Top 5 Photoshop 2025 NEW Features [July Release]
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The July 2025 Photoshop release is packed with time-saving tools and AI upgrades designed to supercharge your workflow.
From smarter object removal to stunning one-click composites, here are five standout features from both the general release and Photoshop Beta that you need to try now.
The video was recorded for the Photoshop 2025 July release, version 26.9.
Two of the five features below, the Remove Tool update and the Firefly model selector, were already in that general release. The other three, Harmonize, Generative Upscale, and the Projects panel, were still Photoshop Beta features at the time. Their status has changed since, as noted under each one.
Key Takeaways
- The Remove Tool runs on a newer Firefly model and now sits in the Contextual Task Bar right after you make a selection. You no longer have to dig through a menu to use it.
- Generative Fill lets you pick between Firefly Image Model 1 and Model 3 for the same prompt, then compare the two results before you commit to one.
- Harmonize matches color, lighting, shadows, and reflections between a pasted layer and its background in one click. Every result is capped at the same 1024 by 1024 resolution as Generative Fill, so large canvases can come out soft.
- Generative Upscale enlarges an image up to 4x, and the Creativity setting controls how photographic or how illustrated the added detail looks.
- The Projects panel is a shared cloud folder for Photoshop, Illustrator, and Express files, so a team can skip emailing versions back and forth.
- Harmonize, Generative Upscale, and the Projects panel all started in the Photoshop Beta. All three have since moved into the general release.
Table of contents
- What You Will Learn
- Requirements
- Photoshop 2025 Keyboard Shortcuts
- 1. Enhanced Remove Tool (General Release)
- 2. Firefly Model Selector for Generative Fill (General Release)
- 3. Harmonize Button (Beta Release)
- 4. Generative Upscale (Beta Release)
- 5. Projects Panel (Beta Release)
- Final Thoughts on the July 2025 Photoshop Release
- Previous Photoshop Updates
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up the Photoshop 2025 Release
- Related Links
What You Will Learn
- How to remove an object with the updated Remove Tool and adjust its new layer and stroke settings
- How to switch between Firefly Image Model 1 and Model 3 in Generative Fill
- How to match a pasted layer to its background with the Harmonize button
- How to enlarge an image with Generative Upscale and choose a Creativity level
- How to organize files across Photoshop, Illustrator, and Express with the Projects panel
Requirements
Before you start
- Photoshop 2025 (version 26.9 or later) or the current version
Photoshop 2025 Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Commit the Remove Tool result (Remove After Each Stroke off) | Enter | Return |
| Show/Hide Rulers | Ctrl R | Command R |
| Zoom Tool | Z | Z |
1. Enhanced Remove Tool (General Release)
The Remove Tool just got a major upgrade, and it’s now accessible directly from the Contextual Task Bar after making a selection.
With improved AI, the new Firefly model delivers more accurate object removal with better blending, fewer artifacts, and less “hallucinated” content. Even when part of an object is left unselected, Photoshop fills in the space seamlessly without generating strange shapes or leftovers.
Tip: It now creates a new layer by default, so you can edit non-destructively.
New Remove Tool Settings:
- Create New Layer toggle (enabled by default)
- Sample All Layers option
- Remove After Each Stroke checkbox
You’ll find all of these in the Options Bar when using the Remove Tool.
2. Firefly Model Selector for Generative Fill (General Release)
When using Generative Fill, you can now choose between Firefly Image Model 1 or 3, right from the Task Bar.
This lets you experiment and compare generations side-by-side to see which model gives better results for your specific prompt or scene.
How to Use It:
- Make a selection with any tool (like the Selection Brush)
- Click Generative Fill
- Enter a prompt (e.g. “Venetian Canal with Gondolas”)
- Click the Firefly icon to switch between Model 1 and Model 3
- Hit Generate and compare variations
This added flexibility gives you more creative control with AI generations.
3. Harmonize Button (Beta Release)
This one matters most for compositing. The new Harmonize button uses Firefly AI to automatically match lighting, color, shadows, and reflections between layers, giving you realistic results instantly.
Whether you’re compositing a car onto a road or blending a person into a desert scene, Harmonize adjusts everything to make the layers feel like they belong together.
Note: The Harmonize button was a Photoshop Beta feature when this video was recorded. It shipped in the general release with Photoshop 27.0, the October 2025 release.
Key Features:
- One-click color and lighting match
- Generates 3 variations to choose from
- Works with objects and people
- Auto-adds shadows and reflections
Note: It still uses the 1024×1024 resolution limit, so results may look slightly soft across large canvases.
4. Generative Upscale (Beta Release)
Need higher-resolution images without losing quality? The new Generative Upscale tool uses Firefly to enlarge your image up to 4x while boosting sharpness and detail.
You can access this from the Image > Generative Upscale menu or the Image Size window.
Upscale Settings:
- Creativity: Low, Medium, or High (controls how stylized the result is)
- Scale: 2x, 3x, or 4x
Tip: Use Low Creativity for realistic portraits. Use High Creativity for illustrations or stylized effects.
The original is 1,000 pixels wide. After the 4x upscale it is 4,000 pixels, with much cleaner results than traditional resizing.
Note: The Generative Upscale tool was also a Photoshop Beta feature at recording. It reached the general release alongside Harmonize, in Photoshop 27.0, the October 2025 release.
5. Projects Panel (Beta Release)
The new Projects panel makes it easier to organize your files across Adobe apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Express, all from inside Photoshop’s Home screen.
It acts like a smart cloud folder, where you can:
- Add PSDs, AIs, Express designs, etc.
- Create folders
- Share with collaborators
- Assign permissions
- Stay version-synced without messy local folders
Great for teams or remote workflows. Just click Create Project, name it, and start adding files from your Adobe Cloud storage.
Note: The Projects panel was a Photoshop Beta feature when this video was recorded. It shipped in the general release with Photoshop 26.11, the September 2025 release.
Final Thoughts on the July 2025 Photoshop Release
The July 2025 Photoshop release is all about giving creators faster tools and finer control with AI. From one-click composites to flexible upscaling and seamless project organization, these features are designed to help you move from idea to final image faster and smarter.
Previous Photoshop Updates
This post is the Photoshop 2025 (July Release) entry in the series of Photoshop version write-ups. Here are the others.
- Photoshop 2025 (July Release), this post
- Photoshop 2025 (April Release)
- Photoshop 2025
- Photoshop 2024
- Photoshop 2023
- Photoshop 2022
- Photoshop 2021
- Photoshop 2020
- Photoshop CC 2019
- Photoshop CC 2018
- Photoshop CC 2017
- Photoshop CC 2015.5
- Photoshop CC 2015
- Photoshop CC 2014
- Photoshop CC
- Photoshop CS6
Frequently Asked Questions
This release brings five standout features. A stronger Remove Tool now runs on a newer Firefly model, and Generative Fill gained a Firefly model selector. The one-click Harmonize button handles compositing, Generative Upscale enlarges images up to 4x, and the new Projects panel organizes files.
It uses Firefly AI to match a composited layer to its background: lighting, color, shadows, and reflections, in one click, with three variations to choose from. It works on objects and people.
Harmonize, Generative Upscale, and the Projects panel shipped in the Photoshop Beta. The enhanced Remove Tool and the Firefly model selector were the only two in the general release at the time. All three Beta features have since reached the general release.
Under Image > Generative Upscale or inside the Image Size window. Choose a scale of 2x, 3x, or 4x and a Creativity level: low for realistic photos, high for stylized art. It was a Photoshop Beta feature when this video was recorded and has since shipped in the general release.
A newer Firefly model removes objects with better blending and fewer invented artifacts, and the tool now appears in the Contextual Task Bar right after a selection. New options include Create New Layer, which is on by default, plus Sample All Layers and Remove After Each Stroke.
Make a selection and click Generative Fill, then enter your prompt. Click the Firefly icon in the Task Bar to switch between Image Model 1 and Image Model 3 before you press Generate.
The Previous Photoshop Updates list at the end of this post links every release guide back to Photoshop CS6. Each entry covers what changed in that specific version.
Wrapping Up the Photoshop 2025 Release
The July 2025 Photoshop release adds five features that speed up everyday editing.
The Remove Tool got sharper, and Generative Fill added a Firefly model picker. Harmonize handles one-click compositing, Generative Upscale enlarges files, and the Projects panel keeps everything organized.
Harmonize, Generative Upscale, and the Projects panel all started in the Photoshop Beta. All three are now part of the general release, so every feature in this roundup is ready to use today.
Watch the full video above for every feature in action, and comment on the video if you have a question.
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