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.

Show previous replies

I

ImageworX26842731

Participating Frequently

I was about to start a new topic about this issue. The generative fill prior to 26.7.0 was almost perfect. The resuslts were impressive and the blending realistic. This new version is many steps back and from what I now expruience not very productive. I use Photoshop professionaly, since 1989. I work on a Mac Studio Pro M2 Ultra, 128GB RAM.
Adobe please reverse the generative fill. Dont change a running system. thank you.

I

IrinaM1

Community Manager

thank you for this info, ImageworX.

could you give us more information how you were using Reference Image prior to this change, and what are the issues you're seeing with this new version? You can email me directly, imaderyc@adobe.com

thank you!

Irina
Photoshop QE

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

Here's another of my examples. I have many others if needed.

M

martin_7394

New Participant

Hi all,

I' trying to replce an image with another with another image as reference with Photoshop 2025.
The contextual task bar should look like this...

but I can't see the icin of the picture.
This is my Contextual task bar.

How can activate it?
Thanks in advance

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

Are you using the beta? Only the beta has that option to the best of my knowledge.

M

martin_7394

New Participant

Hi Deven15D5,
I found the solution yesterday, and as you rightly say, it involves using the beta version.
Thank you so much for the help.

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

I spent a great deal of time tonight making a comparison to show the developers how the new ref photo isn't working for my purposes. I imagine many others are having the same problem.

Below you will first see the reference photo I used for all the examples and then after that are the three comparisons showing pleasing images from 26.6 and unpleasing images from 26.8.

Please give those of us who used reference image the old way a toggle to keep using that method. The new method is useless for this type of work. Thank you!

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

I wanted to add some additional reasons that the old ref photo is critical. I'm sure others doing work like I am would agree.

Let's say I want the rocks in front of a snow bank I added to be wet. Without original ref photo it's very hard to get those wet rocks using standard prompts and to get the rocks to match at the same time.

Say I wanted some granite in the trees on the top of a cliff. Without original ref photo I end up getting several kinds of granite and can't match those cliffs.

If I have a certain type of pine trees I need to match, standard prompts without a ref photo make it much harder to match them.

The old ref photo is about giving variable scenes to blend in and at the same time matching the area, foliage, rocks, water, much better than any other way.

It is literally impossible to do some of the things I've been doing without the old ref photo functionality and I'm stunned that it was changed to be a cut out background type of function.

Please, please, please, bring it back. I'm on my knees here.

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

Here's an example of work done with and without any reference photos, per the old way reference photots worked. The bottom image is no longer possible with the new reference photo.

Prompt used for second image was intended to match the bottom ref photo image. "small pine trees, green alpine grass, wildflowers, granite boulders with lichen."

T

thomasjames202

Participating Frequently

It sounds like there might be a bug or unexpected behavior with the new beta version of Photoshop. Have you tried resetting the preferences or reinstalling the beta? Sometimes that helps clear up weird glitches. If it persists, it might be helpful to report this directly to Adobe so they can address it in a future update.

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

It's my understanding more users wanted ref photo to simply cut out and blend vs create new image varities and blend. My push is to give a choice back to us users who want the old functionality.

B

Binse4u

New Participant

hey Meredith!

Thanks for getting in touch.

I work for a creative fashion image agency. we used to do photoshoots all over the world for commercialize but emotional photography. now we implemented AI workflow since 2 years and offer hybrid photography. we either use existing location images or prompt our own and then shoot images on set (studio setup) in a fitting light scenery and merge the images together later in photoshop. another case is that we use existing photography, relight it (eg. sunlight from the front) and create backgrounds with AI and merge everything to one photo.

for both use cases we use midjourney because we can control the prompts by adding images. its for us a better control to work with the eye rather then just text and language. because we have so much imagery already we like to control our output with images. we started using firefly in photoshop for that case as well, but only since the "reference image" tool. because before that, by simply text prompting, the output wasnt very fashionable and it drew us always back to the midjourney MODEL which was trained better for our fashion imagery and aesthetics.

but since the "reference image" it was MUCH better to work with firefly as well, because we could do our "hands on the details" more in pixel steps like we are used from photoshop. which in midjourney is very rough. so we used that tool alot for backgrounds and foreground mergings.

1) we create a location in midjourney (or have one photographed)

2) we shoot on set (or get a picture that was shot on set)

3) we blend everything together with REFERENCE IMAGE

Since its updated to "REFERENCE OBJECT" it doesnt work anymore.

but i am sure for other cases, when we change a scarf to a different fabric, we would need the "OBJECT" tool.

So my sugestion is: make it an option. let the user decide if its an object or a full image reference.

make it more detailed like in midjourney. maybe even "character reference", "object reference" and "scenery reference" or "general reference". so we can upload more pictures. that would be totally cool!

if you need my opinion on other things let me know.

its very exciting to work with the pulse on time and directly with you adobe guys,

this creative suite has guided me through my whole career so THANKS for that.

looking extremely forward to your "relight" tool as well, which will come in handy for us too.

Thanks

Sabine from Germany

Z

Zita36227679ws7s

Participating Frequently

Hello. I am seeking assistance. I am experiencing significant frustration and disappointment. Following a recent update to Photoshop Beta, I am encountering difficulties generating images using a reference picture.

The background of the reference image is consistently being removed.

Despite exhaustive research, I have been unable to locate an option to retain or remove the background when selecting the reference image. During the generation process, a prompt appears regarding possession of the image, which I have attempted to address even after exiting Photoshop and restarting. Thank you in advance.

Sameer K

Community Manager

Hey, @Zita36227679ws7s. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I've moved your post to discussions. The post info does not include whether you're working on macOS or Windows. I've tried to use the Reference image and the general workflow.

Please share screenshots and videos of the issue and the system info from Photoshop Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > Upload and attach here.

Thanks!
Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

Z

Zita36227679ws7s

Participating Frequently

@Sameer K
Reference Image Background Removal – No Selection Box Option
Thank you for your assistance, @Sameer K. I appreciate your support.

I encountered significant challenges with the updated version of Photoshop Beta (26.7.0). The reference image background was removed without any option to retain the original, and the quality of the generative images was subpar.
Additionally, the update nearly depleted my generative credits, leaving me with very few remaining.
I sincerely hope the authorized team will consider restoring some of these credits.
While I understand that Photoshop Beta is still in its testing phase, this update has been the most problematic one I have encountered in the year I have been using the software.
I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Zita

M

mattmyles

New Participant

The most recent update, which removes the ability to use prompts and reference images in tendem, is producing much worse results than previous versions. The masking and blending is completely unusable and the generated imagery looks considerablby less realistic and weird. For example, I used 2 Adobe Stock images, one of a salad with a piece of chicken on it, and another to use as reference of sliced steak to replace the chicken, he's what we get after the update:

Original

Reference:

Generative Fill Example 1:

Generative Fill Example 2:

Whats going on here? Why does it seem like Generative Fill has gone 10 steps backwards?

I

IrinaM1

Community Manager

thank you mattmyles for files and info! I can reproduce it and we'll look why it's not blending it correctly

-irina

Photoshop QE

N

nick_videos

New Participant

When I used ref image in 26.6, it would scramble up the image in various ways and give me all manner of flavors and choices of rocks and grass per the examples here, that often blended in seamlessly. With the new version 26.7, I get the weird cut out objects and it places the cut out objects directly into my scene and NOT various choices of blends. It is completely different behavior. Anyway, yes, the grass and the rocks were to be added in. But again, the new way just throws that same long cut out rock in and there's little to no creative blending like there was. In my opinion, please put it back. Whatever you have done is breaking my work flow on a massive project I've spent a year on, that is if I want to move forward with new PS beta versions. Thanks!

I totally agree! I used to have reference image and not object in generative and did great job. (Example is adding landscapes similar to my reference to real estate - landscape photos that wasn't ready yet.)

Now the use of generative fill is only for minor stuff such as removing things and not as used to be.

D

Deven15D5Author

Inspiring

Hi Meredith. I uninstalled the new beta as all of my work centers around reference photos. If the beta has not been changed then I don't wish to install it again as there's no point. Whatever you did, it was not working anything like before, which I described in my initial post. Before, PSGF blended in the reference photo in a pleasing and workable way, most the time. The new beta reference photo, just made a strange and unusual mess. That's how it went for me. My work is entirely nature photos and blending in new rocks, foliage, etc., to my photography.

As an addendum. If you want to work with me direct on this issue, I am willing. Thank you.

MeredithStotzner

Correct answer

Community Manager

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.

L

leslier20312968

New Participant

A few reasons why I find the new update unusable for my work.

1. I typically want the general style of my reference - I don't want it copied exactly which is what the update is currently doing. I want different ideas I can select and refine to make sure I'm not too close to the original inspiration.

2. Having text enabled with a reference image gives me more flexibility to get the right interpretation I want - removing that just ends up limiting my result to the reference almost exactly - which feels like copyright infringement.

3. adding in the reference exactly also ruins the ability of generative fill to adapt based on the content of my art which is what I loved about the original.

4. Having photoshop try and reference an object in my image is a nuisance. It eliminates elements automatically and I can't change it. It worked better when I could upload the whole image as a style reference. We should at least have the option to select part we want or use the whole image.

5. because photoshop is trying so hard to be true to the reference the art generations aren't nearly as natural or accurate.

long story short - unless you can refine I would definitely revert back to the original tool - this one took many steps backward and has added a ton of time to my workload

B

Binse4u

New Participant

i have the exact same issue. i created a workflow for a client already and now it doesnt work anymore.

please adobe, make us at least select between "object" or "reference full image" with NO automatic background removal.

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