What you need to start working with AI in Photoshop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nObviously, you need a version of Adobe Photoshop that includes the generative AI tools. It\u2019s also recommended to have at least some experience with Photoshop, and, as we\u2019ll see, it\u2019s necessary to know how to manage layers and make basic selections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which version of Adobe Photoshop includes AI tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n If you use Photoshop in the cloud as part of the Adobe CC package, these tools are already included and enabled by default. If you’re working with the desktop version of Photoshop, make sure you have the latest version installed, or at least version 25<\/strong> or 2024<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe contextual task bar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Before doing anything, it’s necessary to open an image. We recommend images with prominent subjects, similar to those shown in the examples of this article, avoiding overly flat or uniform photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your photo is open, the tools we’ll cover are located in the contextual task bar<\/strong>. If you don’t see it, click on the Window<\/strong> menu and select Contextual Task Bar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe contextual task bar<\/strong> in Photoshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. How to select AI tools in Photoshop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWith Photoshop’s integrated AI, it’s not necessary to select an action directly, like deleting an element or changing a sky. Instead, the available AI actions, which appear in the contextual task bar<\/strong>, depend on the Photoshop tool you have activated beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor example, to remove an object, you first select it using any of the usual tools, like the lasso tool. If you want a larger photo by generating content around it, you would select the crop tool. Don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll go over detailed examples of all this shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Remove an element from a photograph<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Often, we need to remove an element from an image, either because it disrupts the composition or because it’s not relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select the element<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first step is to select the outline of the element to be removed, using any selection tool in Photoshop. In our example, we used the lasso tool, and as you can see, we didn’t fine-tune it much. After all, AI was designed to make our work easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\nUse generative fill without instructions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Next, in the contextual task bar<\/strong>, we click on Generative Fill<\/strong>. This tells Photoshop that the selected area within the image will be completely regenerated, taking into account the rest of the image but without affecting it. In this example, since we want to remove an element, we won\u2019t write anything in the text box that appears. We click Generate<\/strong>, and after a few seconds, we see the result. In our example, it’s excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nOriginal image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAI Generated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow the changes are applied to the image<\/h3>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to note that each change we make to our photos using Photoshop\u2019s AI is not applied to the original background layer, but instead creates a new layer. These layers work like any other: they can be modified, hidden, and shown as we wish. This is very useful for experimenting with different effects without altering the original image.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEach change generated by AI is created within a new layer, without affecting the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Change the background (or any other area) of a photograph<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe process for changing the background, the sky, or any other part of the image works in a very similar way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select the element<\/h3>\n\n\n\n First, we select the area to modify using any selection tool, such as the marquee or lasso tool. Remember, it’s not necessary to be overly precise, at least on the first try.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe select the area of the image to be generated.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nUse generative fill with instructions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Next, in the contextual task bar<\/strong>, we click on Generative Fill<\/strong> and enter a description of what we want to generate. In our case, starting with an image that has a blue sky, let’s say we want to achieve a stormy sky. So, we enter “stormy sky.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nAI Generated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAI Generated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWork with the result<\/h3>\n\n\n\n In this case, the initial result \u2014 the image on the left \u2014 is a sky that’s too dramatic. Fixing this is very easy since the sky is a new layer in our Photoshop image. Therefore, it’s enough to slightly increase the brightness of that layer, as shown in the image on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n