VSCO launches “Remove” — its first AI-powered editing tool, and introduces AI Lab

VSCO has added its first AI-powered image editor called “Remove,” which lets users erase unwanted elements from photos while preserving full resolution. The feature uses Black Forest Lab’s FLUX.1 Kontext model alongside VSCO’s own technology and is the first release under a new AI Lab initiative.

Remove works much like other background-fill erasers: you highlight the area to remove and the tool attempts to fill the space consistently with the surrounding scene. VSCO says edits are non-destructive and will preserve image quality — a major concern for many photographers.

• Model & tech: FLUX.1 Kontext from Black Forest Lab + VSCO proprietary processing
• Other AI tools: an Upscale tool (for enhancing resolution while keeping color and composition) is in development
• Availability: Remove is available now on iOS for VSCO Pro subscribers (VSCO Pro: $13/month or $60/year); Android availability TBD

VSCO CEO Eric Wittman framed the effort as supportive of creators: AI should automate tedious edits without replacing photographers’ creative intent. The company emphasizes authenticity, copyright respect, and non-destructive, full-resolution output.

How effective Remove turns out to be in real-world use remains to be seen — early looks at Black Forest Lab’s FLUX.1 indicate strong inpainting capabilities, but hands-on testing will determine how well VSCO’s implementation preserves fine detail and color fidelity.

For more details, you can visit VSCO’s site (vsco.co) or read initial coverage (Engadget).

Discussion: Would you use AI removal tools like Remove in your photography workflow, or do you prefer manual edits to preserve authenticity?