Using AI to Edit Photos
Last week, I weighed in on using AI in product and food photography. I noted that though I’ve experimented with photos that are generated completely from AI through programs like Adobe Firefly, I’ve had the most luck using AI as an editing tool.
What AI Editing Means
I think that most clients or other photographers assume that AI editing means some sort of generative element is involved, and that is true for some of the AI edits I do, which I’ll talk about below. I just want to point out, though, that the more powerful AI gets, the more its folded into the tools we use every day in multiple editing programs.
For example, the sky/subject select tool in Photoshop is a form of artificial intelligence. So is the smart layer tool in Capture One. My editing workflow has definitely been improved through the use of these “smart” tools, and if you’re not using them in your workflow, I’d encourage you to try them out!
Edits Using AI
When I say that I use AI to help me edit photos, I don’t mean that there’s a robot sitting beside me and helping me process photos to correct white balance, add signature treatments for clients, and cull through my selects. Rather, I mean that I use generative AI to help me fix imperfections in product photos for clients.
I define imperfections as small details that do not relate to the product, the recipe, or the branding. I think of it as an on-set production assistant after the fact. Is there a stain on a linen? I’ll use generative AI to fix it instead of the clone tool to save time and effort. Is the placemat not quite big enough to cover the table? I’ll extend it using generative AI. It’s a really easy way to fix these tiny details.
What I won’t touch? Flaws in the client product itself, like a misshapen Peep in a shoot for Peeps, for example. Photos of a recipe for a cookbook, like adding an ingredient that is called for but wasn’t used in the preparation. In my opinion, those edits cross a line from creating a strong photograph into potentially misleading customers, from promising them a product that won’t look the way it should to showing them a picture of a recipe that wasn’t made like it was written.
Before and After: AI Edits
This is a photograph of a cupcake that I took in my studio a few weeks ago for a lighting test. I bought the cupcake at Whole Foods, and when I got home, I noticed that the bottom of the wrapper had crinkled and folded in on itself. This was just a lighting test photo, so it didn’t matter too much, but I still wanted to fix it so I could use this photo on my portfolio.
I pulled the photo into Photoshop and selected the wrinkle using the lasso tool. I used the generative AI tool (without a prompt) and let Photoshop work its magic. I did the same in the upper left hand corner to even out the horizon line where the backdrop met the surface.
Programs to Edit with AI
I use Photoshop for most of my post-production work. I think that their generative program is fabulous for small edits, and the way that it folds into your workflow works well. I also love the AI that Capture One has introduced in their interface.
Using AI in Product Photography
If you’re a client curious about incorporating AI into your food or product photography, I’d love to chat more to explain how it works. You can read more about how I feel about using AI in food and product photography here, or book a call with me today to talk more!