7 Magic Edit tips for cleaner, faster photo edits

Describe the result, not the process

Write what the finished photo should look like: "soft window light from the left, warm tones" works better than "make it better". Short, concrete prompts give the most predictable edits.

Brush only what should change

Paint the mask a little past the edges of the area you want to change, but no further. Everything outside the brush stays untouched, so a tight mask protects faces, hands and logos.

Use a large brush for skies and backgrounds and a small one for stray hairs or small objects.

Chain small edits instead of one big one

Do one change at a time — remove the clutter, then fix the light, then adjust colour. Chaining keeps each step easy to judge in the before-and-after view, and you can stop as soon as it looks right.

Use the prompt ideas as a starting point

The six built-in ideas are tuned to work well. Pick one, then add a detail of your own, such as the colour or mood you want.

Check the comparison at full size

Drag the divider slowly across edges like hair and shoulders. If something looks soft, redo just that region with a smaller brush.