Adobe has released Photoshop 28.0. The update brings a Relight layer with up to three artificial light sources, a before-and-after comparison called Quick Compare, and a removal tool that also removes an object's shadows and reflections along with it.
You install the update via the Creative Cloud desktop app. The AI features run on Adobe's generative credits, and according to Adobe, one Relight calculation costs 30 of them. The two announcements say nothing about plans, platforms, and interface languages.
How does Relight work?
Relight re-lights a photo after the fact. You select an unlocked layer and create a new Relight layer. On the canvas, you place up to three light sources and set position, color, intensity, and diffusion for each one. Photoshop detects the existing lighting and takes it into account.
Relight in Photoshop 28.0: How it works
The steps according to Adobe Community, November 10, 2026
- Select a layeran unlocked layer, because Relight only works on the active layer
- Create a Relight layerthe original remains unchanged
- Place lightsup to three, with position, color, intensity, and diffusion
- Select DonePhotoshop renders at full resolution and uses 30 credits
Relight requires an internet connection and at least one light.
Source: Adobe Community
Only a click on Done renders the result at full resolution, and this calculation costs 30 credits, as Adobe writes in the Community post on Relight. The original remains unchanged because the effect sits on its own layer. You can change the lighting settings later via Edit Lighting.
Our assessment: Because every calculation uses credits, it's worth planning ahead. Place the lights roughly first, check the preview, and only then start rendering. Adobe doesn't say whether re-rendering via Edit Lighting costs 30 credits again.
What else is new in Photoshop 28.0?
Quick Compare places your current edits next to the original version of the document. You'll find the function in the toolbar or under View > Quick Compare, and according to Adobe's post, you switch between original and edit, split the view side by side or one above the other, or use a single view. Adobe doesn't name a default shortcut, but you can assign one yourself.
The removal tool now also detects elements that belong to the object: Photoshop removes an object together with shadows, reflections, and smoke. This saves the second pass for the shadow, as long as the detection finds it.
Generative Restyle creates generated edits as layers that can be adjusted more precisely. Prompt to Edit edits an image via text input and shows several variants to choose from. Generative Upscale increases resolution and sharpness and adds details. Generative Recompose brings an image into new formats by moving image elements and rebuilding the background.
The AI Assisted Editor edits images based on instructions in everyday language, and you'll find the advanced tools in the Pro Editor. The Layers panel also shows how much storage space smart objects and layers take up, and you can now replace the placeholder text in text boxes with your own text.
Who gets what, and what remains open?
According to Adobe's press release, the new Creative Cloud features have been available to everyone since November 10, 2026. The press release doesn't say which of them are already available in Photoshop. The AI Assistant is only available in Photoshop in the Photoshop beta app, and Adobe doesn't say how it relates to the AI Assisted Editor from the Community post on 28.0. Local MCP connections, with which AI agents can control Photoshop, are announced for early 2027 as a non-public test version.
What this means for you
After the update, it's best to check in your Creative Cloud account how many generative credits you have left before you apply Relight to client images. Try the function on one of your own photos first so you know how 30 credits per calculation affect your month.
Quick Compare is suitable for a final check before export, especially after retouching and color changes. TutKit shows how to remove distracting objects with Photoshop's AI tools in a lesson on removing distracting objects, a good basic workflow before you try out the new shadow features.
Adobe introduced Photoshop 28.0 on November 10, 2026, in a post on the Adobe Community.
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