Adobe adds new AI-powered image editing features to Photoshop
Adobe is significantly enhancing its flagship image editing software, Photoshop, with a suite of powerful new AI-powered features, leveraging its advanced Firefly models. These innovations, recently announced by the company, include a robust image upscaling tool, an intelligent object blending capability, and a remarkably improved object removal function, all meticulously designed to streamline workflows for photographers, designers, and content creators.
One of the standout additions is the Generative Upscale feature, which boasts the impressive ability to enhance images up to 8 megapixels. This capability is particularly beneficial for meticulously restoring intricate details in vintage photographs, preparing images for high-quality prints, or seamlessly adapting assets across diverse digital platforms, ensuring optimal resolution and clarity.
Building upon a teaser from 2024 known as “Project Perfect Blend” (initially showcased at Adobe MAX), the company is now officially rolling out this functionality under the moniker “Harmonize.” This innovative tool intelligently corrects colors, shadows, and lighting to flawlessly integrate newly added objects into an existing image. For instance, if a user places a new piece of furniture into a room scene, Harmonize employs Firefly models to automatically adjust its visual tones, ensuring it blends naturally with the ambient light and environment, thereby eliminating the need for tedious manual adjustments.
Furthermore, Photoshop’s object removal tool has received a substantial algorithmic upgrade. Previously, when utilizing generative fill to eliminate an object, the tool sometimes considered the entire scene for filling the void, which occasionally resulted in unintended artifacts. The revamped algorithm now precisely focuses on removing the selected object and intelligently filling the resulting gap with a contextually appropriate background. This refinement dramatically reduces instances of incongruous elements post-removal.
A recent demonstration, observed by TechCrunch, effectively illustrated this improvement: an earlier version of the object removal tool produced an unappealing green blob when attempting to remove a small bowl of Pico de Gallo from an image. The enhanced new version, however, successfully removed the object, flawlessly replacing it with the underlying background, underscoring a significant leap in precision and usability.
Beyond these major updates, Adobe is also integrating smaller, yet impactful, enhancements. These include a more efficient system for managing and organizing assets within a shared workspace, alongside the flexibility for users to select their preferred Firefly model version when utilizing AI-driven features, offering greater control over their creative outcomes.
Shambhavi Kadam, Senior Director of Product Management for Photoshop, underscored the user-centric approach guiding these developments. “We have talked to photographers, designers, and content creators to understand what are the pain points in their workflows and what slows them down,” Kadam stated in a briefing. “These new features will help them save time, remove friction from their workflows, and take on some of the time-consuming tasks on their behalf.”
The Generative Upscale, Harmonize, and the improved object removal features are currently available in beta for both Photoshop’s desktop and web versions. Additionally, the Harmonize feature is accessible through an early access program on the recently launched Photoshop iOS app, extending these powerful AI capabilities across a broader range of devices.
