Introduction
Adobe’s Creative Cloud applications are constantly evolving with new features and enhancements. As a photographer and designer, I’m always eager to see what innovations are included in each Photoshop CC update. In this article, I’ll provide an in-depth look at some of the most exciting new capabilities available in the latest version of Photoshop CC. Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the basics or a seasoned pro seeking advanced functionality, there’s a lot to explore. Let’s dive in!
Artificial Intelligence Enhancements
Neural Filters for Dramatic Effects
One of the biggest additions in Photoshop CC is neural filters. These filters leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to apply stunning effects to images with just a few clicks. For example, the Color Transfer filter analyzes the color scheme of a reference image and applies it to your photo. I’m impressed by how well it maintains textures and details while completely transforming the lighting and mood.
Other notable neural filters include Depth Blur for selective focus, Superzoom for AI-powered upscaling, and Sky Replacement for swapping skies quickly. The possibilities are endless thanks to Photoshop’s AI-driven enhancements.
Content-Aware Fill and Remove Background
Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill and Remove Background tools have also been powered up thanks to Adobe Sensei AI. These features make it easy to eliminate distracting objects from photos. For instance, I can seamlessly remove fence posts or wires from landscape images in seconds with improved accuracy.
Streamlined Workflows
Object Selection Tool
Selecting objects with complex edges used to be a tedious task. But with the new Object Selection Tool, I can simply make a rough selection trace before letting Photoshop’s AI refine the edges for me automatically. This speeds up my workflow tremendously when working with tricky selections.
Properties Panel
The new consolidated Properties panel provides quick access to transformation, brush, text, and layer settings all in one place. I find this much more efficient compared to digging through separate menus and panels for each adjustment. Less time spent searching means I can create with greater speed and focus.
Cloud Documents
Thanks to Cloud Documents, I can now access my PSD files across devices and pick up editing right where I left off. This streamlines collaboration and makes it simple to work from multiple locations. Plus, all file versions are backed up securely in the cloud.
Enhanced Creative Options
Gradiant Map Presets
With the new Gradient Map presets, I can easily apply pro-designed color gradients to images to set a mood. There are options like Desert Sunset, Retro Fade, and Night Vision that would otherwise take ages to construct manually. I love having these readymade gradients at my fingertips for colorful, dramatic effects.
Brush Search
Searching through Photoshop’s massive brush library used to be cumbersome before the addition of Brush Search. Now I can quickly find the perfect brush for any task by filtering results using keywords. The advanced search functionality makes the creative process that much more intuitive.
Font Recommendations
Not sure which font suits your design? Photoshop can now provide tailored font recommendations based on your text and imagery. This nifty feature helps inspire new design directions and perfect typography pairings. I appreciate having an extra set of AI “eyes” to enhance my work.
Final Thoughts
Photoshop continues to evolve in exciting ways, especially with enhanced AI capabilities. After exploring all the latest updates, I’m most excited about the neural filters for eye-catching effects and the object selection tool for simplified workflows. But there are improvements across the board that will make Photoshop more powerful, automated, and collaborative than ever before. I can’t wait to take my creative projects to the next level!
Which of the new Photoshop CC features are you most looking forward to trying? Let me know in the comments!
