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Google has developed a plethora of AI-powered features for mobile devices, especially for Pixels. Generative image editing tools are among the most popular and widely used by the public. However, some may not know the differences between Magic Eraser and Magic Editor, two Google tools that serve similar functions.
With that in mind, a new blog post from Google shed more light on the matter. The company offered tips on when it’s best to use Magic Eraser or Magic Editor. The key seems to be in the level of complexity that each option is capable of handling.
These are the differences between Magic Eraser and Magic Editor, according to Google
Both Magic Eraser and Magic Editor are available as Google Photos options. As its name suggests, Magic Eraser is entirely focused on removing unwanted elements from images. However, Magic Editor goes further, as in addition to allowing item removal, it can use the power of generative AI to “fill in” spaces, tweak the size of subjects/objects, and more.
But, is Magic Eraser as effective as its equivalent tool in Magic Editor? According to Selena Shang, Google Photos senior product manager, it works best for applying “quick fixes on smaller portions of the photo.” Selena gives an example, saying “landscape shots with people or objects in the background.” She also says that, for those cases, Magic Eraser is faster.
Regarding Magic Editor, Selena clarifies that it is effective for “more prominent, complex foreground objects, or objects that take up a larger portion of the photo in general that you want to remove.” Basically, this tool is “better at performing more complex erases.”
Magic Editor free uses are limited
That said, you might be wondering why you should use Magic Eraser when you can use Magic Editor. There are two main reasons: speed and cost. First, as Selena said, Magic Eraser can be faster for fixing less complex images. Second, Magic Editor is not entirely free, offering a limited number of edits per month. If you want to use it after you exceed the quota, you will have to pay for a Google One plan.
Basically, those are the differences between Google’s Magic Eraser and Magic Editor. Most users will probably turn to the former since it’s free and functional. However, those with a Google One plan can get even more out of generative AI on their devices. Anyway, the situation is much better than at the beginning, when both tools were exclusive to Google Pixel devices.