Adobe is set to introduce an innovative AI-driven photo editing tool, Project Stardust, at the upcoming Adobe Max event, poised to redefine image editing for both novice and experienced users.
This new “object-aware editing engine” showcases an impressive capability to automatically recognize individual objects within standard photographs, enabling effortless repositioning and alterations. Project Stardust bears resemblance to Google’s recently announced Magic Editor for Pixel phones, but it is expected to offer even more powerful features.
A brief demonstration of this cutting-edge software reveals its ability to automatically identify and select objects within an image, much like using Photoshop’s lasso tool. The video illustrates how these identified objects can be seamlessly moved, removed, or manipulated, seemingly placed on separate layers, with the software intelligently filling in the background to match the rest of the scene.
Project Stardust also introduces a feature similar to the “Contextual Task Bar” introduced in Photoshop earlier this year, which intelligently anticipates the next steps in the design process and facilitates quick edits. In the demo, selecting a group of blurred individuals in the background prompts the appearance of a “remove distractors” button on the taskbar, which efficiently erases the crowd with a single click.
The new editing engine incorporates some of the same generative AI capabilities found in Adobe’s Firefly-powered Photoshop tools. Aya Philémon, Adobe’s product manager for digital imaging, is seen selecting an area within a photograph and inputting text into a floating taskbar prompt, instantly filling the selected space with AI-generated flowers. In another instance, this feature seamlessly replaces individual items of clothing on a model by selecting the item (e.g., a jacket or sneakers) and describing a new piece of clothing to replace it.
Automated design tools are becoming increasingly common, driven by advancements in generative AI. Canva and Google Photos’ Magic Editor for Pixel 8 devices offer similar tools for automatic object removal or alteration. However, Project Stardust’s full capabilities remain shrouded in mystery, as Philémon hints that the teased features represent just a fraction of its potential. With a promise to “revolutionize how we interact with Adobe products,” more details about Adobe’s upcoming AI releases are eagerly anticipated at Adobe Max, commencing on October 10th.
