- What Generative Fill in Photoshop does
- What you need before using Generative Fill
- How to use Generative Fill step by step
- Removing something from a photo with Generative Fill
- Using the Generate Similar and Reference Image options
- Extending a photo with Generative Expand
- Choosing prompts that work in Generative Fill
- Generative Fill rights, safety and honest use
- Generative Fill partner models in Photoshop
- Is Generative Fill worth learning for your business?
- Frequently asked questions
To use Generative Fill in Photoshop, select an area with any selection tool, click Generative Fill in the Contextual Task Bar, type a prompt or leave it blank, and click Generate. Variations appear as thumbnails on a new Generative Layer. The detail people miss: a blank prompt removes the object.
Generative Fill is the Photoshop feature that made a lot of people stop and say, "Wait, it did that from one sentence?" You select part of a photo, type what you'd like to see there, and Photoshop produces options. It can add a new object, fill a gap, or remove something that shouldn't be in the shot.
This guide follows Adobe's own description of how it works, with the steps in order and the points that catch people out. If you're also curious about other ways to remove things from pictures, I've covered photo object remover tools separately.
What Generative Fill in Photoshop does
Adobe describes Generative Fill as a generative AI tool, powered by its Firefly model, that adds and removes content from images using simple text prompts. A key detail is that it works nondestructively: your original picture stays intact underneath, and the new content goes on its own layer.
- Add: select an area and describe what should appear there.
- Remove: select something unwanted and let Photoshop fill the space based on the surroundings.
- Extend: use Generative Expand to grow the edges of an image.
What you need before using Generative Fill
Adobe's page lists a few requirements and limits:
- You need Photoshop version 25.0 or later installed.
- Generative Fill isn't available for users in China.
- Adobe says you can access generative AI tools like Generative Fill within Photoshop with either a membership or a free trial. Check which accounts can use it on Adobe's official page.
- You can try these features in Photoshop on mobile and in the browser with Photoshop on the web.
To see your version, Adobe suggests opening the Help menu and choosing System Info. If Generative Fill doesn't appear, an out-of-date install is the first thing to rule out.
How to use Generative Fill step by step
These are the three steps Adobe gives. Menus and button names can shift between versions, so use them as the order of events.
- Select the area or object. Use the Selection Brush tool, or any other selection tool, to select an object or area in your image. Then click the Generative Fill button that appears in the Contextual Task Bar.
- Write a prompt. Describe the object or scene you want in the text box. Or leave it blank, and Photoshop fills the selection based on the surroundings.
- Click Generate. You'll see thumbnail previews of variations, and a Generative Layer appears in your Layers panel.
Adobe adds a tip: to see even more options, click Generate again, or edit your prompt to fine-tune the results.
Removing something from a photo with Generative Fill
Removing is the same process with the prompt left empty. Select the unwanted thing, click Generative Fill, leave the box blank and click Generate. Photoshop fills the selection based on the area around it.
Make the selection a little bigger than the object so no stray edge is left behind. Then flick through the variations, because some blend better than others. Always zoom in and check the result before you use it.
Using the Generate Similar and Reference Image options
Two features help when the first results aren't quite right.
- Generate Similar: select the variation you like best and click Generate Similar to see new versions of that image.
- Reference Image: in the Photoshop app, click Reference Image and upload an example image containing the content you want, such as a jacket. You can use the image alone or combine it with a prompt.
Only upload a reference image that you own or have permission to use, and avoid references that show other people without their consent.
Extending a photo with Generative Expand
Generative Expand is the companion feature. Adobe says you click and drag beyond the borders of an image with the Crop tool, then fill the extended canvas with new content that blends with the existing picture. It's handy when a photo is almost right for a banner or social post but the shape is wrong.
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Choosing prompts that work in Generative Fill
Adobe's page doesn't give a prompt formula, but the principle is the same as any image tool: be concrete. Mention the thing, its colour or material, and how it should sit in the scene.
| Instead of | Try describing |
|---|---|
| "a plant" | a leafy green plant in a white ceramic pot on the windowsill |
| "better sky" | a soft pale blue sky with thin high clouds |
| "table stuff" | a wooden table with a notebook and a cup of tea |
For more habits that carry across tools, my guide to creating and editing images with ChatGPT shows a different approach.
Generative Fill rights, safety and honest use
Adobe's page says the current Firefly model was trained on licensed content such as Adobe Stock and public domain content where copyright has expired. It also says whether you have a copyright interest in what you generate depends on your local jurisdiction. The same page says content generated in the Photoshop app may not be used for commercial purposes, so read Adobe's current terms before using generated content in client work. This isn't legal advice, so check your own situation.
- Use your own photos, or photos of people who've agreed.
- Don't use Generative Fill to alter pictures of real people in misleading ways.
- Say when an image has been AI-edited if it could be mistaken for a straight photograph, especially in advertising or news-style content.
- Keep your original file, and save generated edits as separate versions.
Generative Fill partner models in Photoshop
Adobe's page also says that Gemini 3 (with Nano Banana Pro) and FLUX.2 pro image models can be used in Photoshop on desktop when you use Generative Fill. If you see a model choice in your version, treat it as an option rather than a requirement, and check Adobe's page for current availability.
Is Generative Fill worth learning for your business?
If you already use Photoshop for product images or social graphics, yes: it removes a lot of fiddly retouching. If you don't, a simpler tool may fit better. My roundup of AI tools for small business owners compares options, and I can help you choose as an AI consultant.
Frequently asked questions
What is Generative Fill in Photoshop?
Adobe describes it as a generative AI tool powered by Firefly that adds and removes content from images nondestructively using simple text prompts.
How do I use Generative Fill in Photoshop?
Select an area with any selection tool, click Generative Fill in the Contextual Task Bar, type a prompt or leave it blank, and click Generate. Variations appear as thumbnails.
Can I use Generative Fill without a prompt?
Yes. Adobe says you can leave the prompt box blank and Photoshop fills the selection based on the surroundings, which is how you remove an object.
Which Photoshop version has Generative Fill?
Adobe says you must have Photoshop version 25.0 installed. It also says the feature isn't available for users in China.
Does Generative Fill change my original image?
No. Adobe says it works nondestructively, creating a Generative Layer in the Layers panel so your original stays intact.
