Photoshop is practically bursting at the seams with new generative AI tools these days. As someone who spends way too much time testing AI image generators, I know firsthand that "AI-powered" can mean anything from genuinely useful to hilariously bad. So naturally, I had to see if Adobe's fancy new features were actually worth the hype.
Let's be clear: stuffing AI into everything isn't always the answer, especially for pros who know Photoshop inside and out. Some of these tools can actually speed up your workflow, but you need to know which ones are legit and which are just flashy gimmicks.
Before you even start, Adobe will make you pinky-swear you won't use their AI to make anything illegal or awful (their lawyers made them say that). Once you've agreed to the AI terms of service, only then will you find out if the AI tools actually worth trying, plus a few hard-earned tips from putting them through their paces. You can find these features in Photoshop on desktop, web, and now even on your phone.
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How to create AI images using Photoshop
Adobe's AI image model Firefly is available as a separate app and embedded in Photoshop, so you can use it wherever is easiest for you. If you're already creating in Photoshop, here's how to access Firefly.
Open your Photoshop project. If you're using the most recent version of PS, the contextual taskbar should include an option that says Generate image. Navigate to Edit, then click Generate image. You can also click the icon that looks like an image with an arrow and sparkle in the toolbar on the left side. Enter your prompt, specify the style and upload any reference images. Click Generate. Tab through the different variations by using the arrows in the taskbar below.
When you're writing your prompt, don't be afraid to add a lot of detail, and put the most important elements at the beginning. Check out our AI image prompt-writing guide for more tips to get better results. If you're not in love with the images, you can click the image pop-out window or the icon with four squares to adjust your prompt and reference images. You can tap the three vertical dots on the end of the pin bar to give feedback on the generations, remove the background, or generate similar images. If you still don't like what you've got, I recommend starting over with a new prompt rather than trying to endlessly tweak and generate, hoping to get it right.
How to use generative features in Photoshop
You can also use generative AI tools to edit your existing project in Photoshop. Generative fill, expand and remove are some of the most popular AI tools. Here's how to use each.
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