Ai Has Changed My Photography Forever
Howto & Style
Introduction
Hey there, it’s Patrick Hall from Fstoppers.com! A few weeks back, I released my first video on Photoshop’s brand new AI feature, Generative Fill. To my surprise, it quickly gained traction, garnering nearly half a million views and establishing itself as one of the top resources for this incredible tool. Today, I wanted to showcase some of the ways I've integrated Generative Fill into my photography workflow, and I hope you'll find these techniques beneficial for your own projects.
Removing Distractions
The first way I've utilized this tool is for removing objects from images that would be tedious to erase using the Clone Tool. For instance, I had this rooftop shot with a distracting ladder on the side. While I could manually clone out the red part of the ladder, handling the peaks and edges would be a nightmare. Instead, I grabbed the Lasso Tool to make a quick selection around the ladder and initiated Generative Fill.
I tried a few variations, and to my delight, several of them looked great! I even attempted a text prompt type of command with “remove ladder.” Generative Fill worked its magic, saving me precious time in post-processing.
Enhancing Backgrounds and Portraits
I also dove into enhancing an image I captured in Old San Juan. The original picture was simple and pleasant, but by utilizing Generative Fill, I achieved a substantial transformation. I removed a distracting car, extended the background, and even tidied up stray hairs from the model's face.
For removing the car, I once again used the Lasso Tool, typed “remove car,” and voilà—the sidewalk was rebuilt seamlessly! For stray hairs, I made a similar selection and entered “remove stray hairs.” The results were impressive; the modifications blended harmoniously with the complex backdrop, rendering my tedious retouching attempts obsolete.
Expanding the Canvas
Another powerful application of Generative Fill is canvas extension. By adjusting the canvas size, I was able to push the pixels downwards and generate additional space beneath my image. After making my selection, I experimented with Generative Fill to see how it would fill in the new area. While some limitations resulted in elements not looking exactly as planned, the majority of the outcome was quite convincing, enabling me to create a visually enriched final piece.
Creating Impossible Compositions
As I experimented further, I realized that combining multiple images from a shoot into one stunning composite was made easier with AI. For example, I aligned several vertical landscape photographs and initiated Generative Fill. The result was a cohesive scene where AI blended those elements with astonishing accuracy. It's a time-saver for those who utilize backplates in their composite work.
Upscaling and Quality Improvements
Though Generative Fill does produce images at a maximum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels, I found a clever workaround through an action in Photoshop to enhance these files. By creating a series of overlapping selections and triggering consecutive Generative Fill operations, you can result in a high-resolution finish while maintaining quality.
Final Thoughts
In a world where the boundaries of photography and digital manipulation are becoming increasingly blurred, tools like Generative Fill can enhance creativity significantly. While some may argue it threatens the integrity of photography, I believe it’s an exciting time for artists and photographers alike.
Make sure to check out Fstoppers.com for more insightful content on photography. We have a variety of tutorials that cater to different aspects of the art, including headshots, product photography, and more. Stay tuned for our upcoming projects, such as Elia Locardi’s “Photographing the World: Japan.”
Keyword
- Generative Fill
- Photoshop
- Object removal
- Canvas extension
- Composite photography
- Upscaling
- Image editing
- AI in photography
FAQ
What is Generative Fill in Photoshop?
Generative Fill is a new AI tool in Photoshop that allows users to quickly remove distractions from images, extend backgrounds, and generate new content intelligently based on prompts.
How does Generative Fill save time in photo editing?
By automating tasks such as object removal and canvas extension, Generative Fill drastically reduces the time spent on tedious editing tasks.
Can Generative Fill create high-resolution images?
While the generated images are typically at a maximum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels, there are techniques to upscale these images without compromising quality.
What are some practical applications of Generative Fill in photography?
It can be used to remove distracting elements from photos, enhance backgrounds, create composites from multiple images, and streamline retouching tasks.
Is using AI tools like Generative Fill ethical for photographers?
This is a contentious topic, as some photographers see AI as a threat to the integrity of the art, while others view it as a tool to expand creativity and efficiency.
