In Photoshop, users select an area of an image and use Generative Fill to describe what should appear in that area — the AI generates multiple options that blend with the existing image context. Generative Expand allows users to extend the canvas and fill the new area with AI-generated content matching the original. In Illustrator, users generate vectors from text prompts. Adobe Express users access a simplified interface for generating images from text. All features are accessible via the Creative Cloud applications without a separate login.
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly is Adobe's suite of generative AI models integrated into the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem. Launched in 2023, Firefly provides text-to-image generation, generative fill, text effects, and other AI-powered creative tools directly inside Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express.
A key differentiator for Firefly is Adobe's commitment to training the model on licensed content, including Adobe Stock images, to provide clearer commercial usage rights compared to models trained on broadly scraped web data. This positions it as suitable for professional commercial creative work.
Firefly is primarily targeted at existing Adobe Creative Cloud users who want to add AI image generation and editing capabilities to their established design workflows, rather than standalone AI image tool adopters.
Best For
- Professional photographers and photo editors
- Graphic designers working in Adobe Illustrator
- Creative agencies with commercial image requirements
- Adobe Creative Cloud users wanting AI augmentation
- Brand and marketing teams producing visual content
How It Works
Key Features
Core Capabilities
- Text-to-image generation
- Generative Fill in Photoshop
- Generative Expand for canvas extension
- Vector illustration from text prompt
- Text effects and stylisation
Advanced Capabilities
- Firefly Custom Models for brand-specific training
- Integration across Creative Cloud suite
- Commercial licence clarity from training approach
- Structure and style reference inputs
- Adobe Express AI for non-designers
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Directly integrated into existing Creative Cloud workflows
- Commercially safer training methodology
- Generative Fill is a genuinely useful photo editing feature
- Strong for extending and modifying existing images
- Adobe brand trust for commercial clients
Cons
- Output quality varies compared to standalone generators like Midjourney
- Requires Creative Cloud subscription for full feature access
- Custom Model training requires the enterprise plan
- Less community-driven prompting culture than Midjourney
- Standalone Firefly web experience is less capable than in-application integration
Pricing
Adobe Firefly features are included in existing Creative Cloud subscription plans with a monthly generative credit allocation. Credits are consumed per generation. Additional credit bundles can be purchased. The standalone Firefly web interface is available separately with its own credit plan. Adobe Express plans include Firefly for non-Creative Cloud users.
How It Compares
Adobe Firefly targets Creative Cloud users specifically, whereas Midjourney and DALL-E 3 serve a broader standalone audience. For commercial work where licensing provenance matters, Firefly's training approach is a significant differentiator. For raw image generation quality and artistic output, Midjourney is still preferred by many creatives. Canva AI serves a similar but less technically sophisticated audience using Firefly in a simplified context.