Photoshop CC Content-Aware Fill Tool Update, New Tools & Adobe Listens To Users

The Content-Aware Fill Tool getting an update in Photoshop CC is no secret as Adobe gave us a sneak peek a few weeks ago but there are plenty of other enhancements and tool improvements to talk about, too. Plus, a full version of Photoshop CC, with all of its tools and layer magic, will be coming to the iPad. 

When you open up Photoshop CC, you'll realise it's still the same familiar Photoshop you've used for years, just updated with new features, so you'll still be able to navigate and find all of the tools you use on a regular basis with ease, just with a few extra features. Let's take a look at what's new...

New To Photoshop CC

Right, what's new? Well, just in case you missed it, let's start with the Content-Aware Fill update as it can now be found in a new dedicated Content-Aware Fill window and users will be able to control how the sampling of areas works more accurately, resulting in less Content-Aware Fill fails. You'll also be able to see previews of how using the tool will change your image before applying the effect - saving time as a result. The new tools on offer include the ability to mirror part of the photo to fill an unwanted area, rotate/scale source pixels and deselection options (so you can exclude parts of the image you don't want the AI to select from).

On a side note, Content-Aware Fill is a Sensei powered function, of which, there are more than a 100 of with new ones appearing in the latest version of Lightroom CC. 

Top left: Original image, Top right: Making a selection, Bottom left: Mask applied, Bottom Right: Final image with bus removed. 

If you've ever struggled to modify the size of an image or wanted an easier way to mask texts/shapes, then the new Frame Tool will be particularly useful. The new Frame Tool lets you create a placeholder for an image size or shape and will auto-scale your image to fit the shape. Additionally, you can convert any shape or text layer into a Frame for easy masking. Simply create a text layer, convert it to a frame by selecting the option from a right-click menu on the Layers Panel, and add your image. An image can come from anywhere: Adobe Stock, Libraries, or drag and drop from anywhere else.

For those who create digital art in Photoshop CC, Symmetry Painting has been added which allows users to create mirrored brush strokes along a symmetry axis. Plus, radial and mandala painting capabilities have been introduced.  

Homescreens aren't new but it has been redesigned to make it easier to get started and return to open assets. Similar to the new Elements 2019 home screen, there's also a 'What's New' section so you can see what's changed since you last used Photoshop CC. 

For those learning Photoshop, the home screen shows you Learn content and connects to Adobe's in-app tutorial system. Plus, there's a walkthrough tutorial that shows you how to open and edit PSDs to guide those who are right at the start of their photo editing journey. 

In-app tutorials were introduced last year and this year, more tutorials have been added along with the ability to learn using your own assets.

Surprisingly, the 'Undo' tool has had an update so CMD-Z (Windows-Z) is now a continuous undo function that moves backwards in sequence from the last activity performed to the very first. You will no longer have to tick a tiny check mark or hit the return key to commit certain changes as when you click on a new tool, layer on/off the canvas, Photoshop will automatically commit your changes after a text, crop, place, or transform edit has been made. 

Pixels, images, and Type Layers will now transform proportionally by default - you won’t have to hold down the shift key while scaling an image anymore and you can also now double-click a Type Layer with the Move Tool to edit your text - finally! 

Other small but interesting changes include hiding the reference point that used to show up as a target in the middle of a layer to help minimise accidental moves and adding a panel lock to stop you accidentally moving a panel when working on it. When you’re ready to move your workspace around, just unlock the panel. Plus, the whole UI is now more resistant to unintended moves.

Finally, you can now see changes to the blend mode appear live on the canvas while scrolling over the different modes, without having to commit first.

You Asked, Adobe Listened

As well as the above changes, Adobe listened to user feedback so you can now: 

• Distribute the spacing between the objects.
• Type in simple math operations like 200/2, which gets calculated as 100 and inputs that final value into the field. This is very useful when trying to quickly get to a multiple of a value, or divide something.
• Retain the beginning and end of your layer name, but put the ellipses in the middle of the layer name.
• Flip Document view, Lorem Ipsum text and customisable KBSC for Select and Mask.

Updating Adobe Photoshop CC

When you click 'Update' or 'Update All' to update your apps in the Creative Cloud desktop app for the first time, you will get a dialogue box with an option to 'keep your apps up-to-date automatically'. To enable this feature, you just have to select 'Enable Auto-Update now' and when a new update is released, you won't have to manually access it. You can also enable auto-update for all apps from preferences or manage auto-update for individual apps.

Pricing

There are several subscription options available but the most cost-effective one is the Photography plan which gives you access to Lightroom CC, Lightroom Classic CC, Photoshop CC and cloud storage from £9.98 a month (20GB cloud storage).