Adobe has introduced new Firefly AI tools for Photoshop and Illustrator on Tuesday, July 23, making it easier for graphic designers to use AI for creating textures and images.
These tools let users describe what they want with short text prompts and quickly receive AI-generated results, significantly reducing the time required for such tasks.
New AI Features in Illustrator and Photoshop
Adobe’s new features include the beta tool “Generative Shape Fill” in Illustrator, which allows users to add detailed textures to shapes using text prompts or style references. This tool is powered by an updated beta version of Adobe’s Firefly Vector model.
During a demonstration, Adobe Creative Cloud Evangelist Paul Trani highlighted how the new feature includes sliders to control the amount of detail added. After Firefly generates the details, users can further edit them in Illustrator, a functionality that distinguishes it from most AI image generators.
In Photoshop, Adobe has made Firefly’s text-to-image generator broadly available. Users can create AI images within the application by pressing “Generate Image” and describing their desired image. This feature is powered by Adobe Firefly’s Image 3 Foundation model, which was previously only available in beta.
Balancing AI with User Concerns
As Adobe increases its focus on AI, the company balances this advancement with concerns from some loyal users who feel threatened by AI integration.
Adobe trained Firefly on the work of numerous creative professionals and compensates Adobe Stock’s photographers and illustrators with an annual bonus for this usage. Adobe asserts its commitment to a “creator-friendly approach” by offering Creative Cloud customers a limited number of generative credits monthly at no additional cost.
Deepa Subramaniam, Adobe’s VP of product marketing, emphasized in an interview with TechCrunch that these generous credit limits are included in the Creative Cloud plans to encourage users to utilize the new technology.
Financial Impact of AI Tools
Despite not charging a premium subscription for generative AI, Adobe is still seeing financial returns.
During its latest earnings call, Adobe reported that customers are upgrading to more expensive plans to gain additional generative credits for Firefly. Each generative credit equates to one generation in other AI tools. Since its launch in March 2023, Adobe’s Firefly has generated more than 9 billion images.
New Non-AI Features Available As Well
Illustrator has also received several new features that do not involve generative AI. The Dimension Tool helps users calculate lengths and angles of images. The beta tool Mockup allows users to place logos on any uploaded product image, a feature previously limited to a set of predetermined images. The Retype feature can recognize and match fonts, allowing users to apply them elsewhere.
Photoshop has introduced the Selection Brush Tool and Adjustment Brush Tool, both designed to streamline repetitive tasks, thereby enhancing efficiency in the pixel-based workspace.
Featured Image courtesy of Adobe
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