Unleashing the full power of Adobe Photoshop's Generative AI features, like Generative Fill and Generative Expand, can revolutionize your creative workflow. However, it's not uncommon to encounter situations where these fantastic tools seem to be "hidden" or greyed out. Don't worry, you're not alone, and with this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through every step to unhide and fully utilize Generative AI in Photoshop.
Ready to dive in and unlock the future of image editing? Let's get started!
Step 1: Confirm Your Photoshop Version and Creative Cloud Status
The very first and most crucial step is to ensure you have the correct software and a valid Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Generative AI features are primarily available in the latest versions of Photoshop, often initially in the Photoshop (Beta) application.
Sub-heading: Are You Running the Right Photoshop?
Check your Photoshop version: Go to Help > System Info in Photoshop. You should be running a version like 25.0.x or higher for the main Photoshop application to have full Generative AI capabilities. For early access to cutting-edge features, you'll often need the Photoshop (Beta) app.
Verify your Creative Cloud subscription: Generative AI features require an active Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Ensure your subscription is valid and up-to-date. Without it, these features simply won't be accessible.
Sub-heading: The Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App is Your Hub
Open the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App: This is where you manage all your Adobe applications.
Navigate to "Apps" or "Beta Apps": Look for Photoshop. If you want the absolute latest Generative AI tools, check the "Beta apps" section and ensure "Photoshop (Beta)" is installed and updated to its most recent version. Many new AI features roll out here first before making their way to the main Photoshop release.
"Check for Updates": Even if it looks updated, sometimes a manual "Check for Updates" within the Creative Cloud app can trigger a necessary refresh. Click on the three dots next to Photoshop and select "Check for Updates."
Tip: Read at your own pace, not too fast.
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| How To Unhide Generative Ai In Photoshop |
Step 2: Address Account Eligibility and Age Verification
Adobe has certain eligibility requirements for Generative AI, primarily related to age. If Generative Fill is greyed out, this is a very common reason.
Sub-heading: The Importance of Your Adobe ID's Date of Birth
Generative AI is age-restricted: Adobe's Generative AI tools are typically restricted to users aged 18 and older. If your Adobe ID does not have a date of birth associated with it, or if it indicates you are under 18, the Generative AI features will be disabled.
Update your Date of Birth via Behance or Adobe Account:
Behance: The quickest way to update your date of birth is often through Behance, Adobe's creative social media platform.
Open your Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App.
Look for a link or section related to Behance on the left-hand side or within your profile.
When you log into Behance (using your Adobe ID), you should be prompted to enter your date of birth if it's missing or needs updating. Ensure you enter a date that makes you 18 or older.
Adobe Account Management: Alternatively, log directly into your Adobe account on the Adobe website. Navigate to your profile or account settings and look for options to update your personal information, including your date of birth.
Relaunch Photoshop: After updating your date of birth, close and relaunch Photoshop (and the Creative Cloud app) to ensure the changes take effect.
Step 3: Ensure Proper Document and Layer Setup
Even with the right version and account, Photoshop's Generative AI features have specific conditions for activation within your document.
Sub-heading: Raster Layers and Selections are Key
QuickTip: Reading twice makes retention stronger.
Work with Raster Layers: Generative Fill and other AI features primarily operate on raster layers. If you're working on a Smart Object or a Vector Layer, the Generative Fill option might be unavailable or greyed out.
Solution: If your layer is a Smart Object, right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and choose "Rasterize Layer."
Unlock Your Layer: If your layer is locked (indicated by a padlock icon in the Layers panel), Generative Fill might not work.
Solution: Double-click the locked layer to unlock it, or click the padlock icon.
Make a Selection: This is critical for Generative Fill. The "Generative Fill" button will only appear in the Contextual Task Bar (or be enabled in the Edit menu) after you have made an active selection on your image.
Use any selection tool (e.g., Rectangular Marquee Tool, Lasso Tool, Object Selection Tool, Quick Selection Tool, Magic Wand Tool) to select an area where you want to apply Generative AI.
Once a selection is active, the Contextual Task Bar should appear near your selection, offering the "Generative Fill" button.
Sub-heading: The Contextual Task Bar
Visibility: The Contextual Task Bar is a dynamic bar that appears based on your current tool and selection. If you've accidentally hidden it, or it's not appearing, you can unhide it.
Go to Window > Contextual Task Bar. Ensure there's a checkmark next to it. If not, click it to make it visible.
Location: This bar usually appears near your selection or at the bottom of your Photoshop window. It contains buttons like "Select Subject," "Remove Background," and most importantly, "Generative Fill" once a selection is made.
Step 4: Connectivity and Server Issues
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Generative AI in Photoshop relies on cloud processing via Adobe's Firefly servers. This means a stable internet connection is essential.
Sub-heading: Internet Connection and Firewall Considerations
Stable Internet Connection: Ensure you have a strong and stable internet connection. Intermittent or slow internet can prevent Generative AI from functioning correctly or even appearing.
Firewall/Antivirus: Your computer's firewall or antivirus software might be blocking Photoshop's access to Adobe's servers.
Solution: Temporarily disable your firewall/antivirus and test if Generative Fill works. If it does, you'll need to add Photoshop and Adobe Creative Cloud to your firewall's exceptions list.
Adobe Server Status: Occasionally, Adobe's servers might experience outages or maintenance.
Solution: Check the Adobe Status page (search "Adobe Status" on Google) to see if there are any ongoing issues with Creative Cloud services. If there are, you might just need to wait it out.
Step 5: Advanced Troubleshooting and Reinstallation
Tip: Read slowly to catch the finer details.
If the above steps don't resolve the issue, you might need to take more drastic measures.
Sub-heading: Resetting Preferences
Corrupted Preferences: Sometimes, corrupted Photoshop preferences can cause unexpected behavior.
How to reset:
Close Photoshop.
For Windows: Press and hold
Ctrl + Alt + Shiftimmediately after launching Photoshop. You'll be prompted to "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file?" Click "Yes."For macOS: Press and hold
Cmd + Option + Shiftimmediately after launching Photoshop. You'll be prompted to "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file?" Click "Yes."
Note: Resetting preferences will revert all your custom settings (workspaces, shortcuts, etc.) to their defaults.
Sub-heading: Clean Reinstallation of Photoshop (Beta)
If all else fails, a clean reinstallation can often resolve persistent issues.
Close Photoshop.
Open the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App.
Go to Apps > Beta apps (or "All Apps" if using the main Photoshop version).
Click on the three dots next to "Photoshop (Beta)" (or "Photoshop") and select "Uninstall."
Once uninstalled, restart your computer.
Open the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App again.
Go to Beta apps (or "All Apps") and reinstall Photoshop (Beta).
After installation, launch Photoshop and test the Generative AI features.
By following these detailed steps, you should be able to unhide and fully leverage the incredible power of Generative AI in Adobe Photoshop!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Photoshop Generative AI
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to unhiding and using Generative AI in Photoshop, with quick answers:
Tip: Share one insight from this post with a friend.
How to know if I have Generative Fill in my Photoshop? You have Generative Fill if you are running Photoshop version 25.0 or higher, or if you have the Photoshop (Beta) app installed and updated. Look for the "Generative Fill" button in the Contextual Task Bar after making a selection.
How to update Photoshop to get Generative AI? Open the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App, go to the "Apps" or "Beta apps" section, and click "Update" next to Photoshop or Photoshop (Beta) to get the latest version.
How to fix Generative Fill being greyed out? The most common fixes are updating your date of birth on your Adobe ID (via Behance or Adobe account settings), ensuring you're on a raster layer, and having an active selection.
How to make the Contextual Task Bar appear in Photoshop? Go to Window > Contextual Task Bar and ensure it's checked. It will automatically appear when you make a selection or use certain tools.
How to update my age for Adobe Creative Cloud? Log into your Adobe account on the Adobe website or via the Behance section in the Creative Cloud Desktop App, and update your date of birth in your profile settings. Ensure you're 18 or older.
How to troubleshoot if Generative Fill says "something went wrong"? This often indicates a connection issue. Check your internet stability, ensure no firewalls are blocking Photoshop, and verify Adobe's server status.
How to use Generative Fill once it's visible? Make a selection on your image using any selection tool. The Contextual Task Bar will appear with the "Generative Fill" button. Click it, type a text prompt (or leave it blank for content-aware fill/removal), and click "Generate."
How to get Generative Expand to work? Generative Expand works similarly to Generative Fill. Extend your canvas size (Image > Canvas Size) to create empty space, make a selection in that empty space (including some of your original image), and then click "Generative Expand" from the Contextual Task Bar.
How to check if my computer meets Generative AI system requirements? Generative AI processing happens on Adobe's cloud servers, so basic Photoshop system requirements apply. Ensure you have a modern multicore processor, at least 8GB RAM (16GB+ recommended), sufficient storage, and a stable internet connection.
How to report a bug if Generative AI still isn't working? If you've exhausted all troubleshooting, report the issue directly to Adobe. You can often do this through the "Help > Submit Bug/Feature Request" option in Photoshop or by visiting the Adobe Support Community forums.
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