· creativity · 1 min read
AI photo editing tools — background removal, relighting, upscaling
The best AI photo apps and workflows for creators and marketers, with quality vs. speed tradeoffs.
Editing pipelines now mix foundation models and fast upscalers.
Picks
- Studio-quality upscaling and sharpening.
- Background removal with hair/edges preserved.
- Relighting and shadow control.
Top picks
- Ecommerce: Batch background removal + uniform lighting.
- Portrait: Skin retouch + relight, natural look.
- Social: Fast templates with brand fonts/colors.
Workflow examples
- Product packshots: background removal → relight → upscale → sharpen edges.
- Portrait set: skin cleanup → relight → film‑like LUT → export in batches.
Quality tips
- Keep originals; export side‑by‑side comparisons.
- Tune denoise strength to avoid plastic skin; use local adjustments.
- Calibrate monitor and lock color space for consistent exports.
