Lightroom’s AI Tool Quickly Removes Unwanted Objects

Adobe’s AI-Powered Generative Remove: A Game Changer for Photographers

Introduction to Generative Remove

Adobe has introduced a new AI-powered feature called Generative Remove to its Lightroom engine, designed to seamlessly replace unwanted elements in photos. By simply painting over the area you wish to remove, Lightroom sends this information to Adobe’s Firefly servers, which process the data and return the edited image. In demonstrations observed by WIRED, this process took only a few seconds, although the speed may vary depending on your internet connection.

Focus on Photographer’s Workflow

Unlike Adobe Photoshop’s Reference Image feature, which allows users to generate new images using Firefly, Lightroom’s AI features are specifically tailored to enhance a photographer’s workflow.

The highlighted area shows what will be removed.
Courtesy of Adobe

You can use Object Aware and Generative AI together.
Courtesy of Adobe

Simplifying Complex Edits

Removing distracting elements from images has always been a challenging task. Traditionally, tools like Lightroom’s Content Aware Remove were used to hide elements by matching surrounding areas. This method works well for small, simple backgrounds, such as removing a telephone pole against a clear blue sky. However, larger objects and more complex backgrounds make this process difficult and time-consuming.

Efficiency and Options

The Firefly-powered Generative Remove can handle larger objects against any background, reducing what once took hours and significant technical skill to just a few seconds of processing time. This feature generates three different versions of the edited image, allowing users to choose the best one.

Comparison with Google Photos

While Generative Remove is impressive, it may seem familiar to users of Google Photos, which offers similar features like altering the lighting of a scene or cutting and pasting subjects within the scene.

Enhancing Existing Tools

Adobe’s Generative Remove continues the company’s trend of using AI to enhance existing tools rather than introducing entirely new features. This approach is similar to last year’s AI-powered noise removal tool, which improved upon existing noise removal capabilities. This focus on better tools rather than flashy new features aligns with what working photographers actually want.

“This, I suspect, is what working photographers actually want—better tools, rather than flashy new features.”

Adobe appears content to leave more dramatic AI-powered tools, such as re-arranging a scene after the fact, to other companies.