Adobe's new algorithm can erase tourists from your photos in real time

From the masterminds who gave us a way to fake flawless photos of ourselves and pretty much anything else our hearts desire comesa new technologydesigned to enhance the pictures we take oflandmarks, by ridding them of tourists.

Introducing "Monument Mode"by Adobe, an algorithmthat can purportedly let you take a clearshot of anything, even in the most crowded locations.

"I've come here from India and I really want to take a photo of L.A.'s famous Hollywood sign, but I've been finding that very difficult to do," saidAdobe engineerAshutosh Jagdish Sharmawhileunveilingthe app prototypein California last week.

"The problem is other tourists," he continued. "Whether it's the Tahj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower, it's always difficult to get that perfect monumental landmark shot thanks to other tourists who keep moving around and blocking the view."

He then proceeded to demonstrate how the technology worksin real timeascomedianNickOfferman jumped into,and was then almost-instantlyerasedfrom, a series of photos taken onstageat the company's annual MAX conference.

According to Adobe, the feature is possible thanks to anewalgorithm that can distinguish moving objects (like tourists and cars)from fixed ones (like the Grand Canyon).

"One click and those obstructions are gone for good," reads the caption of a "Sneak Peek"video published by the company after Sharma's presentation.

The video bills Monument Modeas an "early technology" and clarifies that it "isn'tavailable in the Creative Cloud yet."

Still, despite the absence of a release date or evenany indication as to which products Monument Mode may be built into, many on Twitterseem stoked about the algorithm's existence.

After all, as The Verge'sRich McCormick notes, "the company has a history of swiftly incorporating technology shown off at its MAX conferences. Adobe first detailed its 'dehaze' feature during the same segmentat last year's show it now comes as standard in Lightroom."

Some have taken to pointing out thatAdobe hasalready been offering thetools, namely Photoshop, neededtoremovepeople from images for many years.

"What makes the new feature so interesting is the ability to generate the expected image in real time," explains the Daily Dot's AJ Dellinger."It allows the photographer to take a picture of its subject as if no one else is around, making it easier to get the shot they want on the first try instead of continuously snapping and hoping one turns out."

A boon for photographers, surely butthe result is still justan illusion.Photoshopcan't actually whiten your teeth, and Monument Mode can only remove thetourists from your photos.