Content Aware Fill is probably one of the biggest reasons I ever leave Lightroom to go to Photoshop. Even if I only spend 60 seconds removing a distraction, that is sometimes the most important part of the photo edit.
Well, Content Aware Fill actually has two places where you can use it. One is really simple and quick, and the other offers more flexibility but can take longer. We’ll take a quick look at both in this video.
Also, if you like what you see in this video and want to learn more about removing distractions (and overall editing) of your wildlife photos, please check out my Wildlife Editing Secrets course. It’s on sale now! (Click here to see the course)
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Excellent teaching as usual!! Thank you!! Mystery solved!
Hi Matt, thank you so much for a helpful video. I’ve used content-aware fill before, but due to the spacing of the object I wanted to remove, I used the magic wand to select the object. then I selected CAF, but then there is a slight outline of the object still remaining even though I made sure the right sampling areas were selected. I wind up having to use the clone stamp or other tools to get rid of the outline. Are there other options to expand the selection area slightly to get rid of the residual outline?
Hi Gail. Since you made a hard selection edge, then it’s pretty natural for there to be an edge left over and using the clone stamp or healing brush to clean up is normal. You could always try feathering your selection edge before CAF too. Thanks!
Short and to the point, THANK YOU!
thanks
Matt – Thanks for this short video and explanation – very helpful as usual. One thing, however, I believe that the shortcut Shift+Backspace only works on the Background layer. On my PC, the shortcut doesn’t work if I duplicate the layer and try the shortcut. Not sure about the MAC.
Hi Russ. Definitely works all the time on Mac. And it also does on the PC’s I’ve tried. Not sure why it wouldn’t on yours. Thanks!
I use the Patch tool all the time. Is there a disadvantage to using it versus the Simple Method you use here?
Hi. All tools have their uses. Sometimes there can be 5 tools that all do the job and sometimes only 1 tool will. So my suggestion is to give it a try. Use whatever tool works 🙂
Great tip, I knew the simple way before..
Great Tip …
Never new it existed …
TY …
Unfortunately, I see that, while the “Simple” version is in Photoshop CS5.1 that I’m using, the “Advanced” version of this, introduced in 2019, is only available in the Photoshop CC. Sigh!
Hi Walter. That is correct. CS5 came out in 2010 (almost 11 years ago) and is no longer supported by updates.
Thanks Matt for the skill you shared!
clear and to the point.
Clear reminder of how to do it and why.
Thanks! Great explanation!
Thank you Matt – this was very helpful. It will be very useful for me.
Once again, thanks Matt, for the useful video. Until now I have been using the patch tool, and found it to be effective. I knew about Content Aware Fill but hadn’t taken the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a choice of tools to achieve what I want.
Very useful. Thanks!
As usual, you are a great help, Matt. Good refresher.
too funny… Just yesterday I was struggling with not remembering how to do content aware fill and too lazy to get lost in looking for directions … so I spent ours with work around.I obviously do not use the tools daily so I forget. BAM there is Matt, telling me what to do! I am taking notes !!! THANK YOU !!! … oh , and then I was cleaning up some stuff on computer last night and found notes from course I bought from you- No light no problem that was tucked away and forgotten … so obviously Matt you are reading my mind! 🙂 ps … I still think you are one of the best LR /PS teachers around!!!
The content aware fill menu option has worked amazingly well in all sorts of situations. It’s a go-to for removing features that can’t be removed with either the spot healing brush or the simpler automatic content aware fill function. For me, it’s one of the best improvements that has been made over the past few years.
Thanks! Needed a refresher.
What is the color adaptation choice in Content Aware Fill menu. What is its purpose and how is it used
Thank you
Hi David. It helps it blend colors of surrounding areas. There’s no rule to it. If you don’t see the result you like and they look splotchy, give it a try to see if it makes a difference.
Thank you! A big help and review!
Good stuff, thanks Matt