What You Will Learn

• Use Generative Fill to expand images and change aspect ratios
• Add, remove, and replace objects with selections and text prompts
• Apply Quick Mask techniques to control generation intensity
• Transform photos into watercolour and oil painting styles
• Create seamless patterns and 360° panoramas

Study Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on mastering Photoshop AI, specifically focusing on the Generative Fill feature. This course is designed to take you from a beginner to an advanced user, unlocking the full potential of Photoshop's AI capabilities. Whether you're a content creator, part of a design team, or an individual eager to expand your skills, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to seamlessly integrate AI into your creative workflow. We'll explore everything from basic image adjustments to advanced artistic transformations and experimental video applications. Let's dive into the world of Photoshop AI and discover how it can revolutionize your creative process.

Understanding the Versatility of Generative Fill

At the heart of Photoshop AI lies the powerful Generative Fill feature. It's not just about simple content removal or addition; its versatility extends far beyond. Generative Fill allows you to:
- Expand images seamlessly and adjust aspect ratios, such as turning a photo into a square or creating panoramic views. Imagine taking an album cover and expanding it in a way that went viral on social media.
- Manipulate objects within an image by adding, removing, or replacing them using simple selections and text prompts. For example, you can add facial features like "nose," "hair," "eyebrows," or change clothing with prompts like "a suit." The ease of use here means you don't need to be overly precise with your selections.
- Perform non-destructive editing. Generative Fill creates new layers with layer masks, preserving the original image. However, keep in mind that the generated content replaces all pixels in your selection, leaving no transparency.
- Benefit from contextual awareness. The AI matches lighting, colors, perspective, shadows, and reflections without needing explicit style prompts. It intelligently blends the new content with the existing image.

Practical Applications and Use Cases

Generative Fill is a game-changer for a wide range of practical applications. Here are some examples:
- Enhance your photos by adding realistic elements like water with reflections, replacing skies using the "select Sky" button, or removing unwanted elements such as tourists from a photo.
- While primarily focused on still images, Generative Fill can be applied to still frames from videos, allowing you to extend shots horizontally or vertically for editing purposes. This functionality is limited to still shots but offers creative possibilities.
- Create seamless patterns and 360-degree images. By using workflows involving the offset filter and Generative Fill, you can eliminate seams and produce patterns that seamlessly tile.
- Transform photos into different artistic mediums, such as watercolour or oil paintings. Photoshop excels in this area, often providing superior results compared to other AI tools like Midjourney, as it doesn't deviate too far from your original image.

Effective Prompting Strategies

When using Generative Fill, your prompting strategy can significantly impact the results. Consider these tips:
- Keep your prompts simple and direct. Unlike Midjourney, Photoshop AI thrives on concise prompts, relying on the existing image context to fill in the details. Avoid unnecessary style-related keywords like "photorealistic" or "HD."
- You can apply multiple prompts to the same selection, which will appear under a single layer. This allows for iterative adjustments and refinements.

Limitations and Strengths Compared to Other AI Tools

While Generative Fill is a powerful tool, it's essential to understand its limitations and strengths. Here's what to keep in mind:
- The tool struggles with generating realistic depictions of people, especially faces and hands, and results with animals can be inconsistent. For complex subjects, consider using dedicated AI image generators like Midjourney and then refine them in Photoshop.
- One of Photoshop's strengths is its integration and control. It allows for precise blending and integration of AI-generated content within a robust editing suite. This level of control is unmatched by other AI tools.
- Photoshop and Midjourney have a complementary relationship. Midjourney excels at generating content from scratch, particularly complex scenes or specific styles, while Photoshop is ideal for integrating and refining that content within an existing image.

Advanced Techniques

For those looking to push the boundaries of what's possible with Generative Fill, advanced techniques offer exciting possibilities. Explore these methods:
- Adjust the generation intensity using Quick Mask. By varying brightness levels (0-100%) in Quick Mask mode, you can control the intensity at which pixels are generated, allowing for subtle blending effects. This technique is particularly useful in scenarios like creating underwater scenes.
- Transform photos into watercolour and oil paintings. Use Quick Mask, fill with specific brightness levels, apply Generative Fill with the desired style prompt, and add filters like Water Paper for watercolour or Bevel and Emboss for oil painting effects. This step-by-step process achieves convincing artistic transformations.

Experimental Video Applications with Midjourney Integration

While still in the experimental phase, combining Generative Fill with Midjourney opens up new creative video editing possibilities. Here's how to start:
- Use a still shot from a video as a reference in Midjourney, apply the zoom out feature, and blend the generated imagery back into the video using Photoshop and video editing software. This technique allows for innovative scene transitions and character additions generated by AI. If there's interest, a dedicated tutorial can be created to delve deeper into these possibilities.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've now completed the comprehensive guide to mastering Photoshop AI with Generative Fill. By exploring its versatility, practical applications, prompting strategies, and advanced techniques, you have the tools to elevate your creative projects to new heights. Remember, while Photoshop AI offers powerful capabilities, thoughtful application of these skills will set your work apart. Continue experimenting, refining, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI in your creative endeavors. The world of Photoshop AI is vast, and your journey is just beginning.

Podcast

There'll soon be a podcast available for this course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for the 'Video Course: Master Photoshop AI (beginner to advanced)'. This guide is designed to answer your questions about using Photoshop AI with Generative Fill, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. Whether you're a beginner just starting out or an experienced user looking to refine your skills, this FAQ aims to provide clear, practical insights to enhance your Photoshop AI journey.

What are some of the basic functions of Generative Fill in Photoshop AI beyond simple photo alterations?

Generative Fill extends far beyond basic photo editing.
It can convert static images into 360-degree panoramas, create seamless repeating patterns from any photograph, and transform images into various artistic mediums like watercolours or oil paintings. It also has potential applications in video editing, such as extending shots or creatively altering scenes, though the video aspects are currently more experimental.

How can Generative Fill be used to expand or alter the aspect ratio of an image non-destructively?

To expand an image, select the crop tool (C), hold the Option key, and drag the crop boundaries outwards.
Then, use the Rectangular Marquee tool (Command+A to select all, then hold Option to subtract the original image area), leaving some space around the edges. Generative Fill will then provide options to fill the newly created space. This process adds a new layer with a layer mask, ensuring the original image remains untouched. Similarly, you can change an aspect ratio (e.g., from landscape to square) by expanding the canvas and using Generative Fill to intelligently fill the added areas instead of cropping.

How do you make targeted edits or additions to specific areas of an image using Generative Fill?

Use selection tools like the Lasso tool to define the area you want to modify.
Once selected, a contextual taskbar appears where you can enter a text prompt describing the desired change (e.g., "add a beard," "give them sunglasses"). Generative Fill will then generate variations based on your prompt, seamlessly integrating them into the selected area. You can refine the results by generating again or by using the mask tools (add to mask, subtract from mask) on the newly created layer to ensure a perfect blend.

What are some key considerations when writing prompts for Generative Fill in Photoshop AI?

Unlike some other AI image generators, Generative Fill in Photoshop excels when prompts are kept simple and direct.
You generally don't need to include style-related keywords like "photorealistic" or "HD" because the AI is designed to match the existing image's lighting, colours, perspective, shadows, and reflections. Clear, concise prompts focused on the desired content usually yield the best results.

What are Generative Fill's current limitations, particularly when dealing with people and animals?

While powerful, Generative Fill in its current beta stage has limitations, particularly when generating or significantly altering depictions of people and animals.
Faces and hands on humans often appear distorted or unnatural. Results with animals can be inconsistent. For these types of complex subjects, the presenter suggests using dedicated AI image generators like Midjourney to create the desired elements and then compositing and blending them into Photoshop using Generative Fill for a more refined outcome.

How can Generative Fill be used to create seamless patterns and 360-degree images?

To create a seamless pattern, start by using the Offset filter (Filter > Other > Offset) to move the edges of the image towards the centre, creating visible seams.
Then, use Generative Fill on the seam areas to blend them seamlessly. Repeat this process for both horizontal and vertical offsets. Finally, define the result as a pattern (Edit > Define Pattern). For 360-degree images, begin by using the outcrop feature to create a panorama with an even number of pixels in width. Then, use the Offset filter to shift the edges to the centre and use Generative Fill to fix the resulting seam. Merging the layers after this process creates a tileable image suitable for a 360-degree environment.

What is the "Quick Mask" feature and how can it be used to control the intensity of Generative Fill applications?

Quick Mask mode (activated by clicking the icon or pressing 'Q') allows you to paint selections using the foreground and background colours.
When filling with the background colour (typically black), the area is masked (not selected). Painting with the foreground colour (typically white) defines the selection. The brightness of the white colour chosen in the colour picker determines the intensity at which Generative Fill will generate pixels within the selection. A lower brightness percentage results in a more subtle generation, blending more with the underlying content, while 100% brightness generates at full intensity.

Can Generative Fill be used to transform photographs into artistic styles like watercolour or oil paintings?

Yes, Generative Fill can be used to achieve watercolour and oil painting effects, often with better adherence to the original image than dedicated AI art generators.
The process involves using Quick Mask to create a selection and then filling it with a colour at a low brightness percentage (around 10-20%) to control the strength of the artistic effect. After exiting Quick Mask and applying Generative Fill with the prompt "watercolor painting" or "oil painting," you can further enhance the result by applying filters from the Filter Gallery, such as "Water Paper" for watercolour texture or a combination of desaturation, shadow/highlight adjustments, and bevel/emboss layer styles for an oil paint effect.

How does Generative Fill handle the generation of new pixels in terms of layers and transparency within Photoshop?

Generative Fill creates a new layer with a layer mask, making the changes non-destructive.
However, it replaces 100% of the pixels within the selection, meaning there is no transparency in the initially generated content. This approach allows for easy adjustments and refinements without altering the original image.

What are some general strengths of Generative Fill regarding image characteristics like lighting and perspective?

Generative Fill is generally strong at matching the existing image's lighting, colours, perspective, shadows, and reflections automatically.
This means style prompts like "photorealistic" are usually unnecessary. The AI is designed to seamlessly integrate new content with the existing image, maintaining a cohesive look that aligns with the original photograph's characteristics.

Explain the process of using Generative Fill to create a seamless 360-degree image from a regular photograph.

First, the image is outcropped into a panorama.
Then, the image width is often adjusted to an even number of pixels. The layers are merged, and the "offset" filter is used to move the edges to the centre. Generative Fill is then used to seamlessly blend the seam in the middle. This process ensures that the image can be viewed as a continuous 360-degree scene.

Briefly describe how to create a seamless pattern using Generative Fill, highlighting the role of the "offset" filter.

To create a seamless pattern, the image is first offset horizontally, and Generative Fill is used to hide the resulting seam.
After merging, the image is offset vertically, and Generative Fill is again used. This ensures both horizontal and vertical edges will tile seamlessly, making the pattern suitable for various design applications.

What is the purpose of using "Quick Mask" with varying brightness levels before applying Generative Fill, and how does it differ from adjusting layer opacity?

Using Quick Mask with varying brightness levels controls the intensity at which Generative Fill generates pixels.
A lower brightness results in a more subtle generation that blends better with the existing content, unlike opacity which affects the transparency of fully formed pixels. This provides more control over how the new content integrates with the original image.

What additional steps are recommended to enhance the watercolour painting effect created with Generative Fill?

To enhance the watercolour effect, merge all layers and then apply a filter from the Filter Gallery.
Specifically, under "Sketch," choose "Water Paper" and adjust the fibre length, contrast, and brightness. These adjustments add texture and depth, enhancing the realism of the watercolour effect.

Describe the initial steps for using Generative Fill to transform a photograph into an oil painting.

Similar to the watercolour effect, the initial steps for oil painting involve using Quick Mask, filling with a colour at a specific brightness, and then exiting Quick Mask.
Afterward, apply "oil painting" in the Generative Fill prompt. This method allows for a controlled transformation, maintaining key details while giving the image an artistic flair.

What are Generative Fill's limitations when it comes to generating specific subjects like people and animals, and what alternative is suggested?

Generative Fill, while in beta, is not very good at generating people, especially faces and hands, and results with animals can be inconsistent.
The suggested alternative is to generate these elements using a tool like Midjourney and then composite and blend them into the Photoshop image using Generative Fill. This approach can achieve more accurate and aesthetically pleasing results.

Discuss the potential impact of Adobe Photoshop's Generative Fill feature on the workflows of photographers and graphic designers.

Generative Fill offers creative possibilities that can significantly enhance the workflows of photographers and graphic designers.
By automating complex tasks like image expansion and artistic transformations, it frees up time for creative exploration. However, its current limitations with specific subjects mean that traditional methods still play a role in achieving high-quality results. Overall, Generative Fill is a valuable tool that complements existing workflows, offering new avenues for creativity and efficiency.

Analyse the techniques for creating seamless patterns and 360-degree images using Generative Fill.

These techniques leverage the Offset filter and Generative Fill to achieve seamless results efficiently.
Compared to traditional methods, they offer a streamlined process that reduces manual blending tasks. The quality of results is generally high, though it may require some refinement for complex images. Overall, these techniques provide a practical approach to creating professional-grade patterns and immersive images.

Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Generative Fill, using specific examples to support your points.

Generative Fill excels in tasks like expanding images and creating artistic effects, offering a high degree of automation and integration with existing content.
However, its limitations with complex subjects like people and animals highlight the need for complementary tools. For example, while it can effectively expand a landscape scene, generating a realistic human face remains challenging. Despite these weaknesses, its strengths make it a valuable addition to any creative toolkit.

Compare and contrast the processes for stylistic transformations like watercolour and oil painting using Generative Fill.

The processes for watercolour and oil painting transformations share common steps but differ in their final enhancements.
Both involve using Quick Mask and Generative Fill, but watercolour effects benefit from additional texture filters, while oil painting effects may require layer styles like bevel and emboss. Each technique offers unique artistic possibilities, allowing users to tailor the transformation to their creative vision.

Discuss the evolving relationship between AI image generation tools like Midjourney and traditional image editing software like Photoshop.

AI tools like Midjourney and Photoshop complement each other, offering a blend of automated creativity and manual control.
While AI can generate complex elements quickly, Photoshop provides the tools for precise editing and integration. This synergy allows for innovative workflows that balance efficiency with artistic expression, paving the way for future advancements in image manipulation.