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AI Quick Edit

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What is AI Quick Edit?

AI Quick Edit is an AI-powered editing feature built directly into Canto's DAM. It lets users perform lightweight visual transformations on image assets — background replacement, smart crop, resizing, and text overlays — using natural language, without leaving the platform.

AI Quick Edit is Canto's first in-app generative AI editing capability. It eliminates the download-edit-re-upload loop for lightweight transformation tasks, keeping the DAM at the center of the asset workflow rather than the end of it.

What can I do with AI Quick Edit?

  • Replace Background: One click removes the background — choose white, black, transparent, or custom fill.
  • Generate Fill: AI fills background space or reframes the image based on prompt instructions.
  • Smart Focus Crop: Automatically crops to the subject — no manual selection needed.
  • Resize: Adjust dimensions on the fly for any channel or spec.
  • Prompt-Based Editing: Type a plain-language instruction and AI applies the change.
  • Add Overlay Text: Drop in text directly on the image with placement control.
  • 1K or 4K Output: Choose output resolution to balance quality and file size.
  • Save as New Asset or Version: Decide whether to create a net-new asset or a new version of the original.

How do I access AI Quick Edit?

If you are interested in enabling AI Quick Edit for your account, do not hesitate to reach out to your Account Manager. Alternatively, you can submit a support request, and our capable customer service team will answer any questions you might have.

If AI Quick Edit has already been enabled on your account, please see the following sections to learn how to use AI Assisted Metadata.

Please note:
  • The actions described in this article require Administrator privileges, and are unavailable on Consumer and Contributor profiles.
  • Users can perform up to 250 standard transformations or 58 4K transformations on their assets. A transformation refers to any system-generated processing action, such as generating variants or resizing. Once these limits are reached, no additional transformations can be performed until the next month.
  • AI Quick Edit currently supports single-asset transformations only
  • AI Quick Edit currently supports JPEG output formats only

To access AI Quick Edit:

  1. Open any image asset in the Canto asset preview.
  2. Locate the AI Quick Edit button in the action toolbar — it sits next to the Edit & Save as New Version button.
  3. Click it to open the AI Quick Edit modal.

How to: Use Structured Operations

Structured operations are pre-defined actions accessible via buttons and dropdowns inside the AI Quick Edit modal.

Replace Background

  1. Click Remove Background in the operations panel.
  2. Select your fill type: White, Black, Transparent, or Custom color.
  3. Click Apply to preview the result.

Tip: Transparent background exports as PNG to preserve the alpha channel.

Generate Fill

  1. Click Generate Fill.
  2. The AI analyzes the image and fills the surrounding or missing areas to produce a natural, cohesive result.
  3. Click Apply to preview.

Smart Focus Crop

  1. Click Smart Focus Crop.
  2. The AI detects the primary subject and crops to center it.
  3. Adjust the crop ratio if needed using the dropdown, then click Apply.

Resize

  1. Click Resize.
  2. Enter target dimensions or select a preset from the dropdown.
  3. Click Apply to preview.

Add Overlay Text

  1. Click Add Overlay Text.
  2. Type your text in the input field.
  3. Use the placement controls to position the text on the image.
  4. Click Apply to preview.

How to: Use Prompt-Based Editing

For anything not covered by a structured operation, use the prompt field to describe the change in plain language.

  1. Type your instruction in the prompt field. Be specific — describe what you want, not just what to remove.
  2. Click Generate.
  3. Review the AI output in the preview panel. If it's not right, refine your prompt and try again.

Tip: Good prompt examples:

  • "Make the background a soft gradient of light gray to white"
  • "Add a subtle lens flare in the upper right corner"
  • "Extend the right side of the image by 20% to add breathing room"

How to: Choose Output Resolution

Before saving, select your output resolution:

  • 1K — faster processing, smaller file size. Good for web and internal use.
  • 4K (3840×2160) — higher fidelity. Recommended for print, large-format, and channel exports.

Please note: 4K outputs consume more AI processing resources. Use 1K for drafts or quick reviews and upgrade to 4K for final delivery.

How to: Save the Result

When you're happy with the preview, choose how to save:

  1. Click Save. A dialog will prompt you to choose: Save as New Asset or Save as New Version.
  2. New Asset: Creates a separate asset in your library. The original is untouched and the new asset is independently manageable.
  3. New Version: Attaches the edited image as a new version of the original asset. Version history is preserved.

Tip: If you plan to use the edited image independently (e.g. for a specific campaign), Save as New Asset keeps your library organized. If it's a direct replacement or improvement, New Version maintains the connection to the original.

 

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