Adobe Photoshop | Relight Beta Adds Interactive AI Lighting to Images
Adobe Photoshop Beta introduced Relight on September 28, 2026, giving image editors a generative way to change lighting with up to three interactive lights. Position, intensity, color and diffusion can be adjusted while the original image pixels remain untouched in a separate layer. The feature opens a practical avenue for testing lighting direction in existing 2D images.
Lighting becomes an editable decision
Relight works in Photoshop Desktop Beta. Select a supported unlocked image layer, then use Layer > New Relight Layer to begin. A light appears on the canvas, and its properties can be adjusted through the contextual controls or Properties panel. Additional lights can be added up to the three-light limit.
For a cover or promotional composition, a useful first test is whether a different light direction strengthens the focal point. Try a single light before adding complexity. Judge the subject against the intended typography and background: the strongest isolated image may still need a quieter treatment to work inside a finished layout.
Use the preview to explore a clear lighting idea
Adjustments happen in a lower-resolution preview. Selecting Done produces the result at the input image's full resolution, and each selection of Done costs 30 generative credits. The Relight layer can be selected again to edit its lighting settings, making the distinction between exploring and committing particularly useful.
Plan a specific comparison before experimenting: a warmer key light, a softer transition across a face or a clearer separation from the background. Keep the visual goal narrow enough to judge. After committing, inspect the important edges, textures and small details at the size needed for the final design.
Evaluate the whole composition
Lighting choices should support the image's existing visual hierarchy. On a thumbnail, a stronger highlight might help the main subject read quickly, but it could also compete with the title. On a banner, look at the area reserved for copy as carefully as the subject. Contrast needs to serve both.
For a composite, compare the edited image with neighboring elements before making it the new reference. Ask whether shadow direction, color temperature and emphasis feel coherent across the layout. This is a recommended review step, rather than a promise that a generated lighting change will automatically resolve every mismatch.
Budget for committed results
Before testing, update Photoshop Beta and confirm the available credit balance. Keep a saved working document and decide which images are worth committing. A small contact sheet of accepted options can be useful for comparing the lighting direction without repeatedly revisiting a decision already made.
Choose a stopping point for the experiment: an approved focal point, an acceptable transition and enough detail for the required output. Review the final result before applying the same creative direction elsewhere. A beta feature is best evaluated on a real image and a defined goal, rather than assumed to fit every asset.
IMPORTANT: Relight is a Photoshop Beta feature. Selecting Done costs 30 generative credits each time.{alertWarning}
Daisuki's Take: What This Means for Designers
We see Relight as an interesting way to audition lighting after an image already exists. That could be useful when a strong composition needs a different emphasis for a cover or campaign.
We would keep the first test simple and judge the committed image closely. A dramatic preview is only part of the decision; the final details and layout matter too.
For designers, the useful habit is to name the lighting problem before moving the controls. A clear goal makes both the visual comparison and the credit spend easier to assess.
Sources and Recommended Links
- Relight is now available in Photoshop Beta! | Adobe Official Photoshop Announcement
