Adobe has finally introduced one of the most anticipated features in Photoshop: image upscaling, along with enhanced capabilities for inserting and removing objects from images. On Tuesday, Adobe announced that these new features will be available on both the desktop and web versions of Photoshop, although users will need a subscription to Photoshop or Adobe Creative Cloud to access them. These updates create a notable distinction between older and newer generations of Photoshop users.
For those who were not able to utilize the latest film cameras, their older, grainy images may benefit significantly from the new features. The upscaling technology employs AI to smooth and refine these images, aiming to restore details that might have been lost due to the limitations of previous camera technology. Dubbed Generative Upscale, this feature has been integrated into the beta version of Photoshop and is currently available on Copilot+ PCs, as it relies on the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to enhance image quality.
Additionally, Adobe has improved the process of incorporating objects into photographs with a feature called Harmonize. Unlike traditional methods that often result in awkward edits, such as leaving behind shadows, Harmonize intelligently analyzes the scene and adjusts lighting and effects to seamlessly blend the added object. This feature is accessible not only on desktop and web platforms but also in the Early Access version of the Photoshop app for iOS.
Furthermore, Adobe has enhanced its object removal capabilities so that unwanted elements can be removed while optionally replacing them with AI-generated content. This approach ensures that any alterations to the scene appear more natural, as they are counterbalanced by added details. Lastly, users now have the option to select between different Firefly Image Models (Firefly Image 1 and Firefly Image 3) when employing the Generative Fill and Expand features.