Mastering Photoshop’s Generative AI for Perfect Edits

Photoshop’s generative AI can save you a lot of time and frustration. This tool, while powerful, can sometimes yield unexpected results. Knowing the best techniques to get the outcomes you desire is crucial.

Coming to you from Anthony Morganti, this insightful video explores the nuances of using Photoshop’s generative AI for image editing. Morganti demonstrates how to remove a person from a photo, starting with the Object Selection tool. This tool, accessible via the W key, is quick and straightforward. However, it often misses small details, like parts of the subject's hand or hair, which can lead to incomplete selections.

To improve the selection, Morganti suggests expanding it by 30 pixels using the Modify Expand function. This step helps cover more of the subject but might still leave some parts unselected. The Quick Selection tool can then be used to manually add these areas to the selection. After refining the selection, you can proceed to use the generative fill feature. This feature, located in the contextual taskbar, allows you to specify what you want in the selected area. To remove the subject, simply leave the input box blank and click generate.

Interestingly, Morganti points out that using a detailed selection tool like the Object Selection tool can sometimes confuse the AI, leading it to replace the subject with another person. To avoid this, he recommends using a looser selection with the Lasso tool. By making a rough selection around the subject, you can prevent the AI from assuming you want a similar object in the place of the removed one.

Another key tip from Morganti involves ensuring your selection does not resemble the outline of the object you want to remove. For instance, using a rectangular marquee to select the subject helps the AI understand that you want the area cleared entirely. This approach yielded better results, as shown in the video, where the subject was successfully replaced with a background.

Morganti also introduces an alternative tool, the Remove tool, which uses AI to remove selected areas. This tool can be useful for simpler backgrounds but might struggle with complex scenes. Adjusting the overlay opacity and ensuring a thorough painting of the area to be removed are critical steps for using this tool effectively.

For those who find the Lasso tool cumbersome, Morganti suggests the Quick Mask tool. This tool allows you to paint a selection in red, making it easier to visualize and adjust. Once the selection is complete, you can deactivate Quick Mask mode, transforming the painted area into a selection. This method can be particularly helpful for making more precise selections without the hassle of manually tracing with the Lasso tool. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morganti.

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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