Photoshop Generative Fill
AI retouching that lives inside a real editing workflow, not a separate app — with a credit system worth understanding before you pick a plan.
What is Photoshop Generative Fill?
Generative Fill is the feature that made AI editing feel less like a novelty and more like a real professional tool: select part of a photo, describe what should appear there, and Photoshop generates it directly into the layer stack, ready for the same retouching, masking, and color work you'd apply to anything else. It's built on Adobe's Firefly image models, but by 2026 it's no longer locked to just one — you can now choose per task between Firefly (Adobe's commercially safe default), Google's Gemini 3 (stronger for keeping a character or subject consistent), or Black Forest Labs' Flux.2 Pro (the pick for photorealism and text), all from directly inside the same tool.
Version 27.5, released April 1, 2026, added two features worth knowing about specifically. Reference Image support lets Generative Fill match its output to a specific visual source rather than guessing at style from a text prompt alone, and the new Harmonize Tool blends composited elements by automatically matching lighting, color temperature, and shadow direction — a genuinely useful fix for product photography and scene compositing that used to take real manual skill. Photoshop also gained a bidirectional link to Firefly Boards, Adobe's concepting workspace, so you can explore several AI-driven directions there before bringing a chosen variation back into Photoshop for precision work.
Feature and version details come from Adobe's official Photoshop 2026 release notes and help documentation. Generative credit allowances vary by plan and have changed more than once — the figures here reflect Adobe's documentation as of July 2026.
Key features
Generative Fill & Expand
Fill a selected area or extend an image's canvas outward with AI-generated, layer-native content.
Reference Image support
Match generated output to a specific visual source rather than relying on text description alone.
Harmonize Tool
Automatically matches lighting, color temperature, and shadow direction across composited elements.
Multi-model choice
Switch between Firefly, Google Gemini 3, and Flux.2 Pro per task, right inside the editor.
Remove Tool
Erase unwanted objects from a scene with the background filled in automatically.
Firefly Boards integration
Explore multiple AI-driven concept directions in Firefly's workspace before refining the winner in Photoshop.
Pricing
Photoshop (standalone)
- Just 25 generative credits per month
- Standard editing tools don't consume credits
- Real risk of hitting the AI ceiling fast
Firefly Pro
- Unlimited standard generative AI & 4,000 premium credits
- Cheaper than standalone Photoshop, with far more AI included
- Only plan on this list with no 12-month lock-in
Creative Cloud Pro
- Unlimited standard generative AI across every app
- Includes Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and more
- Best fit for full-time creative professionals
The Photography plan ($19.99/month, bundling Lightroom and 1TB storage) sits in between with 1,000 monthly credits. Every plan except Firefly Pro requires a 12-month commitment even when billed monthly, and there's no perpetual license option — Photoshop is subscription-only. Prices reflect Adobe's published pricing as of July 2026 and change periodically; confirm current terms before subscribing.
Available models
Integrations & platforms
Pros, cons & best for
Pros
- AI output lands directly in a real, layer-based editing workflow
- Genuine choice of underlying model depending on the task
- Harmonize and Reference Image solve real, specific retouching problems
Cons
- The standalone Photoshop plan's 25 monthly credits are a real trap for AI-heavy users
- Every plan except Firefly Pro locks you into a 12-month commitment
- No perpetual license option — you rent Photoshop for as long as you use it
Best for
- Photo retouchers and compositors who need AI inside a real editing tool
- Product photography and scene compositing work
- Anyone already committed to the Photoshop workflow day to day
Take a look inside
Alternatives
For AI image work outside a full editing suite:
Our verdict
What makes Generative Fill genuinely useful isn't the AI on its own — plenty of standalone tools generate comparable images — it's that the output lands directly inside a real, professional editing workflow, ready for the masking, color grading, and layer work that a retoucher actually needs. The Harmonize Tool and Reference Image support in particular solve specific, previously time-consuming problems rather than just generating something impressive-looking. Where this really matters is the pricing: the standalone Photoshop plan looks like the obvious entry point but hands you only 25 credits a month, a real trap for anyone leaning on AI regularly, while Firefly Pro is both cheaper and more generous with no long-term lock-in. Read the credit allowances carefully before you pick a plan — the sticker price alone won't tell you what you're actually getting.
FAQ
Does Generative Fill cost extra on top of Photoshop?
It's included in every Photoshop plan, but usage is metered by generative credits that vary sharply by plan — the standalone plan gives just 25 a month, while Firefly Pro and Creative Cloud Pro include far more or unlimited standard generation.
Can I choose which AI model Generative Fill uses?
Yes, as of 2026 you can pick per task between Firefly, Google's Gemini 3, or Black Forest Labs' Flux.2 Pro, depending on whether you need commercial safety, character consistency, or photorealism.
What is the Harmonize Tool?
A feature that automatically matches lighting, color temperature, and shadow direction between composited elements, useful for making a pasted-in object or product look like it was actually photographed in the scene.
Which Photoshop plan gives the best AI value?
Firefly Pro at $19.99/month, which includes unlimited standard generative features and 4,000 premium credits with no long-term commitment — genuinely more generous than the pricier standalone Photoshop plan.
Do regular editing tools use up my generative credits?
No, standard tools like exposure, masks, the healing brush, and clone stamp don't consume credits — only AI-generative features like Generative Fill, Expand, and text-to-image do.
Is there a one-time purchase option for Photoshop?
No, Adobe discontinued perpetual licenses years ago. Photoshop is subscription-only, and most plans require a 12-month commitment even when billed monthly.