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 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 without introducing 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 areprohibited.

Please be aware of these rules when editing your images.

NCPF rules have been carefully drawn up to ensure compliance and consistency with PAGB rules and those of international organisations such as FIAP. This is why NCPF rules specifically prohibit the use of generative AI in any image entered into our competitions.

This rule also applies to PAGB and FIAP competitions. It is important that clubs, their competition secretaries, and members are aware of the generative AI prohibition when submitting entries to NCPF competitions. If an image containing generative AI content is entered into an NCPF competition and is chosen to represent the NCPF, there is a risk of serious reputational damage and sanction to the NCPF, club, and individual if the use of generative AI is detected - whether its use was deliberate or not.

Update June 2026

Version 27.7.0 of Photoshop introduced the option under the Remove Tool to useGenerative AI on the Device as well as the Cloud. Using the Device option means that no external sourced content is introduced so it is Permitted AI enhanced editing.