How to use Reference image in Photoshop Generative Fill

Colin Smith

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Reference images in Photoshop Generative Fill, the complete guide

In a game-changing move, Adobe has added the ability to use your own Reference Images when using ai to generate images.
Colin Smith (me) shows you how to use a reference image, as well as a surprising way to create your own reference images.

At this time, this feature is only in Photoshop beta. How to get Photoshop BETA here

Using Reference Image in Photoshop

First all, here’s how Reference Image works, then we will dig in a bit.

Grab the lasso tool

Woman with long dark hair in a white corset open in Photoshop Beta with the Lasso tool chosen

Make a selection for a hat

Lasso selection drawn above the woman's head for a hat

Click Generative Fill on the task bar

Type in hat and click generate (We would get a better result with a better prompt, but I want to demonstrate something here)

Generative Fill bar with variation 2 of 3 and the Generate button

And you may get a hat, or something different.

In the past we would refine the prompt, burning through Generative Credits. There’s a better way…
Generated flower crown instead of a hat, marked with a red X

Click the image button in the task bar

Reference image button outlined on the Generative Fill bar

Choose image

Reference image panel with Choose image to match content from your own image

Navigate to a jpg you have saved,

In this case, it’s the type of hat we want to generate against an isolated background. (Isolated backgrounds work better).

Cream fedora with a copper band, the reference image

The checkmark tells use we are using a reference image. Click generate

Reference image button with a blue checkmark beside the hat prompt

Now you get exactly the hat you want, no fuss!

Woman in the white corset now wearing the cream fedora from the reference

Getting reference images

You can use existing pictures, take photos of stuff with your phone, or generate you own in Photoshop or Firefly, but..

Creating References title over a portrait in Photoshop

Not all generated images are equal in Photoshop.

Make a selection around the entire document and choose Generative Fill

Add a descriptive prompt and click generate

Prompt 3 fedora hats isolated background outlined in the Generative Fill bar

Here we have some hats, but they are just ok, kind of mediocre.

Generative Fill result of cream, straw and red fedoras on gray

Try this new feature in Photoshop instead, click on Generate Image

Generate image button outlined on the contextual task bar

Generate Image is basically Firefly for Photoshop

Enter the same prompt we just used, choose photo and click Generate

Generate image dialog with the fedora prompt, Photo content type and Generate outlined

As you can see the results are much better than Generative Fill, at this point in time. I imagine in time, the quality will match in both.

Generate Image result of three realistic fedoras on a peach background

Lets make a selection around one of the hats, using the Quick Selection tool

Close-up of brown, gray tweed and navy fedoras generated in Photoshop

Press Ctrl/Cmd+J to copy it to a new layer and hide the background

Choose File>Export>Save For Web

File Export menu with Save for Web (Legacy) over the cut-out gray tweed fedora

Save it out as a jpg. Because it was on a transparent layer, we get an isolated background. Reference Image works best like this.

Save for Web preview of the gray tweed fedora on white

Back to our photo, make a selection for the hat
Lasso selection above the head of a blonde woman for a hat

Type in hat for the prompt and choose reference image

Reference image panel with Choose image beside the hat prompt

Here is our hat. Notice it doesn’t even need to be a clean cutout.

Gray tweed fedora with a black band, the new reference image

And the result, is the hat we wanted.

Blonde woman with red lips now wearing the gray tweed fedora

I hope you found this tutorial useful. If you did and you haven’t already, please subscribe to my youtube channel for more tutorials.

Thanks

Colin


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5 thoughts on “How to use Reference image in Photoshop Generative Fill”

  1. May 4, 2024 at 8:17 am

    Does Generate Image have the same resolution limitations at Generative Fill or does it create a high resolution image? And if so, does the resolution match the rest of the image?

    1. Colin Smith
      May 6, 2025 at 1:59 pm

      Its double the resolution

  2. Peter
    May 4, 2024 at 6:02 pm

    Great as always, I watch all your videos

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