Xelta vs Adobe Firefly

Image Workflow Comparison for Teams

Your marketing team has six images to create for their latest product campaign. Whilst your initial draft is looking great, you then have a change to the label on the bottle and the social media image doesn’t include the top of the bottle. Your designer now needs to make some quick updates to the background.

When comparing Xelta vs Adobe Firefly, it’s not about what platform will give you the prettiest image. It’s about what platform will help your team deliver a creative idea from start to finish.

They need to get the image approved so it can be used.

Quick Answer

Xelta is a great choice if you want to experiment with different image models and video/ad creation. Adobe Firefly is a great choice if you need to create images that can be used with Photoshop, Adobe Express and collaborative boards. Both have partner models and editing functionality. You should look at how accurate the references are, how many edits you can make, how you can pass them to your team, how many credits you get and what the commercial use terms are.

What Are the Main Differences?

Both platforms offer AI image generation functions.

Adobe Firefly can generate images, Generative Fill, expand, and edit. It also links well with Photoshop and Adobe Express. Firefly Boards can be used to gather inspiration and work collaboratively on creative ideas.

Xelta can link image models with other creative tools such as video generation, advertising and improving photos.

It can be easier to explore creative ideas within a shared workspace if you are creating multiple types of media. However, having a wide variety of tools may not always mean that there is the same level of editing and approval functions within each workflow.

These are documented capabilities, not independently measured performance rankings.

Which Platform Handles Reference Images Better?

Picture a skincare brand that has a cream coloured moisturiser with a copper lid and two thin decorative lines underneath their logo.

The marketing team has requested a lifestyle image using this real life product.

Using an AI generator you could place the jar on a bathroom shelf using realistic styling with a change the colour of the lid, text or size.

Adobe Firefly has options to include composition guidance. You can also adjust how much the AI image takes from the reference you uploaded.

Xelta also allows you to generate images using references. However, this will depend on which model you use.

The best way to compare these two would be to upload the same approved image of your product and ask for the same scenario.

Check the product details, text and packaging to see if they match. Even if the image looks beautiful, if the branding is incorrect then it won’t help the marketing team.

What Prompt Should You Use to Compare Them?

Pick a realistic task with one specific edit.

Prompt:

Using the provided picture of a cream jar with a copper lid, create an image of it placed on a pale stone shelf in a bathroom with a folded towel and soft morning lighting. The shape of the jar should match exactly, the lid should be the same shade of copper, the text on the label should be the same. There should be two thin lines under the logo. There should be white space on the left hand side of the image where a copy can be added. You must not add any new products, text or make any unsubstantiated claims.

You can use an image generation tool with reference points and model selection to complete this prompt. You can use the relevant image generation and composition tools in Firefly.

Once you have created your initial image ask for the following edit:

Edit the pale stone shelf so it is made from light wood.

The product should remain the same.

If the tool changes the jar then this would be an unsuccessful edit.

This will give you more insight into how reliable your workflow is rather than generating multiple images that aren’t related and picking the most impressive one.

Where Does Adobe Firefly Have an Advantage?

Adobe Firefly is a good option if you are already using Photoshop, Adobe Express and other Adobe Creative Cloud tools.

You can use Firefly to play around with some ideas, get very specific edits and then continue working on your design in a tool you know.

Firefly Boards will help you collaborate with your team by keeping your visual inspiration, exploring your direction and getting feedback.

The specific tools for filling, removing and expanding are great if you already have a good photo.

You can use fill to expand your background for example to give more space for your headline in a website banner without needing a new image for your product.

Firefly would be worth looking into for very specific edits and design handoffs.

However, there is no guarantee that you will get all the details right. I would recommend testing the file, editing and exporting process.

When Might Xelta Be a Better Fit?

Smaller marketing teams may require social assets, animated product graphics and video advertising concepts in a short space of time.

Using a single platform to create multiple creative processes may make more sense.

There are multiple models available that will give you differing styles such as realistic, composition and visuals.

This is not to say that you will get a more accurate image using a single platform.

Changing between models may result in inconsistencies. If your brand requires consistent products then this could be an issue.

The photo editor provides some clear processes for enhancing, retouching, colour and background.

But again it is not the same as Photoshop, so it depends on what your team values most, general creative output or intricate image editing.

How Do Pricing and Commercial Use Compare?

They both have generation limits

Adobe Firefly has a pricing structure with some free-to-use features. It also has premium generation features and partner model features. Adobe currently has different monthly credit options.

Xelta has a credit feature depending on the model you choose and the generation options. Xelta will give you starter credits as a new user, however your extra usage depends on your plan choice or purchasing of extra credits.

Neither of these pricing structures will tell you how much content your team will actually create.

Cheaper initial generation can lead to high costs if you need multiple amendments.

Look at the price per approved image including rejected content, editing time and export costs.

Commercial use

Adobe have their own Firefly models which they say are suitable for commercial use. However they also have third party models and suggest you as a customer consider if they are suitable for your project.

Any commercial use permission from any of these platforms does not mean you can use third party imagery, trademarks or identifiable people.

As an enterprise customer you should also check how private the service is, what controls are in place, data retention and what security documentation is available before uploading your sensitive creative content.

How Should Marketing Teams Test Both Platforms?

Run a small sample production:

1. Take 1 actual asset. Using a product image which has been approved, includes information you cannot change.
2. Create a lifestyle image, noting who the model was, what prompt was used, what settings were used, how many credits were used and any issues with the output.
3. Make 1 challenging edit. Edit the background but not the product.
4. Create 2 image placements. A broad banner and a square social media image of the approved concept.
5. Get another member of your team to review. Ensure they can see the changes made, track back to the source and approve the final export.
6. Calculate the overall effort. How many outputs were successful, how many had to be edited manually and how much time was spent switching between tools.

Score each platform on product accuracy, ease of editing, flexibility of editing, collaboration and cost.

If your team is already creating great images using their current software then this may not be necessary.

Final Thoughts

Adobe Firefly is a strong option if you want to integrate AI generated media into your Photoshop, Adobe Express and collaborative design processes.

Xelta is worth looking at if you're wanting to create a variety of media including image generation, alternate models, video etc.

However, neither option will remove the need for human oversight, accurate source media or clear brand guidelines.

Often the decision will come from a request to fix something after an initial draft has been created. Will your team be able to alter the background, composition or format without changing the product?

Use the same brief on both platforms and compare the final export once they have been approved.

Choose the option which allows for these fixes to be made easily whilst retaining key brand information and fitting the type of work your team do most often.

For more examples of creative image workflows, explore tutorials.