Adobe’s new Photoshop Beta feature lets editors reposition and recolour up to three lights after capture, but its 30-credit cost and potential resolution loss limit its appeal.
Adobe’s Relight feature in Photoshop Beta gives editors a way to reshape illumination after a shot has been taken, but it comes with a clear cost in generative credits and, in some cases, image quality. According to Adobe’s announcement, the tool can place up to three interactive, non-destructive lights in an image, with controls for position, intensity, colour and diffusion. Practical guides from Photoshop Roadmap and other testers note that the feature is aimed at matching a subject to a new scene or improving a composite rather than replacing careful lighting at capture.
The workflow begins by selecting the subject layer before creating a Relight layer, because the effect is applied to one layer at a time. Adobe says users need the latest beta build to test the feature, while hands-on guides show that the lights can then be adjusted through sliders for colour temperature, distance, intensity and diffusion. The aim is to build the light gradually, so the edited subject still appears believable against the original photograph.
The main trade-off is cost. Photoshop Roadmap says each Relight generation uses 30 credits, a point echoed by Fstoppers, which also reports that the feature may reduce image resolution. That makes it important to review the result at full size before committing to it, particularly if the image is intended for print or detailed retouching. In its own tests, Fstoppers found the tool useful for relocating a hiker from cloudy light into a brighter scene, but also highlighted the limits that come with generation-based editing.
For composite work, Photoshop Roadmap suggests a useful workaround: try Harmonize first, then place the Relight layer in Lighten mode and adjust opacity to fine-tune the effect without generating a fresh version. That approach gives editors more control over the final balance between the new light and the source image. In practice, Relight looks most valuable as a finishing tool for specific lighting problems, rather than as a default step for every edit.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
