Adobe Adds 'Structure Reference' Option to Firefly Generative AI

(Credit: Adobe)

At the annual Adobe Summit, which focuses on the software powerhouse’s workplace products, Adobe made some generative AI announcements, including a the Structure Reference feature for its Firefly design tool, a new app for work called GenStudio, an AI assistant for its business suite, and "variant generation," and AI analytics for its content management system.

Structure Reference

The idea behind the new Structure Reference capability in Firefly is to save users from having to iterate a text prompt over and over when generating an image. You input an image, and Firefly generates one with the same outline. You can also input a Style reference to create the feel of the image, and use the same image for both reference types.

Other exciting updates coming to Firefly announced at the conference include sound, video, and 3D generation.

GenStudio

Adobe describes GenStudio as “an end-to-end solution to accelerate and simplify your content supply chain with generative AI and intelligent automation.” You can think of it as a workflow and collaboration for media campaigns. One idea behind GenStudio is to enable anyone to use generative AI for this purpose, and to give stakeholders a way to measure campaigns’ effectiveness.

Generative AI Assistant and More Business Tools

This is a help tool being introduced into all of Adobe’s business software. It uses generative AI to answer technical questions, automate tasks, and perform simulations.

Adobe’s content manager is also getting an infusion of generative AI, with what the company calls “variant generation.” This produces personalized content from a single marketing asset. Also new for content management is Adobe Content Analytics, which can show users whether AI-generated is performing through business metrics.

Also announced are Firefly Services, which include over 20 generative and creative APIs, tools and services that offer localization and personalization. These can do things like generating localized backgrounds for merchandising and replacing scenery and languages.

About Our Expert

Michael Muchmore

Contributor

My Experience

I've been testing PC and mobile software for more than 20 years, focusing on photo and video editing, operating systems, and web browsers. Prior to my current role, I covered software and apps for ExtremeTech and headed up PCMag’s enterprise software team. I’ve attended trade shows for Microsoft, Google, and Apple and written about all of them and their products.

I still get a kick out of seeing what's new in video and photo editing software, and how operating systems change over time. I was privileged to byline the cover story of the last print issue of PC Magazine, the Windows 7 review, and I’ve witnessed every Microsoft misstep and win, up to the latest Windows 11.

I’m an avid bird photographer and traveler—I’ve been to 40 countries, many with great birds! Because I’m also a classical music fan and former performer, I’ve reviewed streaming services that emphasize classical music.

Technology I Use

For everyday work, I use a good-old Dell tower with 16GB of RAM, a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, and an Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti GPU that runs on Windows 11. I pair it with a 4K Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-10 monitor and a Logitech MX Vertical mouse. For offsite work, I use a 2024 Microsoft Surface Laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. Camera-wise, I moved to mirrorless from a Canon EOS 80D with a Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens. I now have a Canon EOS R7 with a 100-400mm lens, but I miss my DSLR for several reasons.

In order of usage, the software I turn to most frequently is the Edge web browser, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, Firefox, Brave, and WhatsApp. I use the Windows Phone link app to see everything on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra phone, which has excellent telephoto capability.

For fitness monitoring, I have a Fitbit Charge 6 and use an Anker Smart Scale P1. I’m also a streaming fan, so I subscribe to both Amazon Music Unlimited (especially for its Dolby Atmos content) and Qobuz (for its high-res sound quality and classical catalog). I recently added a Vizio 5.1 Soundbar SE, which sounds surprisingly good given its low price. To holler commands instead of using a remote control, I have the Amazon Fire TV Cube in the living room, which lets me verbally tell the TV what I want to watch. It hooks up to an LG B4 OLED TV. I have a Sonos One speaker in my kitchen that also ties in with Alexa, as does the Echo Dot 2 With Clock in my bedroom. For serious listening, I have B&W 601 speakers plugged into a Conrad-Johnson Sonographe amp and preamp, with a Cambridge Audio AXN10 streamer as source. For reading, I also have a Nook GlowLight 3.

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