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.

[fotoniko]

Photoshop Beta version 26.11

Trying to use Generative Fill with reference image. Reference Image tooltip grayed out. Tooltip says "Please switch to Firefly 3", checking Firefly model, and confirm it is Firefly 3. What is wrong?

[IrinaM1]

thank you for reporting this! We're looking at it and this should be fixed soon. 

[gopi30559400baxo]

yo bro did they made the the ref image happend or still not and doing other things  ? becauze i lost hope already , maybe someone have to teach them push or revert

[Luis Diego37689528d263]

My concerns with this point 4, is that what i need is the background as reference not the objet, basically with the old one my work was easier , now with the new one , I can´t use it to work at all 

[IrinaM1]

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)

[ManjotSingh]

I have sent you email on your mail address

[Deven15D5]

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.

[Binse4u]

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

[mattmyles]

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?

[IrinaM1]

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

[Deven15D5]

Here's some examples of how it's messing up for me. Let me know if you have questions.

[IrinaM1]

Thank you, Deven15D5! 

-was your intention to include grass from Reference Image too - or add rocks to original background? Asking because currently Reference Object automatically removes background from reference. And we'll look at blending regardless. Thanks again for images and info!

[Deven15D5]

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!

[nick_videos]

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.

[thomasjames202]

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.

[Deven15D5]

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.

[Deven15D5]

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!

Reference PhotoExample Comparison 1Example Comparison 2Example Comparison 3

[Deven15D5]

 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.

[Deven15D5]

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."

[IrinaM1]

thanks a lot Deven15D5 for those images and details! 

and yes, we're looking at it

-irina

Photoshop QE

[martin_7394]

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

[Deven15D5]

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

[martin_7394]

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.

[ImageworX]

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. 

[IrinaM1]

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