Imagine holding the power of a professional photo studio in your hands, ready to transform your images with a tap and a thought. That's the magic of using AI in Photoshop on your iPad! Gone are the days of tedious manual selections and complex layer adjustments for every minor tweak. Adobe has brought the cutting-edge of Artificial Intelligence, powered by their Firefly generative AI models, directly to your tablet, making sophisticated edits incredibly intuitive and accessible.
Whether you're a seasoned photographer, a budding digital artist, or just someone who loves making their social media photos pop, this guide will walk you through the essential AI-powered features in Photoshop on iPad, empowering you to create stunning visuals with unprecedented ease.
Step 1: Getting Started and Importing Your Image
Ready to dive into the world of AI-powered editing? Let's begin by setting up your workspace and bringing in the image you want to transform!
1.1 Ensure Your Photoshop App is Up-to-Date
First things first, make sure you have the latest version of Photoshop installed on your iPad. Adobe regularly rolls out updates that include new AI features and improvements.
- How to check: Go to the App Store, tap your profile icon, and check for pending updates for Photoshop.
1.2 Open Photoshop and Import Your Image
Once updated, launch Photoshop on your iPad. You'll be greeted with your home screen.
- From your device: Tap "Import and open" or the "Place photos" icon in the toolbar to select an image from your iPad's photo library.
- From Cloud Documents: If you've been working on a desktop or another device, you can access your cloud documents, ensuring a seamless workflow across your devices.
Step 2: Unleashing the Power of Generative Fill
Generative Fill is a game-changer, allowing you to add, remove, or extend content in your images using simple text prompts. It's like having a digital assistant that can magically create anything you describe, perfectly blending it with your existing photo.
2.1 Removing Unwanted Objects or Distractions
This is where Generative Fill truly shines for clean-up tasks.
- Make a selection: Use any selection tool (e.g., Lasso, Quick Selection, Object Selection) to carefully outline the object or area you wish to remove. For instance, if there's a stray lamp post in your landscape photo, draw a selection around it.
- Access Generative Fill: Once your selection is active, a Contextual Task Bar will appear. Tap the "Generative Fill" button.
- Leave the prompt blank: To simply remove the selected content and have the AI intelligently fill the space with matching surroundings, leave the text prompt field empty.
- Generate and choose: Tap "Generate." Photoshop will create several variations in a new "Generative Layer" within your Layers panel. You can then tap through the variations in the Properties panel to find the one that best suits your image.
2.2 Adding New Elements to Your Scene
Want to add a majestic tree to a plain field or a fluffy cloud to a clear sky? Generative Fill can do it!
- Make a selection: Use a selection tool to define the area where you want the new object to appear. For example, draw an irregular shape where you envision the tree.
- Access Generative Fill: Tap the "Generative Fill" button in the Contextual Task Bar.
- Type your prompt: In the text prompt box, describe what you want to add. Be descriptive! Instead of "tree," try "tall oak tree with lush green leaves."
- Generate and explore: Tap "Generate." Photoshop will present multiple AI-generated options. Experiment with different prompts and variations until you find the perfect addition.
2.3 Changing or Extending Backgrounds with Generative Expand
Need to adjust your image's aspect ratio or simply give it a new backdrop? Generative Expand is your go-to.
- Select the Crop tool: Tap the Crop tool in the toolbar.
- Expand your canvas: Drag the borders of your canvas outwards to create empty space where you want the new content or extended background to appear.
- Access Generative Expand: In the Contextual Task Bar, tap "Generative Expand."
- Add your prompt (optional): You can leave the prompt blank for the AI to intelligently fill the expanded area based on the existing image. Or, you can enter a prompt like "misty forest" or "desert landscape" to guide the AI in creating a specific background.
- Generate and refine: Tap "Generate." Similar to Generative Fill, you'll get variations to choose from. This is fantastic for transforming a portrait into a landscape or creating dynamic social media banners!
Step 3: Effortless Selections and Background Removal
AI has made selections incredibly precise and background removal a one-tap wonder.
3.1 Quick Selection and Object Select
These tools leverage AI (Adobe Sensei) to make smart selections.
- Tap a selection tool: From the toolbar, tap and hold on the selection tool icon to reveal options like Quick Selection or Object Select.
- Select your subject:
- With Quick Selection, simply brush over your subject and the AI will snap to its edges.
- With Object Select, draw a rough rectangle or lasso around the object, and Photoshop will automatically identify and select it. This is particularly effective for people, animals, and distinct objects.
- Refine (if needed): For intricate details like hair, use the "Select and Mask" workspace for more precise refinement with tools like the Refine Edge brush.
3.2 One-Tap Background Removal
This feature is a lifesaver for product photography, profile pictures, and composite images.
- Select your subject (optional, but helpful): While not strictly required, having your subject selected can sometimes improve accuracy.
- Access "Remove Background": Once a selection is active, or even if it's not, you'll often see a "Remove Background" option in the Contextual Task Bar or in the Quick Actions section of the Properties panel.
- Tap and marvel: Tap "Remove Background," and Photoshop's AI will automatically detect and isolate your subject, replacing the background with transparency. You can then add a new background layer, a solid color, or export it as a PNG for use elsewhere.
Step 4: Intelligent Retouching with AI-Powered Tools
AI enhances traditional retouching tools, making common fixes faster and more effective.
4.1 Spot Healing Brush (Enhanced by AI)
While not entirely new, the Spot Healing Brush uses AI to intelligently blend repairs.
- Select the Spot Healing Brush: Find it in the retouching tools section of the toolbar.
- Adjust brush size: Use the on-screen controls to adjust the size of your brush to be slightly larger than the blemish or imperfection.
- Tap or brush: Tap on small imperfections like dust spots or acne, or brush over larger blemishes like scratches. The AI will analyze the surrounding pixels and seamlessly blend the repair.
4.2 Content-Aware Fill (for specific areas)
Similar to Generative Fill, but often used for more precise, localized repairs without a text prompt.
- Make a selection: Select the area you want to fill or remove (e.g., a small power line, a distracting sign).
- Access Content-Aware Fill: In the Contextual Task Bar or via the "Fill" options, look for "Content-Aware Fill."
- Apply: Tap to apply. Photoshop will automatically sample pixels from the surrounding area to fill the selection, creating a seamless repair.
Step 5: Exploring AI for Creative Enhancements
While not all Neural Filters from the desktop version are on iPad yet, some AI-driven features aid creativity.
5.1 Auto Adjustment Commands
Quickly correct tone and color imbalances with a single tap.
- Navigate to Filters and Selections: In the taskbar on the right, tap on "Filters and selections."
- Choose an auto command: You'll find options like Auto Tone, Auto Contrast, and Auto Color.
- Tap to apply: Tap on the desired command to instantly see how Photoshop's AI optimizes your image's tonal range and color balance. These are great starting points for further manual adjustments.
5.2 Object Selection for Targeted Adjustments
Once you've selected an object with AI, you can apply targeted adjustments.
- Select an object: Use the Object Select tool to precisely select a person, a car, a plant, etc.
- Create an Adjustment Layer: With the selection active, tap the Adjustments icon (looks like a half-filled circle) in the Layers panel. Choose an adjustment type like Brightness/Contrast, Hue/Saturation, or Curves.
- Refine the adjustment: The adjustment will only apply to your selected object, allowing you to creatively enhance specific parts of your image with precision.
Step 6: Leveraging AI for Workflow Efficiency
The true power of AI in Photoshop on iPad lies in its ability to streamline your workflow and save you time.
6.1 Seamless Cloud Sync
Photoshop on iPad uses cloud documents, ensuring your AI-enhanced projects are always accessible.
- Automatic Saving: Your work is automatically saved to Adobe Creative Cloud, so you can switch between your iPad and desktop without missing a beat. This means you can start a Generative Fill project on your iPad during your commute and pick it up on your desktop for final touches.
6.2 Intuitive Touch and Apple Pencil Integration
AI tools are designed to work seamlessly with the iPad's touch interface and Apple Pencil.
- Precision with Apple Pencil: For delicate selections and masking with AI tools, the Apple Pencil offers unparalleled precision.
- Touch Shortcuts: Familiarize yourself with touch gestures like two-finger tap for undo and three-finger tap for redo, which speed up your AI-driven editing process.
Frequently Asked Questions about AI in Photoshop on iPad
Here are 10 common questions related to using AI in Photoshop on your iPad, with quick answers:
How to use Generative Fill on Photoshop iPad?
Select an area with a selection tool, tap "Generative Fill" in the Contextual Task Bar, type a text prompt (or leave blank for removal/extension), and tap "Generate."
How to remove background using AI in Photoshop iPad?
Select your subject using an AI-powered selection tool (like Object Select), then tap "Remove Background" in the Contextual Task Bar or Quick Actions.
How to expand images using AI on Photoshop iPad?
Use the Crop tool to expand your canvas beyond the image boundaries, then tap "Generative Expand" in the Contextual Task Bar, and optionally enter a text prompt before generating.
How to use Content-Aware Fill on Photoshop iPad?
Select the unwanted object or area, then look for "Content-Aware Fill" in the Fill options within the Contextual Task Bar or Properties panel.
How to make precise selections with AI on Photoshop iPad?
Use tools like "Object Select" or "Quick Selection," which leverage AI to detect edges and automatically select subjects or areas.
How to access AI-powered auto adjustments in Photoshop iPad?
Tap the "Filters and selections" icon in the right-hand taskbar, then choose "Auto Tone," "Auto Contrast," or "Auto Color."
How to effectively use text prompts for Generative Fill on iPad?
Be descriptive and specific about what you want to add or remove. For example, instead of "dog," try "golden retriever puppy playing in a field."
How to undo an AI-generated change in Photoshop iPad?
Simply use the two-finger tap gesture on your screen, or tap the undo arrow in the top bar. AI-generated content is typically on a new Generative Layer, which you can easily delete or hide.
How to get more variations from Generative Fill on Photoshop iPad?
After an initial generation, you can often modify your text prompt in the Properties panel and tap "Generate" again to produce new sets of variations.
How to save images edited with AI on Photoshop iPad?
Once you're satisfied, tap the Share icon (square with an arrow pointing up) in the top right, then choose "Publish and Export" to save as PSD, JPG, PNG, or TIFF.
