Reference object/image in generative fill for new beta

[Deven15D5]

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.

[IrinaM1]

Hi Zita36227679ws7s,

Could you give us more information how you're using Reference Image? 

thank you,

-irina

Photoshop QE

[Ian38401582mbsk]

I'm having the same issue here, i can't tell which version of the photoshop beta this has changed, i'm using the latest version until today's update, I've tried to revert to previous version but after 4 reinstall i gave up...attached is an image of what's going on, there are no more background remove box to unchecked and I've tried to change the processing setting and none of them worked, this tool was so useful to prebuild and generate new ideas. btw the image in reference box should be all filled and no background removed as it shown.

[Tzaddi36870321e8h4]

Have you found any solution to this? I recently updated by beta from 24.0 to 26.10 and it's the biggest mistake I've made.

[Zita36227679ws7s]

Well all of the sudden a new problem, why???

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the outcome of the sky replacement feature in the latest official release of Photoshop (not the beta version).

As a paying customer, I have relied on Photoshop’s AI-powered tools, including sky replacement, to deliver high-quality and realistic results in my work. However, during recent use, the tool has produced extremely disappointing results—most notably in the attached image. The replacement sky appears poorly blended, unnatural, and inconsistent with the lighting and tone of the original photo. This is not the level of performance I expect, especially given that this feature previously worked seamlessly in earlier versions.

I did not anticipate spending valuable time correcting what should be a simple automated edit, nor did I expect to waste my creative credits or subscription fees on a tool that fails to deliver its advertised quality. The current result is not only unusable but also undermines the trust I had in Photoshop’s reliability.

Please investigate this issue and let me know if there is a fix, rollback option, or update pending. I would appreciate a response from your technical team and a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience caused—whether in the form of support credits or compensation.

Looking forward to your urgent response.

[Tzaddi36870321e8h4]

It's really frustrating. Every update it's always 1 step forward and 5 steps backwards.

[Ian38401582mbsk]

No, still same problem and i think that's the way they want us to use, it a pitty because this was a very usefull tool....still waiting, the old tick button to remove the background or not would solve this issue

[Tzaddi36870321e8h4]

I just updated my PS Beta from 26.3 to 26.10 and I wish I hadn't. I mainly use generative fill as a part of my services and frequently using reference image as for generating. And now with the version 26.10 I can't use a reference image on the 1st expand with generative fill (Which worked wonders on the older versions). Now  I need to expand with generative fill then laso tool the surrounding and that's the time the reference object/image will appear. Then when I chose the photo for reference it will automatically remove the background. In the older version it will ask if I wanted to remove the background or not. I needed the background as the reference image and not the subject. I can't seem to find a way to revert back to older version than 26.7 which also has the same problem with 26.10. I've seen some post here with the same problem. Right now my work flow is in shambles and my day is ruined.

[Lenkaland]

I am having the same problem, it's erasing the part of the image that I need to use for reference and I cannot find a way to change so it uses what I need it to use 

[jhklkg13754778]

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

[WabbyTwax76]

Same

[anoushka33383827e9ns]

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. 

[Luis Diego37689528d263]

same for me

[SMBJAY7]

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

[Deven15D5]

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?

[devern_0587]

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?

[ImageworX]

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. 

[devern_0587]

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.