Adobe’s Firefly, a family of AI tools, has completed its beta testing phase. This means that all creative styles can now be used to create images in Photoshop, test raw text on Firefly, recolor images in Illustrator, and enhance banners and videos created with Adobe Express. I have personally been using some of these features myself.
Now, we finally have information about the cost of using Adobe’s technology. At the moment, Adobe is not increasing prices, but it will offer bundled credits to use Firefly based on different rates depending on the Creative Cloud subscription plan you have.
If you have a full Creative Cloud subscription, which costs $55 per month and gives you access to all Adobe software, you will have 1,000 Firefly creatives per month. Subscribing to a single program, such as Photoshop or Premiere Pro, for $21 per month will grant you 500 creatives per month. For users of Adobe Express, a mobile app that costs $10 per month, 250 Firefly uses will be available.
However, starting in November, Adobe will be increasing its subscription prices by approximately 9% to 10%. This price increase is attributed to the addition of Firefly and other AI tools, as well as new software and features. For example, the monthly cost of an annual subscription for all programs will increase from $55 to $60, while the cost for a subscription for a single program will increase from $21 to $23.
“We want to ensure that our users never run out of space or feel limited while creating,” said Deepa Subramaniam, Vice President of Subscription Marketing for Adobe’s Creative Cloud.
In my experience using Firefly, I have seen excellent results, but there are also limitations. Firefly is a cloud-based service, so we can hope that Adobe will continue to improve and refine it to achieve even better results.
Generative AI based on human behavior showed its potential in 2022 with the introduction of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. While generative AI tools trained on mainstream devices may have their flaws, Adobe’s customers tend to be forgiving because they primarily use these tools for generating ideas. Generative AI is proving to be more effective in virtual reality than actual virtual reality experiences.
Customers with paid subscription plans will have the option to continue using Firefly even if they exceed their monthly budget, but it will be at a slower rate. Free-tier users will have access to 25 uses per month. For those who want to go beyond, starting in November, they can pay an additional $5 per month for 100 Firefly uses.
I used Photoshop’s Firefly generative AI technology to add a red crab to a photo I took of an American avocet sweeping through the mud with its bill. Firefly is smart enough to display crabs correctly, even if you look closely, the errors are obvious.
Adobe Rewards Contributors of Quality Graphics for AI Courses
Another noteworthy aspect is Adobe’s approach to compensate contributors of Adobe Stock images used to train Firefly. Adobe will provide a “meaningful” annual bonus based on the number of images the contributor has with clients and the earnings from image licensing.
“This is an opportunity to provide additional funding for our contributors,” said Subramaniam.
Previously, Firefly was only available in beta programs, and its use in commercial projects was limited by Adobe. To avoid copyright issues that could prevent customers from using AI, Adobe trained Firefly using images from its collection of Adobe Stock images and public images.
Firefly will also be integrated into Adobe’s Premiere Pro video editing tool later this year.
My Experience with Adobe Firefly AI
In my testing, Firefly was often successful in combining images with existing content using the fill tool or by zooming in on an image. It can even match the lighting and perspective of the scene, which is a challenging task, creating a seamless result. It also excels at reproducing detailed areas like leaves.
However, Firefly sometimes produced confusing or problematic results, such as an elephant with a second trunk in place of its tail. To achieve the best results, it is often necessary to reject Firefly’s suggestions and try different methods. Nevertheless, many creative enthusiasts continue to use Firefly to create AI graphics, despite its controversial reputation.
I used Firefly in Photoshop to enlarge the original photo on the left, adding new trees and greens, which worked well. The fish I added may not be perfectly clear, but Firefly blended them well with the background.
Often, better results can be achieved by dividing the generation process into several steps. For example, in the image of the hippo parachuting, I first used Photoshop to create the hippo against the blue sky. Then, I enlarged the image to add more atmosphere and finally added the parachute.
AI-Generated Images Labeled for Transparency
Many people are concerned about “deepfake” AI copies of real people, but they are intrigued by AI-generated images that depict unbelievable scenarios. To address this issue, Adobe is using certification credentials to increase transparency. Images created using Adobe tools will be labeled as AI-generated.
“This is how we can ensure trust and transparency and avoid any misunderstandings,” said Subramaniam.
Editor’s note: CNET is utilizing an AI engine to assist in generating some news articles. For more information, see this post.
