How to Edit Photos with AI in 2026: 5-Minute Guide

Quick Answer

Professional photo editing now takes 5 minutes instead of 45 by using Photoshop's Generative Fill, Luminar Neo's AI tools, and GFP-GAN for face restoration.

Generative Fill replaces 80% of manual masking
Luminar one-click tools > hours of Lightroom sliders
GFP-GAN restores old family photos in seconds

What You'll Need

Photoshop 2024+ (includes Generative Fill) OR Photopea (free)
Luminar Neo ($99 one-time) OR Lightroom subscription
GFP-GAN (free, via Replicate or self-hosted)
Topaz Photo AI for denoise + upscale ($199 one-time)
Your photos

Step 1: Start With a Non-Destructive Workflow

Always duplicate layer (Cmd/Ctrl+J) before any AI edit. Work on copies; preserve original.

Step 2: Remove Backgrounds in 2 Clicks

Photoshop: Select subject → Select and Mask → Output to Layer Mask. Or use remove.bg (free 50/month) for batch.

Step 3: Generative Fill for Unwanted Elements

Lasso the object (a stranger in your vacation photo) → Generative Fill → click Generate (empty prompt = removal). 5 seconds vs 10 min of clone-stamping.

Step 4: Expand Backgrounds

Use crop tool → extend canvas → select empty area → Generative Fill → click Generate. AI expands the scene. Great for social media re-crops.

Step 5: Enhance Portraits With Luminar Neo

Open in Luminar → Portrait → Skin Enhancer (auto) → Portrait Bokeh (adds background blur) → Face Light (brightens eyes and face). 30 seconds for pro retouching.

Step 6: Restore Old Photos With GFP-GAN

Go to replicate.com/tencentarc/gfpgan → upload scanned old photo → run. Returns sharpened face restoration even from blurry/damaged originals.

Step 7: Denoise and Upscale With Topaz

Open Topaz Photo AI → drag photo → let auto-mode detect noise + resolution → apply. Can 4x upscale old Instagram photos to print-quality.

Step 8: Color Grade With Presets

Lightroom → Develop → pick a preset → fine-tune. Or use Cinema Grade AI presets for movie-quality tones.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-retouching skin (plastic look, kills trust in portraits)
Using Generative Fill for faces (still inconsistent in 2026)
Skipping denoise before upscale (amplifies noise)
Publishing HEIC instead of JPG (compatibility)
Ignoring EXIF privacy (strip location before posting)

Top Tools

Tool	Use Case	Free Tier	Best For
Photoshop 2024+	Professional editing	Trial	Generative Fill
Luminar Neo	Portrait + landscape	Trial	Speed
GFP-GAN	Face restoration	Yes	Old photos
Topaz Photo AI	Denoise + upscale	No ($199)	Print quality
Photopea	Free Photoshop clone	Yes	No budget