As Adobe MAX 2023 draws near, Adobe has released a tantalizing video preview of its upcoming “object-aware editing engine” known as Project Stardust. This new software innovation promises to revolutionize photo editing by introducing an array of advanced AI features.
Project Stardust, as revealed in the teaser video, possesses the remarkable ability to identify individual objects within an image and swiftly separate them into distinct layers. These isolated objects can then be seamlessly repositioned or removed from the image. This intricate selection process can be carried out manually or aided by the automatic “Remove Distractions” tool. What sets this feature apart is its understanding of the image’s primary subjects, differentiating them from the background, making object removal even more precise.
What’s particularly intriguing is that the act of moving or deleting an object doesn’t leave an unsightly void in the image. Instead, Project Stardust employs generative AI to fill the gap with seamlessly integrated content. In the provided sample image, Adobe demonstrates how it effortlessly erases a suitcase held by a model and replaces it with a bouquet of flowers, even adjusting the model’s hand to complete the illusion.
Additionally, Project Stardust extends its capabilities to the world of fashion. Users can transform articles of clothing in photos with ease. For example, a yellow down jacket can be morphed into a sleek black leather jacket, or khaki pants can be transformed into stylish black jeans. Achieving this transformation involves selecting the piece of clothing and entering the desired changes through a text prompt.
Functionally, Project Stardust bears a resemblance to Google’s Magic Editor, a generative AI tool featured on the Pixel 8 series. Both tools allow users to highlight objects within a photo and reposition them as desired, while also filling gaps in images by generating new pixels. However, Project Stardust appears to be a more comprehensive solution. Google’s Magic Eraser can fill gaps but lacks content generation capabilities. Moreover, Google’s version requires manual input, whereas Adobe’s software operates with greater autonomy.
Observing the striking similarities between Project Stardust and Google’s Magic Editor, one cannot help but wonder if Adobe’s tool is powered by Google’s AI technology. Recently, the two tech giants announced a partnership that includes a free three-month trial of Photoshop on the web for Chromebook Plus device purchasers. This alignment of interests raises questions about the depth of their collaboration, given the striking resemblance between Stardust and Magic Editor.
It’s important to note that Project Stardust, while promising, is not without imperfections. The teaser video reveals minor errors, such as random gaps in a leather jacket and unusual distortions around the hands of the flower model. These issues may be indicative of Project Stardust being in its early stages of development.
Many questions remain unanswered, including whether Project Stardust will be a standalone application or integrated into existing Adobe products like Photoshop. Adobe MAX 2023, commencing on October 10, promises to provide clarity on these matters. The event will also unveil other “AI features” that will be introduced in “Firefly, Creative Cloud, Express, and more.”
For those eager to enhance their Photoshop skills, TechRadar offers a list of the best Photoshop courses online in 2023, providing a great starting point for learning this powerful software.
