VSCO gets AI editing chops, support for RAW files | TechCrunch

Video editing app VSCO is adding a set of new AI image editing tools, support for high-resolution RAW files, non-destructive edits, and content-aware region detection.

The AI tools will be housed in a new tab called “AI Lab,” which also brings AI-powered object removal chops, similar to Google and Apple’s homegrown offerings.

You can highlight or draw a circle around an object in a picture, and VSCO will replace it with what it thinks matches the background. The company said it uses “intelligent area detection” to blend the background in after an object is removed without affecting the resolution or color.

Unlike most AI-powered removal tools that leave artifacts at times, VSCO claims its tool is more precise and preserves details, and is therefore better suited for professional photographers.

The company said that it will soon launch another AI-powered feature called Upscale, which claims to increase the resolution of images and sharpen details without compromising on details or composition.

VSCO is using Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 Kontext model to power these features.

The AI Lab features are available on VSCO’s Pro tier, which costs $12.99 a month, or $60 a year, on the VSCO Studio app on iOS. The company is not setting a limit on the number of times users can use AI Lab features.

“Since our inception, VSCO has supported authentic creative expression and has provided photographers with many ways to achieve their desired success. We see how much AI is impacting photography, and are focused on bringing AI tools to our community that are designed specifically to support photographers in achieving creative excellence while respecting the art of their photography,” Eric Wittman, VSCO’s CEO, said in a statement.

The company has been bolstering its toolset to better compete with editing tools. In May, it launched an AI-powered whiteboard to let photographers and their potential clients collaborate on projects, and last year launched a marketplace to match photographers with clients. Earlier this year, it launched Workspace to help them manage bookings and schedules.