Guidance on Artificial Intelligence and the Remove tool.

Here's a summary of the PAGB’s position on the use of Artificial Intelligence tools, and the Remove tool in particular, when editing images.  This refers to Lightroom and Photoshop, but the same argument will applyto other editing software such as Affinity.

The PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) allows the use of the Remove tool in Lightroom or Photoshop, provided it functions as a content-aware removal tool using only pixels from the original image.  Generative AI features that create new, non-photographic, or imported elements however, are generally forbidden. The key rule is that the final image must be entirely derived from the photographer's own work. 

Key Considerations for PAGB and club Competitions:

 Remove Tool vs. Generative AI: 

When using the Remove tool, ensure;Generative AI; is turned off (if using Photoshop/Lightroom) to avoid adding content not present in the original scene. There is a separate tick box to do this.

Content-Aware is Okay: Tools that use surrounding pixels to fill in a removed object (similar to cloning/healing) are generally acceptable.  (Spot healing tool probably safer if not sure.)

 Edit -; Generative Fill or -; Generate Image must not be used.

 No New Elements: You cannot use AI to add, replace, or heavily alter pictorial elements (e.g., adding a sky, birds, or new objects).

 Responsibility: It is the photographer's responsibility to ensure all adjustments are derived from their own source photo. 

In summary, standard, non-generative, content-aware removal for cleaningup an image is allowed, but AI-generated, "imagined" content is not. 

Permitted AI enhanced editing includes editing tools that perform transformations, enhancements, or corrections based exclusively on the existing pixel data captured in the author’s original photograph withoutintroducing externally sourced content. 

Prohibited AI editing includes any AI assisted processes for synthetic image generation that incorporate external image data, visual elements, textures, objects, or scenes not originally present in the author’s photograph are prohibited.

Please be aware of these rules when editing your images.