At Google I/O 2017, Google previewed a feature that would automatically remove fences from photos using AI, but it did not materialize until now. Over eight years later, Google has introduced two new AI editing tools—Help Me Edit and Gemini Nano Banana—that can successfully remove fences from images.
Removing fences with Help Me Edit: In Google Photos, users can open a photo with a fence, tap Edit, and select the “Help me edit” prompt. By typing commands like “remove the fence in front of the goat,” the AI quickly erases the fence. Tests show impressive results even with complicated fences, though slight imperfections sometimes occur.
For example, a goat photo with a small fence was cleaned seamlessly, and a bear photo with a large fence showed minor distortions in the background. An owl photo with dense feathers and foliage was edited nearly flawlessly, with only faint remnants of the fence visible on close inspection.
Beyond fences: The Help Me Edit tool can also reduce imperfections like dirty glass in photos, improving clarity without significant artifacts.
Gemini Nano Banana as an alternative: For users without access to Google Photos’ Help Me Edit, Gemini’s Nano Banana feature offers fence removal in most countries. Users upload photos and input edit commands. It handles complex scenes well but outputs images at a reduced resolution (1184×864 by default) and sometimes alters parts of the photo creatively. It may crop or adjust backgrounds and occasionally changes details unexpectedly.
Removing fences obscuring text can require multiple commands to get accurate results with Nano Banana. Attempts to remove reflections and haze showed mixed outcomes depending on the image.
Summary: Google Photos’ Help Me Edit delivers higher-quality, full-resolution edits that preserve original photo details, while Gemini Nano Banana offers broader availability but with some creative liberties and lower resolution. Both tools represent significant advances in AI-assisted photo editing, finally fulfilling Google’s long-standing promise to remove fences from pictures.