Why I Prefer Editing My Photos With AI Tools Over Manual Techniques

A lot of people still dismiss AI as a shortcut or a crutch in photo editing, but I’ve found it incredibly useful. While some prefer the hands-on approach, I have a couple of reasons why I came to rely on AI tools.

1

AI helps me edit faster

AI tools are a lifesaver, especially when you’re short on time. Using AI photo editing tools allows you to simplify the photo editing process by analyzing your images and providing recommendations and other time-saving features such as automatic adjustment and automatic masking.

The generated output will need extra tweaking to fix and improve, but overall, I find it saves me more time compared to doing everything manually.

In the image above, I used Canva’s auto-adjust tool to quickly apply a full set of image adjustments, saving you the time it would take to adjust each setting manually. This feature provides a solid starting point for your edits, which you can further refine to match your style.

While the adjustments may not convey any level of artistry or style, they are generally good enough to use without further editing, especially if you are short on time and need to edit a whole batch of photos.

2

I can easily change or delete anything in my photos

One of the biggest frustrations with manual photo editing is dealing with unwanted elements in a photo. Imagine taking a perfect photo only to realize there’s a random stranger or an ugly sign in the background. Manually removing these distractions can be painstaking and often time-consuming to manually mask and edit.

This is where AI tools shine. Canva’s AI Magic Eraser lets me brush over unwanted objects, and the tool removes them seamlessly, leaving the background intact. Adobe Content Replenishment it’s another game changer.

If I need to remove a larger object or reposition elements in my photo, these tools do it effortlessly. Gone are the days of manually cloning pixels or messing around with intricate layers in Photoshop for hours.

3

AI helps beginners like me do more advanced editing

Before AI tools, photo editing felt intimidating. Learning software like Photoshop takes time, patience and a steep learning curve. But with AI, even beginners like me can create impressive edits without feeling overwhelmed.

As someone who doesn’t have time to learn more advanced photo editing techniques, I prefer to use browser-based photo editors as many of them already implement AI, which allows me to produce acceptable edits despite my lack of skill.

In the image below, I used AI to stretch the entire image to fit the photo resolution so it could be posted as an Instagram reel.

Canva’s AI toolset allows me to make all kinds of edits without spending time learning how to use them online. If I want to add or replace something in my photo, I just brush over the area and describe what I want. Whether it’s adding a bouquet of flowers to someone’s hands or replacing a cloudy sky with a sun, the tool makes it effortless.

Magical Google Photos editor also deserves a mention. This tool takes editing for beginners to another level by allowing users to adjust backgrounds, reposition subjects, and even change lighting dynamically. These features were once reserved for professional photographers, but are now available to anyone with a smartphone.

What I love most about these AI-powered features is how they make challenging edits accessible to everyone. I don’t need to be a Photoshop expert to get good results.

4

Generative AI is my choice for Wacky/Creative compositions

When I want to go beyond simple editing and immerse myself in creativity, generative AI tools are my secret weapon. They unlock artistic possibilities that manual methods could not achieve, at least not without hours of effort.

Canva’s Text to Image tool is one of my favorites. It allows me to describe what I want to see, and the AI ​​generates a custom image based on my description. In this example, I simply shaded the area where I wanted to edit and then gave a description to give the dog a hat.

These tools are not just for fun. They are also practical. I use generative AI to create backgrounds for presentations, placeholders for design projects, and even unique social media posts that stand out from the crowd.

AI photo editing tools like Canva, Google Photos and Adobe Photoshop Express have changed the way we approach photography. They save me time, allow me to easily fix or transform images, and open doors to creative possibilities I never imagined. Whether you’re a casual user or an experienced photographer, these tools can make your life easier and your photos better.

If you hesitated to try the AI ​​for editing, give it a shot. Like me, you may find yourself reaching for AI tools every time you want to enhance or transform your photos.