Generative Fill in Photoshop Variation Hack

Remove anything with ease in Photoshop with Generative Fill and Variations

Photoshop can easily remove any distraction with generative ai. Generative fill generates 3 different variations that it can use to patch an image. Usually, you choose the best one and bingo. What if you like part of one variation, but a different part of another variation? Here’s a clever hack that I came up with while experimenting. It’s so obvious once you see it. OK, lets go

Here is a photo I shot in NYC and as you can see the bridge has fencing on both sides of the tunnel. Let’s fix it.

At this time, this feature is only in Photoshop beta. Here is a short tutorial on how to get the Photoshop beta.

Grab the Ted Lasso tool. (sorry, couldn’t help myself).

Make a selection around all the areas that you want to remove. Tip: Hold down the Shift key to add to a selection.

(Because the fill is currently limited to 1024px you will get better resolution to do it in smaller pieces, but eventually that won’t be an issue).

Choose Generative Fill (Only in Photoshop beta at the time of this writing)

Don’t enter any text in the text field. Click Generate,

The selected areas are filled with ai generated pixels. There are 3 options in the properties panel. These options are called variations. Here we have the first one selected.

Notice, I have clicked the 2nd variation thumbnail. See how the generated content changed. You can choose any of 3 options each time you press the generate button.

Here is the scenario, and solution.

On the first variation, you like the left side of the result, but not the right.

On the 2nd variation you prefer the right side. How do you pick from both?

Here’s the thing. The layer is a generative layer and it keeps the 3 variations as part of that layer.

So lets duplicate that layer. Ctrl/Cmd+J to duplicate.

The duplicate layer, also has access to the same 3 variations.

On the top layer, choose variation 1 from properties.

Choose the next layer down and this time, click on the 2nd variation.

You now have 2 generative layers. The top one on shows, because its on top. However the layer under it has a different variation.

The layers also have layer masks, With masks, you hide the contents of that layer by painting with black,

Choose a brush

Select black as the foreground color

Select the mask on top.

Paint away the areas you want to hide and allow the layer underneath to show through.

Here are some different options.

I hope you found this useful.

If you did, it’s a taste of what’s on my new course on Generative Fill in Photoshop, Check it out here.

Also follow me on Instagram, Tik Tik and Twitter.  for shorts and reels.

Great to see you here at the CAFE

Happy Photoshopping

Colin

Follow along for more tips

Recommended for this tutorial

Complete Guide to ai in Photoshop 2026

Generative Fill, Firefly, Harmonize and every AI tool in Photoshop, step by step.

$79.00 · one-time purchase · instant download

View the course See all courses

Free for you

The Photoshop Vault

Get my free Layer Blending Modes ebook along with dozens of exclusive Photoshop goodies: actions, brushes, presets and cheat sheets.

You're on the list, so your free goodies are waiting for you in the Vault.

Get Free Photoshop Goodies Open the Vault

Generative Fill vs Remove tool ai in Photoshop, when to use each tool

New ai Remove tool vs Generative Fill in Photoshop, which should you use? Read tutorial →

How to to get High Resolution with Generative Fill in Photoshop and automate it

How to automate high resolution in Adobe Generative Fill in Photoshop with actions. The best Generative Fill hack Read tutorial →

Revealing hidden features in Photoshop Generative Fill to convert photos to art and more

Hidden way to convert your photos into different art styles using Generative ai inside Photoshop. Access Firefly settings inside Photoshop Read tutorial →

Visualize Interior design with photoshop and ai with generative fill

redesigned Generative Fill in Photoshop adds 5 new features. Visualize filling a room with real furniture without breaking a sweat. Read tutorial →

New AI Remove tool in Photoshop, How to remove anything from a picture really easy

How to install and use the new Remove Tool in Photoshop to remove anything from an image using ai technology Read tutorial →

How to get much better results from Generative Fill and remove tool in Photoshop

Why Photoshop Generative Fill doesn't always remove objects and how to fix it. BIG Photoshop generative fill + Remove Tool tips Read tutorial →