In 2025, Adobe continues to push boundaries with AI-driven selections in Photoshop. If you've ever struggled with manually cutting out a person from a background or selecting a complex sky, the latest updates to Select Subject and Select Sky tools are here to save the day.
These tools use Adobe Sensei AI, and in 2025, they’re faster, more accurate, and even customizable—making clean selections possible in a single click.
Let’s explore everything new and how to make the most of these smart selection tools.
What Is “Select Subject”?
The Select Subject tool uses artificial intelligence to automatically identify and select the main subject in your image—like a person, pet, or object.
How to Use:
- Go to Select → Subject
- Or click the Select Subject button in the Properties panel when using masks
- Photoshop analyzes the image and makes a clean selection
What Is “Select Sky”?
Select Sky isolates just the sky portion of an image—great for sky replacements, color grading, or creative effects.
How to Use:
- Go to Select → Sky
- Photoshop automatically detects and selects the sky area—even with complex clouds, branches, or horizon lines.
What’s New in Photoshop 2025?
Here’s what’s improved in both tools this year:
1. Faster Selections with GPU Boost
- Select Subject now renders up to 3x faster on supported devices
- Instant edge refinement as you hover over different subjects
- Smart previews before clicking (Shift + Hover)
2. Multi-Subject Detection
- When your image contains more than one person/object, Photoshop shows smart selection previews for each
- Hover + Click to isolate individuals or groups
3. Better Hair Detection
- New AI model can detect individual hair strands, even in motion
- Curly hair, frizzy edges, and complex textures now retain natural detail
4. Improved Sky Detection in Tough Scenes
- Better handling of:
- Fog, mist, or haze
- Faint or blown-out skies
- Trees, buildings, and antennas overlapping with sky
- When used on a layer mask, selections apply directly to masks instead of altering the original pixels
- More intuitive workflow for compositing
Pro Tips for Best Results
| Task | Tip |
|---|---|
| Selecting thin hair or fur | Use Select Subject + Select and Mask |
| Adjusting missed areas | Use Refine Edge Brush inside the Mask panel |
| Keeping sky selections clean | Zoom in and adjust Edge Shift in “Select and Mask” |
| Replacing sky quickly | Use Edit → Sky Replacement for one-click swap |
When to Use Which?
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Select Subject | Portraits, people, pets, objects |
| Select Sky | Landscape shots, outdoor backgrounds |
They’re especially powerful when used with:
- Adjustment Layers
- Layer Masks
- Compositing multiple images
Bonus: Combine with Object Selection Tool
- Use Object Selection Tool to hover over a specific person
- Then go to Select → Subject to refine or isolate only that individual
- Great for group photos or crowded scenes!
Summary
Photoshop 2025’s AI selection tools save time without sacrificing precision. With faster processing, smarter object detection, and cleaner edge control, you can isolate subjects or skies in seconds—and move straight into retouching or compositing.
| Feature | Update in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Select Subject | Multi-subject detection, faster previews |
| Select Sky | Enhanced edge handling, smarter detection |
| Hair detection | Improved detail retention on strands |
| GPU acceleration | Up to 3x faster with hover previews |
| Non-destructive use | Integrated with masks by default |
