompt for specific content.
How to get more variations from Generative Fill or Expand?
How to get more variations: After a generation, if you don't like the results in the Properties panel, simply click the "Generate" button again within the Properties panel to produce three new variations based on your original prompt.
How to refine Generative Fill results if they don't look perfect?
How to refine Generative Fill results: Since Generative Fill creates a new Generative Layer, you can use traditional Photoshop tools like the Clone Stamp Tool, Healing Brush Tool, or Layer Masks on this new layer to fine-tune the blending, correct imperfections, or remove unwanted artifacts.
How to save an image with Generative AI content?
How to save an image with Generative AI content: Once you're satisfied with your image, go to File > Export > Export As or File > Save As to save your image in a common format like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. The generated content will be flattened into the exported image.
How to ensure my Generative AI creations are high resolution?
How to ensure high-resolution Generative AI: Currently, Generative Fill generates content in "patches" that are often around 1024x1024 pixels. For very large images or prints, you might notice some detail limitations in the generated areas. For best results, ensure your selections are not excessively large for a single generation. You might need to generate smaller sections and blend them, or manually refine larger areas after generation.
How to get access to Generative AI if it's not appearing in my Photoshop?
How to get access if it's not appearing:
Update Photoshop: Ensure you have the latest version of Photoshop installed via your Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app.
Check Beta App: Generative features often appear in the Photoshop (Beta) app first. Consider installing and using the beta version.
Contextual Task Bar: Make sure the Contextual Task Bar is enabled (Window > Contextual Task Bar). The Generative Fill/Expand options will only appear when a relevant selection or tool is active.
How to use Generative AI responsibly and ethically?
How to use Generative AI responsibly:
Be Mindful of Content: Avoid generating content that is illegal, harmful, discriminatory, or infringes on copyrights. Adobe has strict policies against such use.
Disclose AI Use (if applicable): For professional or public-facing work, it's often good practice to disclose that AI was used in the creation or modification of the image, especially if it significantly alters reality.
Understand Limitations: Recognize that AI can sometimes produce unintended or inaccurate results, and always review the output critically.
