I’m addicted to chasing theNorthern Lights. But, I have one big problem: the northern view from my yard is marred by power lines. The wires are an annoyance that can be in a few steps if I have the time. Thenew Photoshop 2025, however, has a new tool that removes power lines in much less time: Distraction Removal.
Distraction Removal uses AI to locate two of the most common distractions photo editors tend to edit out: wires and power lines, and people in the background. Photoshop then removes those distractions and fills in the gap based on the data from the rest of the image. Even better, photographers can turn generative AI off if they would rather use traditional methods like content-aware fill instead. Yes, AI is still needed to mask out the image, but this allows photographers to avoid having part of their image computer-generated.
For distraction removal, you’ll need Photoshop 2025 on a computer (not a mobile device). If you have an older version, an update is required. The tool also has somehardware requirements, including 16 GB of memory, at least 8 GB of RAM, and a hard drive of at least 512 GB. If you meet the minimum but not optimal requirements, a pop up will warn you that removal may be slower than with other machines.
What is the Photoshop distraction removal tool?
The tool is new to Photoshop 2025
Adobe introduced the distraction removal tool in Photoshop 2025. Part of the remove tool, distraction removal allows photo editors to let the software mask out wires or people in the background, then remove them from the image. This saves editors some time, as it skips out the part of the process where photographers would need to draw over the area of the image to remove.
While the new distraction removal tool is AI-based, a drop-down menu allows photo editors to choose to turn generative AI off, using traditional Photoshop methods like cloning another area of the image to fill in the gap instead.
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How to use Photoshop AI to remove power lines from an image
Distraction Removal is hidden in the Remove Tool
Photoshop has long had multiple options for tasks like removing power lines from an image. But, with the new Distraction Removal tool, the software can take care of those pesky power lines in a few clicks, without masking.
The Distraction Removal tool removes power lines, but it doesn’t typically remove the posts holding them up.
If Photoshop is removing something it shouldn’t, try using the rectangle marquee selection tool to select the part of the image that contains the power lines, then repeat the process.
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Removing people with the Distraction removal tool requires an extra step
The Distraction Removal tool also works with people in the background of the image. But, because in many cases you want some people to remain in the image, removing people is slightly more involved than working with power lines.
Distraction Removal only works with people in the background. If the person is in focus, this tool often won’t work.
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