Photoshop Generative ai, reference Image remove background

Colin Smith

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New Gen ai Photoshop tool, makes reference image work better

There is a new feature in Photoshop beta currently that makes it easier to get a good result Generating with a reference image. Let’s look at it now. How to get Photoshop beta.

Make selection with the lasso tool. We are going to generate a Vespa scooter.

Lasso selection on a cobblestone old town street, labeled Lasso Tool (L)

Click on Generative Fill in the Task bar. (Window>Contextual Task Bar)

Generative Fill button on the Photoshop contextual task bar

Click the Reference image button (Currently only in Photoshop beta, but might be in Photoshop main if you are reading this later)

Reference image button outlined in the Generative Fill prompt bar

Click Choose image

Reference image panel with the Choose image button outlined

Find the reference Image that you want to use.

File list with the vintage blue motor scooter in Palma de Mallorca image selected

This is the reference image

Reference photo of a turquoise vintage Vespa parked against a stone wall
You can see the reference image is loaded.

Click Generate

Reference image loaded, shown with a check on the prompt bar icon

See, it generates the Vespa, but it also has a weird background.

Generated Vespa on the cobblestones with an unwanted wooden wall behind it

 

Another variation with the Vespa in front of a dark wood panel

This is because the reference image has a background and Gen Fill is trying to generate that too. For best results, you need to isolate the background from the subject in a reference image. I’ve covered reference images in Photoshop Generative Fill in depth

The new feature, is a remove background check box when you load the reference image.

Reference image panel with the Remove Background checkbox outlined

Click and the background is removed from the reference image, very cool!

Reference image thumbnail with the background removed, outlined

Now, it generates more what you would hope for.

Turquoise Vespa generated naturally on the old town cobblestone street

Revealing the Original background in Generative Fill

Let’s do a bonus tip here.

When you use Generative Fill, it will generate pixels for the entire selection. If we want to show the original background we can mask it out. Here’s how..

Grab the Quick Selection Tool

Quick Selection Tool outlined in the Photoshop toolbar

Click Select Subject from the Top menu bar

Select Subject button outlined in the options bar

It selects our Vespa

Marching ants selection around the generated Vespa

Inverse the selection. Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+I

Inverse selection shortcut Cmd+Shift+I or Ctrl+Shift+I with the mask outlined

Choose the mask.

Generative Fill layer mask outlined in the Layers panel

Grab the brush tool, (B)

Brush tool outlined in the Photoshop toolbar

Make the foreground color black

Black foreground color outlined in the toolbar

Make sure Hardness is turned down on the brush for a soft edge.

Brush Hardness set to 0 percent, outlined

Paint around the background on the vespa. Black brush stokes on the Layer Mask will hide the current layer and allow the background top show through.

Painting black around the Vespa to reveal the original street

keep painting, but don’t paint over the shadow that was generated

Original street showing around the Vespa while keeping its generated shadow

We now see the original background from the bottom layer.

Final turquoise Vespa on the original cobblestone street

I hope you found this tutorial useful. Keep checking back for new Photoshop features as they become available and other photoshop tutorials here at the CAFE.

Great to see you!

Colin


PS Don’t forget to follow us on Social Media for more tips.. (I've been posting some fun Instagram and Facebook Stories lately)
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2 thoughts on “Photoshop Generative ai, reference Image remove background”

  1. HanaMaoz
    July 20, 2024 at 2:16 am

    Excellent….

  2. Jack
    July 28, 2024 at 4:36 pm

    Another thing I didn’t know ’till noq

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