Inspiring

Answered

Reference object/image in generative fill for new beta

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
April 24, 2025
45 replies
14510 views

I just downloaded the newest beta version of PS. The reference image is not behaving anything like it used to. I used to make a selection, put in a prompt to influence the fill, and then pick my reference image and it just worked.

But now, it kicks out my prompt and when my reference photo is loaded, it's showing background cut out in the reference photo and it no longer just blends it into my scene. It's strange and not working normally at all.

Desktop-Windows

Correct answer MeredithStotzner

Hello public beta users!
Thank you for kicking the tires on Reference Image/Reference Object in Generative Fill
With the April 24th Beta update, we began testing out a new technology to address user requests to have Reference Image in Generative Fill do a better job of matching the original reference file.

The changes you'll notice;

1. New technology
- shift away from a general some-color/some-structure reference to a more accurate object reference.

2. New name (Reference Object)
- We've indicated the change by swapping out Reference Image dialog title for Reference Object.

3. Text prompting is disabled
- the color tone, lighting, and direction of the result is determined by the reference file, the selection on the image, and the background image content.

4. Background Removed in the reference file
- Photoshp isolates the subject in the reference image via removing the background to help do a better job of matching the original reference image.

Please provide feedback here. What is the workflow/scenario in which you are using Reference Object? How is the new technology better or worse for you?

YOU CAN RATE EACH VARIATION - hover over the variation in the Properties panel and click on the ••• to access the "Good" "Bad" or "Report" rating.

This is a feature in development - still raw cookie dough - so we'd like to hear how you want us to alter this recipie before we bake it. 🙂 If you liked the "old" Reference Image better than Reference Object, please tell us why!

Thank you!
Meredith & the Photoshop team

@Deven15D5 @Binse4u @TATIANA38115494l3ay
lilCystar You should be able to install a previous beta for a couple more weeks (26.6 or earlier via Creative Cloud). But really curious about your workflow that requires the Reference Image.
Thank you for the example workflow Kunlacha35666127ukhe

Reach out directly if you prefer. Meredith at adobe dot com.

D

devern_0587

Participating Frequently

I'm still using the old 26.6 beta ref photo which takes your ref photo and gives you varities of styles. The new ref photos do NOT do this. The old 26.6 beta fits your style variables and warps them into your selection shape. See below.

Also, you can NOT do this sort of work with Nano Banana or the other AI models even using a plugin that gives you ref photo capability for those AIs, like this one. They will not conform correctly to your selection like the old PS 26.6 Beta ref photo will. https://www.astria.ai/nano-banana-photoshop

I am needing to create an old fashioned medieval style road over top of a new cleaner looking dirt road. In this case I'm able to use the ref photo and chunks of dirt road pieces to bridge together a medieval dirt road all over my project. Again, you CAN NOT do this sort of work with the new ref photo. And as I said in my earlier post, the newest ref photo is just pasting in the ref image. It's not being used as a reference at all.

The old ref photo is brilliant. Sure, it needs an update on resolution, but WHY is it being left out? I can't fathom the logic?

I

ImageworX26842731

Participating Frequently

I am in the exact same boat. Replacing image parts with new content based on a reference image seems impossible in the latest version. Beta 26.6.0 is the latest version that worked as expected. Please, please please..... revert to this version of generative fill.

D

devern_0587

Participating Frequently

26.6 Beta Ref Photo

1. Conforms and warps to any shape selection when using ref photo

2. Makes infinite varities and variables of the initial reference photo

Everything since 26.6 to the best of my knowledge

1. Pastes in exact copy of reference photo and does NOT make any new variety of images.

2. Cuts out background and sticks in an object

3. Does NOT conform, twist and warp an image to the selection shape, at least not in my testing. See number 1.

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

I've downloaded PS beta 27.0.1. I had been using the old 26.6 with the working ref photo. I wanted to see if Adobe had finally implemented a correct ref photo. But, that's not the case. Every photo I tried to blend into a scene using ref photo, it simply placed the exact photo I was using into the scene. Ref photo means as a reference of style, not as an exact mirror copy. With the old ref photo from beta 26.6 I would get all kinds of stylistic variations which I have given a lot of examples of in this thread. Is Adobe never going to bring back a proper ref photo?

S

SMBJAY7

New Participant

Hi Adobe team,

I’m using Photoshop Beta 27 on a Mac Mini M4

When I add a Reference Image for Generative Fill, Photoshop automatically crops the picture to the most prominent subject instead of using the full image. In the dialog box, it even shows:

“Creating a selection from the most prominent objects in the image”

However, I don’t want Photoshop to select only the most prominent objects . I want the entire reference image to be used.

What I’ve already checked:

no proper response from the adobe chat support regarding this problem the person has left away unprofessionally without completely solving the problem, then i asked chatgpt it coulndt help i've seen for any options related to generative fill in

Preferences (⌘K): There is no “Image Generative AI” or “Generative Fill” section in the sidebar.
Contextual Task Bar (Reference Image): No toggle for “Use full image.”
with last hope after vexing alot and wasting the whole day i came here for the solution hope will get a proper solution for this ive gave you the youtube video link kindly follow it and give me a solution for this https://youtu.be/WN4HPepqzG8?si=E0c7FLQlv3Y-C0XI

ManjotSingh

Participating Frequently

yes we are listening 🙂

and if you're intested in participating in it our pre-release program, please PM me or email me directly (imaderyc@adobe.com)

I have sent you email on your mail address

I

IrinaM1

Community Manager

yes we are listening 🙂

and if you're intested in participating in it our pre-release program, please PM me or email me directly (imaderyc@adobe.com)

L

Luis Diego37689528d263

New Participant

same for me

A

anoushka33383827e9ns

New Participant

This has been highly annoying & reduced the potential of what photoshop's BETA could do. It has ruined my workflow as well & generating images with references has been so hard. Object selection should be an option. The image should not be processed with transparency as manier times it gets rid of the very thing I need referenced. I cannot create backgrounds anymore because all the references cut out weirdly. Please switch back to the older version of generative fill. The quality of results with reference images has gone down highly! Its so poor in quality and does not look professional at all. I am unable to use it for commercial work.

J

jhklkg13754778

Known Participant

the icon for using this tool is not active anymore. Holding the mouse over it says to change to image 3 modell but that is already set. I cant get it to work

W

WabbyTwax76

Known Participant

Same

G

gopi30559400baxo

Participating Frequently

They fixed nothing. They just playing with us 😭 😭.. same update with an useless extra button and telling us it's an update.

Lol

MeredithStotzner

Community Manager

Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and for using the beta feature.
Since this is an early beta release, changes and some issues are expected as we continue active development.. We understand this can be disruptive, and we truly appreciate your patience. Your input is helping shape the final product, and you’ll see more updates as we work toward a polished release. In the meantime, there has been a small UX change. (No functionality change.)

"Replace Image" removed. - to use a different reference image, use the trashcan icon to remove the current one. Then you'll be prompted to add a reference image.
A new section title, "INTENT" to help make it more clear that you are not swapping, which reference image you were using.
Replace Object radio button is now "Swap the selected area"
Insert object radio button is now "Place into the selected area"

Thank you again for helping us build this feature.

MeredithStotzner

Community Manager

Thanks for the speedy response - I understand your frustration that you haven't seen the impact of your feedback yet. We are actively working on changes for this feature - so this UX change was just a little step to test something out.
We have invited and have plans to invite more users from this and other public forums to the Alpha prerelease program for testing and input.

Thank you again!
The Photoshop Team

E

extndd

New Participant

I've been begging you for months!!!

My workflow is destroyed! Give people in this thread the ability to roll back to version 26.6 beta.

I CAN'T CONTINUE WORKING AND PAYING FOR A SUBSCRIPTION UNTIL I HAVE THIS FEATURE!

Give me the ability to roll back to the old version, don't remove it from the list of available versions!

I've already written to tech support several times! I'm losing money because I can't insert a reference image!

Let me use what I've been paying for for over a year!

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