Adobe Introduces New Firefly AI Tools for Illustrator and Photoshop

On Tuesday, Adobe introduced new Firefly tools for Photoshop and Illustrator, providing graphic designers with enhanced ways to utilize the company's AI models. These new features enable creative workers to describe their desired output with brief prompts, resulting in AI-generated textures or images that would otherwise take hours to create.

Balancing AI and User Concerns

As Adobe expands its AI capabilities, it strives to maintain the support of its loyal users, some of whom feel threatened by AI advancements. Adobe trained Firefly using the work of many creatives and compensates Adobe Stock photographers and illustrators with an annual bonus. Adobe aims to take a “creator-friendly approach,” offering Creative Cloud customers a limited number of generative credits monthly at no additional cost.

“This is all value that’s baked into their Creative Cloud plan,” said Deepa Subramaniam, Adobe’s VP of product marketing, in an interview with TechCrunch. “We just want to put this technology in the hands of our users, so they’re very generous credit limits.”

New Tools for Illustrator and Photoshop

Illustrator's new beta tool, “Generative Shape Fill,” allows users to add details and textures to shapes through text prompts or style references. Powered by the updated beta version of Adobe’s Firefly Vector model, this feature includes sliders to control detail levels. Users can edit the AI-generated details, setting it apart from other AI image generators.

For Photoshop, Adobe is making Firefly’s text-to-image generator widely available, enabling users to create AI images within the application by pressing “Generate Image” and describing their desired output. This is powered by Adobe Firefly’s Image 3 Foundation model, previously available only in beta.

Generative Credits and Customer Conversion

Although Adobe isn't charging a premium subscription for generative AI features, it is seeing returns. Customers are upgrading to pricier plans to gain more generative credits for Firefly. Since its launch in March 2023, Adobe reports Firefly has generated over 9 billion images.

Additional Illustrator and Photoshop Features

Illustrator also received new features that do not involve generative AI. The new Dimension Tool allows users to calculate lengths and angles within an image. The beta Mockup tool lets users place a logo on any product image realistically. The Retype tool can recognize and match fonts for use elsewhere.

Photoshop's pixel-based workspace now includes a new Selection Brush Tool and Adjustment Brush Tool, designed to streamline repetitive tasks and enhance user efficiency.