Using Generative Edit and AI Generative Fill

Generative Edit and AI Generative Fill both create new image content from a written description. You type a prompt describing what you want, optionally add reference images, and ACDSee Ultimate generates a result.

Both tools send your request to a cloud service, so they require an internet connection, a signed-in ACDSee account, and available credits. Credits are used each time you click Generate.

For more information, see About Generative AI in ACDSee Ultimate.

Choosing Between Generative Edit and AI Generative Fill

Both tools share the same prompt, model, and reference controls. They differ in what they read, what they produce, and whether you can iterate before committing.

  Generative Edit AI Generative Fill
Reads The selected layer only All layers
Produces A new layer, or replaces the selected layer A new layer
Saved settings Presets available No presets
Committing Generate, then click Done to confirm, or Cancel to reject the change. Applies when you click Generate

In Generative Edit you can generate more than once and undo or redo between attempts, then either commit or discard the whole session. AI Generative Fill applies its result as soon as it finishes generating.

Opening AI Generative Edit and AI Generative Fill

To Open AI Generative Edit in Manage Mode:

Do one of the following:

  • Click AI | AI Generative Edit.
  • Right-click one or more images and select AI Features | AI Generative Edit.
  • Press Shift + Alt + E.

    • In Manage mode the tool is named AI Generative Edit. The prompt, model, and reference settings are the same as in Edit mode, however; there is no Output setting.

To Open Generative Edit in Edit Mode:

Do one of the following:

  • Click Generative Edit in the AI filter group.
  • Click Filter | AI | Generative Edit.
  • Press Shift + Alt + G.

To Open AI Generative Fill in Manage Mode:

Do one of the following:

  • Click Panes and select AI Generative Fill.
  • Press Ctrl + F11.

To Open AI Generative Fill in Edit Mode:

Do one of the following:

  • Click Panes and select AI Generative Fill.
  • Press Ctrl + F11.

Settings

Setting Description
Model Selects the model used to generate the result. Options are Nano Banana 2 Lite, Nano Banana 2, Nano Banana Pro, and Nano Banana.
Prompt Describes the result you want. Accepts up to 2,000 characters; the field turns red and stops accepting input at the limit.
References Selects the kind of guidance a reference image provides. Options are Character, Composition, and Style. Each option has its own section for uploading images. You can upload 14 reference images in total across all three, or 3 if you select Nano Banana.

Reset

Setting Description
Reset Returns every setting in the pane to its default.

Reset appears in both panes, in different places: above Presets in Generative Edit, and beside Generate at the bottom in AI Generative Fill.

Presets — Generative Edit only

Setting Description
Presets Loads a saved combination of settings. Click Save to store the current settings as a preset, or Delete to remove the selected preset.

Output — Generative Edit, in Edit mode only

Setting Description
Add as new layer Places the generated result on a new layer above the selected layer.
Replace current layer Replaces the contents of the selected layer with the generated result.

Credits

The bottom of each pane shows your available credits and the estimated cost of the current generation.

Control Description
Refresh available credits Updates the credit count.
Available Credits Shows the credits currently in your account.
Estimated Credits Shows what the current generation will cost.
Buy Credits Opens the page where you can purchase more credits.

Your available credit count doesn't update automatically after you purchase more. Click Refresh available credits to update it without restarting ACDSee Ultimate.

Generating a Result

To Apply a Generative Edit in Manage Mode:

  1. Select an image and click AI | AI Generative Edit..., or right-click an image and select AI | AI Generative Edit....
  2. Select a model from the Model drop-down list.
  3. In the Prompt field, type a description of the result you want.
  4. Optional: select a reference type from the References drop-down list and upload reference images.
  5. Click Generate.
  6. Do one of the following:
    • Click Cancel to discard it.
    • Click Generate again to replace the result with a new one.
  7. Click Done to commit the result.

To Apply a Generative Edit in Edit Mode:

  1. Open Generative Edit.
  2. Select a model from the Model drop-down list.
  3. In the Prompt field, type a description of the result you want.
  4. Optional: select a reference type from the References drop-down list and upload reference images.
  5. Optional: Under Output, select Add as new layer or Replace current layer.
  6. Click Generate.
  7. Do one of the following:
    • Click Done to commit the result.
    • Click Save to save the edit without closing the dialog.
    • Click Save as to save the edit as a new file without closing the dialog.

To Apply an AI Generative Fill:

  1. Open AI Generative Fill.
  2. Select a model from the Model drop-down list.
  3. In the Prompt field, type a description of the result you want.
  4. Optional: select a reference type from the References drop-down list and upload reference images.
  5. Click Generate. The result is applied when generation finishes.

To clear the prompt and settings without generating, click Reset at the bottom of the pane.

You can use the selection tools to define where a generative edit is applied. Generative Edit and AI Generative Fill work within your selection, though the result sometimes extends beyond it. Each generated layer includes a mask, turned off by default, that you can turn on to refine the edges.

When Another Tool Is a Better Fit

Some edits have a dedicated tool that will give you a better result than a prompt:

Before You Commit

Credits are used when you click Generate, not when you click Done. This has three consequences in Generative Edit:

  • Clicking Cancel discards everything you generated in that session. The credits are not returned.
  • Clicking Generate after undoing a result replaces what Redo was holding. You can't return to the earlier result.
  • If Replace current layer is selected, clicking Done permanently replaces the contents of the selected layer. This cannot be undone once the tool closes. To keep the original, select Add as new layer instead.

If you generate a result you want to keep, commit it before experimenting further.

See also: