How to retouch and export photos with Photoshop Generative Fill

Generative Fill requirements and prerequisites

Running Generative Fill requires Adobe Photoshop desktop installation and an active internet connection. Generated results are computed on cloud servers, so the feature does not work offline. It is available in RGB color mode at 8-bit or 16-bit; the feature is disabled in Index or CMYK modes.

Personal Creative Cloud plan users consume generative credits included in their plan. When credits are exhausted, generation speed is throttled or additional generations are restricted. Legal guidelines prohibit text prompts or reference images that infringe third-party copyrights or trademarks.

Prompt comparison table for result verification

For subject removal, leave the text input blank and generate for the most natural result. For new object creation, combine specific nouns and adjectives in Korean or English. Generative Fill automatically calculates surrounding lighting, shadows, and texture based on the entered prompt and composites onto a new generative layer.

If results look unnatural or subject edges break, simplify the prompt structure. Compare the three variations in the Properties panel and select the most natural image. If no result is satisfactory, click Generate again to request additional variations.

For subject removal, keep the prompt field empty and click Generate. For object addition, enter single-target phrases such as "red leather chair" or "granite rock." For background extension, use the Generative Expand feature or select an area and generate with an empty prompt.

Five steps from selection to file export

Complete procedure for retouching a photo with Generative Fill and saving the final file.

1. Launch Photoshop and choose File > Open from the menu bar to load the photo to retouch.
2. Select the Lasso Tool or Rectangular Marquee Tool from the Tools panel, then drag to select the area to modify or remove, including a slight margin around the subject.
3. Click the Generative Fill button on the Contextual Task Bar that appears around the selection.
4. Enter the desired content in the text field, or leave it blank for subject removal, then click Generate.
5. Click the most natural thumbnail among the three variations in the Properties panel to apply, then choose File > Export > Export As from the menu bar and save as PNG or JPG.

Visual inspection criteria for generative layers

When generation finishes, a new layer with a generative layer icon appears in the Layers panel. This layer maintains a non-destructive workflow that does not alter the original background layer. You can revisit the Properties panel at any time to swap variation thumbnails.

Zoom in to check whether edges blend naturally with surrounding imagery. Verify that shadow direction on the subject and specular highlights on its surface match the original lighting. Confirm that the generated object's resolution and noise grain integrate uniformly with the source image.

If visible seams remain, reselect only the awkward edge area with the Lasso Tool and run Generative Fill again. To compare against the original without committing, toggle the generative layer's visibility icon on and off.

Error diagnosis and alternative tools

If the Generative Fill button is disabled or an error message appears, check age verification status or license state. Accounts under 18 years old or without age information are restricted from generative AI features. If a terms-of-service consent dialog appears, follow the on-screen steps to complete agreement; the feature will then work normally.

If a guideline violation error appears, remove the offending word or brand name from the prompt. Unstable internet causes server communication errors; reset the network connection. If excessive credit consumption halts work, switch to manual retouching with the Spot Healing Brush Tool or Patch Tool.

An outdated software version may hide the Generative Fill menu. Update Photoshop to the latest version via the Creative Cloud Desktop app. Organization account users should verify in the Admin Console whether enterprise policy has disabled generative AI features.

Generative AI feature exceptions

Commercial use of images created with Generative Fill follows the Creative Cloud Terms of Service and Adobe Generative AI User Guidelines. Content generated by the Firefly AI model is generally permitted for commercial projects. However, commercial use is restricted if prompts or reference images used during generation infringe third-party intellectual property, trademarks, or likeness rights.

Content Credentials metadata embedded in the output records the image's generation history. Including this metadata on export proves the file was created or modified by AI. To retain metadata, keep the Content Credentials option enabled in the export settings.