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Revolutionizing Design: How Adobe’s Generative Fill Blends Human Creativity with AI Precision

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Generative Fill in Adobe Photoshop

Look at the image above. Could you believe that this boat has never actually been anywhere near this pond and the boat was added from Adobes own image library using additional lighting and shadowing, to a photo that I took at Saltram House (one of the locations for the film Sense and Sensibility) in the UK? This impressive result was achieved using Generative Fill technology from Adobe.
 
Adobe Photoshop introduces “Generative Fill,” a feature that allows users to quickly create, modify, or replace images using simple text prompts. Adobe Firefly generative AI powers this innovative tool. Here’s a summary of the key points:
 
Dream Bigger with Generative Fill: Users can swiftly produce, augment, eliminate, or substitute images directly in Adobe Photoshop using text prompts, thanks to Adobe Firefly generative AI.
 
Efficient Content Creation: Generative Fill aids in the rapid realization of creative ideas, offering comprehensive control over every creation. Users can transform text prompts into impressive artwork in mere seconds.
 
Time-Saving Exploration: Generative Fill enables users to experiment with ideas rapidly, producing numerous high-quality concepts with just a few keystrokes.
 
AI Integration with Photoshop: Generative Fill, now integrated into the Photoshop (beta), allows users to adjust AI-generated content non-destructively on a new layer, ensuring complete creative control.
 
Safety and Commercial Use: Generative Fill is backed by Adobe Firefly, a suite of generative AI models designed for commercial safety. Adobe Stock imagery, openly licensed work, and public domain content serve as its training grounds. 
 
Join the AI Revolution: Adobe encourages users to experience the potential of generative AI and contribute to the evolution of new AI-driven features in Photoshop.
 
Enhanced Image Manipulation: With Generative Fill, users can extend images, modify backgrounds, update outfits, or even add AI-generated objects to an image based on a brief description. The tool ensures photorealistic results with appropriate shadows, reflections, lighting, and perspective.
 
Simple Refinements: By adding generated content to a new layer, users can edit, refine, or remove any creation without compromising the original image’s integrity. Users can effortlessly eliminate unwanted elements, and Generative Fill will replace them with contextually appropriate content.
 
For those interested in learning more, Adobe offers additional resources on Photoshop and Adobe Firefly.

Thought-Provoking Insights:

1. The Power of AI in Design: With Generative Fill, the integration of AI into design tools is evident. How might this change the landscape of graphic design in the future?
2. Balancing Creativity and Automation: While AI can generate content based on prompts, how will designers strike a balance between manual creativity and AI-assisted automation?

3. Ethical Considerations: As AI tools become more integrated into commercial applications, what ethical considerations arise, especially concerning copyright and originality?

Mapsoft provides software development services for Photoshop, other CC applications, Adobe Acrobat, and PDF developments using the Adobe PDF library. 

Author: Michael Peters
mpeters@creativeaddonshub.com
https://creativeaddonshub.com

Mapsoft has released a 64 bit Windows version of TOCBuilder

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Mapsoft's TOCBuilder Embraces the Future: Introducing 64-bit Support in Sync with Adobe Acrobat's Transition

With the release of Adobe Acrobat DC and Adobe Acrobat 2020 as 64bit versions, Mapsoft has released a 64 bit Windows version of its plugin, TOCBuilder. The installer is now able to determine if the installed version of Acrobat is 32 or 64 bit and install the appropriate version. 

Adobe is no longer supporting 32bit operating systems – https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/kb/end-of-support-acrobat-reader-32-bit-os.html. It is important to note that this does not mean that the 32bit executable of Adobe Acrobat is not supported on 64 bit Windows. However updates of Acrobat in the future will start to update to 64bit and it is for this reason that we decided to produce a 64bit version of TOCBuilder.

See more details of TOCBuilder on our website.

How do I know if I have a 32 or 64 bit version of Adobe Acrobat installed?

Adobe have been good enough to output this information on the title bar of Acrobat when it runs as shown below:

What else has changed in Acrobat?

Enhanced Security which unfortunately can disable some functionality in the product such as saving to files other than the current PDF such as preference information.

Acrobat is often installed with protected mode on which is stopping access to external files and the registry. This can be switched off in the Edit/Preferences menu and then by going to the Security (Enhanced) tab. Please see the screenshot below:

How to buy Mapsoft TOCBuilder?

Licensing is available for the first time as an annual subscription which will ensure that we can keep updating the plug-in into the future and remaining compatible with later versions of Adobe Acrobat and the new PDF version 2 standard. 

For the moment we are also going to continue perpetual licenses but these will only be valid for the current version of the product. The product is available for purchase at our store

Associated links:

History of PDF

Create Table Of Contents PDF Adobe Acrobat Plugin Tool

Author:  Michael Peters

mpeters@creativeaddonshub.com

https://creativeaddonshub.com

Unleash Your Creativity: Adobe Firefly Revolutionizes Content Generation with AI-Powered Images and Text Effects

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Adobe has unveiled a ground-breaking creative generative AI model known
as Firefly, which focuses on generating images and text effects. 

It is designed to
accommodate users of all experience levels, not just the creative professionals and is part of the innovative Adobe Sensei generative AI
services which those that are already familiar with products like Photoshop will already be familiar with.  

Firefly will be seamlessly integrated into various Adobe workflows,
including Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, Experience Cloud, and Adobe Express.  The primary goal of Firefly is to provide
creators with the ability to work at the pace of their imaginations,
effortlessly producing countless variations of content. 

FireFly will be directly
integrated into Adobe’s industry-leading tools and services, allowing users to
harness the power of generative AI within their current workflows. The first
Firefly model, now in beta, is geared towards commercial applications. 

In order to protect content, Adobe
also offers a “Do Not Train” tag for creators who prefer not to have their
content utilized in model training. This tag will persistently be associated
with the content, no matter where it is used, published, or stored. In
addition, customers will be able to extend Firefly’s training with their own
creative assets, enabling them to create content in their unique style or
brand language.

Adobe has more than a decade-long history in AI innovation, Adobe has consistently provided intelligent features its Adobe Sensei Ai Engine. Some notable AI capabilities include Neural Filters in Photoshop, Content Aware Fill in After Effects, Attribution AI in Adobe Experience Platform, and Liquid Mode in Acrobat.

The following table provides a summary of the Firefly product:

Information Details
Product Name Adobe Firefly
Product Category Creative Generative AI
Primary Focus Generation of images and text effects
Target Users Customers of all experience levels
Integration Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, Experience Cloud, and Adobe Express
workflows
Series Part of new Adobe Sensei generative AI services
AI Innovation History Over a decade of AI innovation through Adobe Sensei
Examples of AI Features Neural Filters in Photoshop, Content Aware Fill in After Effects,
Attribution AI in Adobe Experience Platform, Liquid Mode in Acrobat
AI Ethics Principles Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency
Quote from David Wadhwani “Generative AI is the next evolution of AI-driven creativity and
productivity, transforming the conversation between creator and
computer into something more natural, intuitive and powerful.”
Adobe Firefly Features Empowers creators to work at the speed of their imaginations,
generating limitless variations of content with ease and speed
Integration with Adobe Tools Firefly will be integrated directly into Adobe’s industry-leading
tools and services
Firefly Beta First model focused on commercial use
“Do Not Train” Tag Allows creators to opt-out of content being used in model training,
tag remains associated with content wherever it is used, published or
stored
Customizable Training Customers can extend Firefly training with their own creative

 

Author:  Michael Peters

mpeters@creativeaddonshub.com

https://creativeaddonshub.com

Unlocking the Secrets of PDFs: Exploring the Hidden Worlds of Page Boxes

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There are a number of boxes that help establish the dimensions, positioning, and viewable content for a PDF document. Here are some of the most important boxes:

  1. MediaBox: The MediaBox defines the dimensions of the entire page. It establishes the size of the physical medium on which the content will be displayed or printed. The MediaBox is specified by four coordinates (llx, lly, urx, ury), representing the lower-left and upper-right corners of the rectangle.
  2. CropBox: The CropBox determines the region of the page to be displayed or printed. By default, the CropBox is the same size as the MediaBox. However, it can be smaller or have different dimensions to remove any unwanted content from the final output. The CropBox is also defined by four coordinates (llx, lly, urx, ury).
  3. BleedBox: The BleedBox is used in professional printing. It defines the region to which the contents of the page should be clipped when the final output is being trimmed to its finished size. It usually extends beyond the CropBox to accommodate ink that may spread or bleed during the printing process. The BleedBox is defined by four coordinates as well (llx, lly, urx, ury).
  4. TrimBox: The TrimBox specifies the final intended dimensions of the page after trimming. In professional printing, this box is used to show where the actual page boundaries will be after any excess content outside the TrimBox is removed. The TrimBox is also defined by four coordinates (llx, lly, urx, ury).
  5. ArtBox: The ArtBox is used to define the extent of the page’s meaningful content. This box is important for tasks like placing advertisements, where the content area is separate from other page elements. The ArtBox is defined by four coordinates (llx, lly, urx, ury).

 

In summary, these boxes help manage the display and printing of content in a PDF file. They define various regions on a page, such as the total page size (MediaBox), the visible content (CropBox), the area for ink bleed (BleedBox), the final dimensions after trimming (TrimBox), and the region of meaningful content (ArtBox).

 

In Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can view the different PDF boxes on a PDF page using the following steps:

  1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Navigate to the desired page within the PDF.
  3. Click on the “Tools” tab or panel in the top toolbar.
  4. Locate and click on the “Print Production” toolset. If you do not see it, click on the “More Tools” option and find it in the list. You may need to scroll down to locate it. Click on the “Add” button to add the “Print Production” tools to your toolbar.
  5. In the “Print Production” panel, click on the “Output Preview” option. This will open the “Output Preview” dialog box.
  6. In the “Output Preview” dialog box, check the box next to “Show art, trim, & bleed boxes” under the “Page Attributes” section. This will display the ArtBox, TrimBox, and BleedBox on the PDF page. You will see colored lines representing the boxes: cyan for the BleedBox, magenta for the TrimBox, and yellow for the ArtBox.

Please note that Acrobat does not provide an option to view the MediaBox and CropBox directly as colored lines. However, you can still infer their locations:

  • The MediaBox typically represents the entire page, so it corresponds to the page’s outer boundary.
  • The CropBox defines the visible area of the page. If the CropBox is different from the MediaBox, you may notice that some content is not displayed or printed. The displayed area in Acrobat corresponds to the CropBox.

It is important to note that not all PDF files may have all these boxes defined. In case a box is not defined, you may not see its representation in Acrobat. The Media box is generally always present but the others are optional.

The “Print Production” tools, including “Output Preview,” are not available in Adobe Acrobat Standard. They are exclusive to Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Acrobat Pro DC versions.

In Adobe Acrobat Standard and Adobe Reader you won’t be able to directly view the different PDF boxes (MediaBox, CropBox, BleedBox, TrimBox, and ArtBox) as you would in Acrobat Pro.

However, you can still obtain information about the media box by inspecting the properties of the document:

  1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Standard.
  2. Go to “File” > “Properties” or press “Ctrl+D” (or “Cmd+D” on a Mac) to open the Document Properties dialog box.
  3. Click on the “Description” tab to see the page size, which corresponds to the MediaBox dimensions.

Keep in mind that this method only provides limited information about the MediaBox and does not allow you to view the other boxes directly. To access the full set of features for working with PDF boxes, you will need to use Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

This is an example of what you might expect to see in the PDF file:

4 0 obj

  <<

    /Type /Page

    /Parent 3 0 R

    /Resources 2 0 R

    /Contents 1 0 R

    /MediaBox [0 0 612 792]        % MediaBox: [llx lly urx ury] – US Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches)

    /CropBox [36 36 576 756]       % CropBox: [llx lly urx ury] – With 0.5-inch margin from MediaBox

    /BleedBox [18 18 594 774]      % BleedBox: [llx lly urx ury] – With 0.25-inch margin from CropBox

    /TrimBox [54 54 558 738]       % TrimBox: [llx lly urx ury] – With 0.25-inch margin from BleedBox

    /ArtBox [72 72 540 720]        % ArtBox: [llx lly urx ury] – With 0.25-inch margin from TrimBox

  >>

endobj

Considerations for PDF Creation

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Mastering PDF Creation: Ensuring Quality and Efficiency

There are several things to consider when creating quality PDF files from various sources to ensure that the final product is of high quality and suitable for its intended use.

  1. To begin, consider the source of the content that will be included in the PDF. If the content is scanned from a physical document, make sure the scanner is of high quality and that the document is properly aligned and lit before scanning. If the content is created electronically, it is critical to ensure that the layout and formatting are consistent, and that any images or graphics included are of high resolution especially if the pdf is going to be printed.
  2. Following that, it is critical to consider the PDF’s intended use. If the PDF will be printed, it is critical that it is properly formatted for print and that any images or graphics included are of high resolution (see the adobe help system on print production tools). If the PDF will be primarily used for screen viewing, it is critical that the document is properly optimized for screen viewing and that any images or graphics included are of a suitable size and resolution for viewing on a computer or mobile device.
  3. Accessibility is another important factor to consider when creating PDF files. PDFs can be made more accessible to disabled users by including features like alternative text for images and a table of contents. This ensures that the PDF is accessible to everyone. See the Acrobat help on this subject.
  4. Finally, when creating PDF files, it is critical to consider security. If the PDF contains sensitive information, it is critical that it is properly secured and that any necessary password protection or encryption is in place. See the Acrobat help on the subject of security.

In conclusion, when creating high quality PDF files from various sources, it is essential to consider the source of the content, the PDF’s intended use, accessibility, and security to ensure that the finished document is of high quality and appropriate for its primary purpose.

Targets

The main target environments to consider when creating high quality PDF files are for Print and Viewing, although it could be argued that another is for archiving with the arrival of the PDF/A standard. 

Print

When creating high quality PDFs for printing, it is critical to use the PDF/X standard, which is a subset of the PDF format specifically designed for the printing industry. PDF/X-1a is the most widely used print standard because it ensures that all elements in the PDF are properly embedded and that the document is print-optimized. This includes ensuring that all fonts have been embedded and color has been defined in the CMYK color space.
It is essential that all fonts used in the document are either embedded in the PDF or accessible on the printer’s system. This guarantees that the document will print correctly and that the text will appear as intended.
Another important consideration when creating PDFs for printing is color management. It is critical that all colors in the document are defined in the CMYK color space, as this is the color space used by the majority of printers. It is also critical to ensure that any images or graphics included in the document are color-managed and have a high resolution, typically at least 300 dpi although in some types of printing such as greeting cards 150 dpi is often used.
Another important consideration when creating PDFs for printing is imposition. The arrangement of pages on a press sheet is referred to as imposition. It is critical to ensure that the document is properly imposed and that any fold or trim marks are included in the PDF.
In terms of software and tools, InDesign and other professional design software have export settings to PDF/X standards, such as PDF/X-1a, which can help ensure that the document is properly optimized for print. These presets typically include options for embedding fonts, converting colors to CMYK, and including any fold or trim marks that may be required.
To summarize, when creating PDFs for print, it is critical to follow the PDF/X standard and ensure that all elements in the PDF are properly embedded and that the document is print-optimized. This includes making certain that all fonts are embedded, all colors are defined in the CMYK color space, any images or graphics included in the document are properly color-managed, the document is properly imposed, and any necessary fold or trim marks are included in the PDF.

Pre-press Tools

There are several pre-press tools available for ensuring the integrity of high quality print-ready PDF files. Some popular choices are:
Adobe Acrobat Pro – Adobe Acrobat Pro is a popular tool for creating, editing, and verifying PDF files. It includes pre-press tools like preflight, which can check for common issues like missing fonts, incorrect color spaces, and low resolution images.
PitStop Pro is an Adobe Acrobat plug-in that provides advanced pre-press tools for checking and editing PDF files. It has features like automatic error correction, advanced editing tools, and support for PDF/X standards.
FlightCheck – FlightCheck is a pre-flight tool for Mac OS that can detect missing fonts, low-resolution images, and incorrect color spaces. It also supports PDF/X standards and can detect imposition and bleed issues.
PDF-XChange Editor – PDF-XChange Editor is a free PDF editor for Windows that includes pre-flight tools for detecting problems like missing fonts and low-resolution images. It also supports PDF/X standards and can detect imposition and bleed issues.
Many of the professional graphic design programs such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and QuarkXPress contain Prepress tools. They can detect missing fonts, low-resolution images, and incorrect color spaces. It also supports PDF/X standards and can detect imposition and bleed issues.
These are just a few examples of pre-press tools for verifying the integrity of print-ready PDF files. Each tool has its own set of features and capabilities, so it’s important to select the one that best meets your requirements.

Imposition

There are several effective tools for PDF files that can be used to arrange pages on a press sheet. Some popular choices are:
PitStop Pro by Enfocus – Enfocus PitStop Pro is an Adobe Acrobat plug-in that provides advanced pre-press tools such as imposition. It enables you to design your own imposition layouts, add bleed and registration marks, and check for errors. https://www.enfocus.com/en/pitstop-pro
X-Impose – X-Impose is an Adobe Acrobat plug-in that provides imposition tools. It enables you to design your own imposition layouts, add bleed and registration marks, and check for errors. https://www.axaio.com/doku.php/en:products:madetoprintstandard
Imposition can also be done directly from the authoring application such as Adobe InDesign so the Imposition has already been done in the generated PDF file. Mapsoft also has experience of producing customized Imposition software for example for the Greetings Card industry where imposition is often done on production processes such as cutters, foiling, UV application etc.

Online and Viewing

It is critical to optimize PDFs for screen viewing when creating PDFs primarily for viewing and online use. This includes ensuring that the document’s layout and formatting are consistent, that any images or graphics included are the appropriate size and resolution for viewing on a computer or mobile device, and that any interactive elements, such as hyperlinks or forms, are functional and simple to use.
Consider the following when creating PDFs for online viewing:
Adjust the layout, font size, and color scheme for optimal readability on a computer or mobile device to ensure that the document is properly optimized for screen viewing.
Optimize images and graphics: For images and graphics, use appropriate resolution and file size so that they load quickly and look good on a screen and allow larger PDFs to be viewed even though they are still downloading if hosted on the web. High-resolution images that aren’t required for screen viewing should be avoided. However there are tools that can be used for used to accomplish this.
Check that all hyperlinks and forms are functional and easy to use, and that they work properly on different devices and browsers. Ideally for easy navigation bookmarks should be available together with a Table of contents and any web links should be active
Accessibility: Make sure the PDF is accessible to users with disabilities by including features such as alternative text for images and a table of contents, and that it can be read by screen readers.
Security: If the PDF contains sensitive information, ensure that it is properly secured and that any necessary password protection or encryption is in place. There are a number of security options when saving including digital signatures.
PDF/A standard: You could use the PDF/A standard, which is a subset of the PDF format designed specifically for archiving. PDF/A ensures that the document will be readable for a long time without the need for additional software or fonts.
Professional design software, such as Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, and Illustrator, have presets for exporting to pdf/a standards, which can help ensure that the document is properly optimized for online viewing.
Finally, when creating PDFs primarily for viewing and online use, it is critical to optimize the document for screen viewing by ensuring that the layout and formatting are consistent, that any images or graphics included are of a suitable size and resolution for viewing on a computer or mobile device, and that any interactive elements, such as hyperlinks or forms, are functional and easy to use. Accessibility, security, and archiving should also be taken into account to ensure that the final product is of high quality and suitable for its intended use.

Mapsoft and PDF

Mapsoft have a huge amount of experience working with PDF. Our Technical Director, Michael Peters developed the first PDF Export with Adobe Systems, Inc on the arrival of the first version of Acrobat for Adobe PageMaker. We have a number of plug-ins that run under Adobe Acrobat and we also are an OEM licensee of the Adobe PDF Library that we can use in a number of products and custom developments.
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