During Google’s Pixel Fall Launch event on October 19, the company unveiled a new editing tool available as part of the Google Photos app, first exclusively on the new Pixel 6 phones, called the ‘Magic eraser’. This allows you to delete elements that are in the photos and that you want to remove, with the automatic filling of the deleted area with what the algorithm imagines may have been at that point that deleted element had not been there at the time of the shot. A tool that Photoshop users may have known for some time, and is similar to the tool called ‘Object Eraser‘available on select Samsung Galaxy phones from this year.
“Removing distractions from photos is not an impossible task, but it generally requires sophisticated editing tools, know-how and time” commented Google Photos Product Managers Zachary Senzer and Navin Sarma. “That’s why we’re launching Magic Eraser on the Pixel 6, to help you remove those distractions in just a few taps right in Google Photos. And you’re not limited to newly captured photos – you can clean up all your photos, even those taken years ago or on non-mobile phones. Pixel “.
Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro – Magic Eraser Demo
How Magic eraser works in Google Photos
After taking a photo, if for example there are unwanted people, just open the photo editor in Google Photos, select the ‘Magic Eraser’ tool. It is therefore possible to rely on the advice proposed by artificial intelligence on what can be removed – Magic Eraser is able to automatically detect ‘distractions’ in the whole area of the photo, such as people in the background, power lines and light poles. , and suggest how they might be removed. Alternatively, you can circle the elements you want to remove from the photo: using machine learning, Magic Eraser can figure out what you are trying to remove within the selected area, so you don’t waste time making a precise selection. Then, once you have decided what to erase, Magic Eraser uses machine learning to predict what the pixels would look like if the item to be removed were not present.
Magic Eraser is based on Google Photos suite of editing features, including smart portrait tips, sky photos, and more, so you can get better photos quickly and easily. Developed through close collaboration between the Google Photos and Google Research teams, these capabilities are powered by machine learning and advances in computational photography.
Magic Eraser debuts in Google Photos first on the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on October 28 (release day of the phones in the United States). We do not know if, and eventually when, Magic Eraser will become available to all Google Photos users.