Unwanted objects can ruin an otherwise perfect shot, especially in outdoor photography. Photoshop’s new distraction removal tool aims to streamline this process, offering an automated way to clean up your images with minimal effort.
Coming to you from Christian Möhrle of The Phlog Photography, this detailed video demonstrates Photoshop’s latest distraction removal feature. The tool is powered by generative AI, allowing you to automatically detect and erase objects like people or wires in just a few clicks. Möhrle begins by selecting “Find Distractions” under the Remove Tool menu, where you can target specific types of elements, such as people. The AI scans the image, highlights the distractions, and removes them almost instantly. While the tool isn’t perfect, it significantly reduces the time needed for this type of editing.
Möhrle also explains how the tool integrates into a broader editing workflow. After performing initial adjustments, such as exposure corrections and masking in Camera Raw, he uses the distraction removal tool to clean up the image’s composition. This ensures the focus remains on the scene rather than unwanted objects. For finer details, Möhrle transitions to the Spot Healing Brush, manually touching up areas the AI missed. This hybrid approach delivers professional results with much less effort.
The tool’s ability to work seamlessly with reflections is another key feature highlighted in the video. For instance, when removing people from a shot, their reflections in water are also targeted. While not always flawless, this feature still saves time compared to manually addressing these issues. Möhrle emphasizes the efficiency of this tool for photographers working with large batches of images or complex scenes. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Möhrle.
