How to Use Generative Fill AI in Photoshop

Use the Lasso Tool (L) to draw a rough selection around the object you want to remove, or around the area where you want to add something new. Alternatively, use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) to select the border area for image expansion. The selection doesn't need to be perfect — the AI is remarkably good at understanding context.

With your selection active, look for the 'Generative Fill' button in the Contextual Task Bar that appears below the selection. If you don't see it, go to Edit > Generative Fill. Photoshop's Firefly AI analyzes the surrounding pixels to understand the image context.

In the Generative Fill dialog, you can either type a text prompt describing what you want to generate (e.g., 'a small dog sitting on the grass', 'tropical palm trees') or leave the prompt blank. Leaving it blank tells Photoshop to intelligently fill the selection based on surrounding content — perfect for removing objects, people, or blemishes.

Click the 'Generate' button. After a few seconds (depending on your internet speed), Photoshop creates a new layer with the generated content. The Properties panel shows three variations. Click between them to choose the one that looks most natural. Each variation is on a separate layer, so you can compare and delete unwanted ones.

Select your preferred variation. If none of the options look perfect, you can modify your selection and try again with a more specific prompt. The generated content is placed on a Generative Layer that remains editable — you can mask parts of it, adjust its opacity, or regenerate specific areas for a seamless result.