I used Photoshop's new AI tool to rotate objects in 3D, and it's pure magic

Adobe's latest Photoshop release (v27.6) introduces Rotate Object, an AI-powered tool that transforms flat 2D selections into 3D-rotated objects, complete with generated hidden geometry. The interface offers four main controls: X-axis tilt, Y-axis rotation, perspective shift, and a corner-based pivot point. Unlike Photoshop's traditional 2D rotation, this feature uses generative AI to fill in parts of the object that weren't captured in the original photo—such as the side of a laptop or the back of a car. The tool works in a low-resolution preview mode first, then upscales after you finalize the transformation.

In practice, Rotate Object shines when paired with Harmonize, which automatically adjusts color, lighting, and shadows to match a new background. ZDNET's hands-on test showcased rotating AirPods Max onto a warm-lit MacBook image: the headphones were convincingly rotated to show their side and bottom, though the AI inadvertently added a glowing circle that doesn't exist on the actual product (a fixable hallucination). Another example placed a 2010s Dodge Challenger into a 1990s San Francisco scene, with AI generating the car's opposite side and appropriate shadows. The feature requires human oversight—users must decide rotation angles, placement, and use tools like the rubber stamp or generative fill to correct AI errors. As Adobe continues its AI push, this tool demonstrates impressive capability but reinforces that professional judgment remains irreplaceable.