Adobe Generative AI: Features, Applications, and Getting Started

Adobe generative AI is revolutionizing the creative process by allowing you to generate unique images, text effects, and designs through the power of artificial intelligence. As part of Adobe’s suite of tools, generative AI makes it easier than ever to create high-quality visuals and digital content completely from scratch—even if you have limited technical skills. This innovative approach to content creation is reshaping how people get creative, especially in marketing and advertising.

Discover how you can start using Adobe generative AI. Afterward, explore Adobe's suite of Professional Certificates and develop in-demand AI skills in careers like graphic design and marketing.

professional certificate

Adobe Graphic Designer

Turn your passion into a graphic design career. Learn the design skills you need to create high-impact, on-brand visual content, and earn a credential that unlocks new career possibilities. No experience necessary. Three-month free trial offer included.

4.6

(298 ratings)

19,943 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 5 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Visual Design, Generative AI, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Branding, Graphic Design, AI Responsibly, Adobe Firefly, Creativity, Typography, Visual Storytelling, Color Theory, Drawing, Digital Design, Brand Identity, Document Design, PDF editing, Layout and Composition, Photo Retouching, Image Editing, Photography

What is Adobe generative AI?

By leveraging machine learning models trained on vast data sets, Adobe generative AI lets you create unique, professional-grade content with minimal effort. Whether you’re enhancing an image you’ve already created, designing new graphics, or generating fresh marketing assets, Adobe generative AI simplifies tasks that used to eat up hours when done manually.

Adobe generative AI is seamlessly integrated into many of the company’s most popular software applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Express. Using simple text prompts, these artificial intelligence tools help you generate visuals, effects, and designs. Plus, it’s safe for commercial use, meaning you may not have to worry about licensing it for use in marketing or advertising.

Key features of Adobe generative AI

Adobe designed its generative AI features to help boost productivity and enhance creativity. Some of its most notable features include:

• Text-to-image generation: This feature helps you create unique visuals from descriptive text. For instance, telling Adobe to visualize a futuristic city at dusk would give you an original, high-quality image that you can continue to refine with additional prompts.

• Automated design suggestions: Adobe generative AI analyzes your content and style and offers suggestions to help you accomplish your goals. Say you’re creating a social media graphic: Adobe generative AI can create different themes or color palettes for you to try out.

• AI-powered editing tools: Other capabilities of Adobe generative AI include background removal and image resolution enhancement. These tools can further transform ordinary images into more polished, professional-quality visuals.

• Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud: Adobe generative AI tools also work seamlessly across the Creative Cloud, meaning you can take your projects from Photoshop to Illustrator to Express without interruption. This helps facilitate a more seamless creative process, regardless of what you’re working on.

professional certificate

Adobe Marketing Specialist

Launch your career in marketing. Build in-demand skills in marketing strategy, research, and content creation, and earn a credential to elevate your resume. No experience necessary. Three-month free trial offer included.

4.8

(99 ratings)

6,506 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 5 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Marketing, Generative AI, Advertising, Social Media, Content Strategy, Content development and optimization, A/B testing, Market Research, Typography, Visual Design, Visual Storytelling, Graphic Design, Color Theory, Campaign Performance Analysis, Promotional Mix, Marketing Funnel, Branding, Social Content, Social Media Marketing, Adobe Firefly, Creativity, AI Responsibly

Get started with Adobe generative AI.

Adobe generative AI is extremely straightforward, even for beginners. Follow these steps to start creating with Adobe’s AI-powered software tools.

• Accessing generative tools: Adobe generative AI features are available in Creative Cloud applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator through Adobe Firefly, Adobe's AI generator. Ensure you have the latest software version to access these tools. Go to the AI-specific sections within the application menus to explore the generative AI options.

• Inputting prompts: Use simple text prompts to guide the AI in generating content. Rely on direct language with basic instructions to make it easier for the AI to create designs that best align with your vision. Remember, you can always refine with additional prompts.

• Customizing outputs: Once Adobe generative AI has responded to your initial prompt, you can use additional prompts to ask the AI to adjust the color, size, or texture to fit your needs better.

• Exporting and sharing: After you finish your design, export the project to your preferred format (JPEG, PNG, PDF, or other). Adobe also allows you to share your final product directly on the social media platform of your choice.

Generative AI features are available in:

Adobe Express

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Stock

Adobe Acrobat

Applications of Adobe generative AI

Beyond pure creativity, you can find many practical uses for Adobe generative AI across various professional industries. Consider the use of Adobe’s AI tools in the following fields:

• Marketing and advertising: Adobe generative AI can quickly generate eye-catching visuals for social media campaigns. You can also use AI to design promotional content (such as banners or flyers) and personalize advertisements to match audience preferences.

• E-commerce: Instead of organizing a whole new photo shoot for your e-commerce business, Adobe generative AI can repurpose past shoots to create new product images. You can also generate lifelike scenes showing off the products in realistic environments. These visuals can also make for a great addition to your online shop.

• Publishing and media: Adobe generative AI can be useful when designing book covers, magazine layouts, or other digital illustrations. It can also help generate visuals (such as insightful graphics) for articles or stories.

• Education: Adobe generative AI can help instructors create more engaging presentations with unique slide designs. Future AI tools from Adobe can help teachers create a more interactive environment, allowing them to monitor student progress and provide feedback in real time.

professional certificate

Adobe Content Creator

Launch your career in content creation. Learn to create strategic marketing content using industry best practices and generative AI, and earn a credential that opens doors. No experience necessary. Three-month free trial offer included.

4.6

(309 ratings)

21,762 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 4 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Visual Design, Generative AI, Content Production, Social Media, Content Strategy, AI Responsibly, Multimedia, Digital Media, Podcasting, Short-form video, Communication, Adobe Firefly, Graphic Design, Creativity, Typography, Visual Storytelling, Color Theory, Branding, Social Content, Social Media Marketing

Benefits and limitations of Adobe generative AI

Like any technology, Adobe generative AI has advantages and challenges. Understanding these can help you maximize its capabilities.

Benefits

• Time-saving: Tasks that once took hours now might take mere minutes.

• Accessibility: Just about anyone can create professional-quality visuals, even beginners.

• Data synthesis: The AI can synthesize information from documents to make useful connections and answer questions about the data. 

Limitations

• Creative boundaries: AI may produce results that lack a personal touch.

• Ethical considerations: AI content raises questions about originality and copyright.

• Reliant on prompts: The AI output quality depends on the prompt's strength.

Build AI skills with Adobe on Coursera

Build your skills in graphic design, marketing, and content creation with Adobe's Professional Certificates on Coursera. All programs feature AI skills and show you how to accelerate your work and impact with this in-demand technology.

professional certificate

Adobe Graphic Designer

Turn your passion into a graphic design career. Learn the design skills you need to create high-impact, on-brand visual content, and earn a credential that unlocks new career possibilities. No experience necessary. Three-month free trial offer included.

4.6

(298 ratings)

19,943 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 5 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Visual Design, Generative AI, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Branding, Graphic Design, AI Responsibly, Adobe Firefly, Creativity, Typography, Visual Storytelling, Color Theory, Drawing, Digital Design, Brand Identity, Document Design, PDF editing, Layout and Composition, Photo Retouching, Image Editing, Photography