Last week, Adobe announced that it’s opening up the beta for its Content Authenticity app, which launched in private beta last year. This means more people will be able to access the tool’s features, which let you add secure metadata to an image claiming that you own it and add a flag asking AI companies not to use it to train their models.

That should be a good thing. But the current implementation could threaten to muddy the waters about what images are authentic and what aren’t even further, which is the exact problem the tool was made to solve.

If you’re not familiar with the Adobe Content Authenticity app (and don’t want to read the in-depth piece we wrote about it when it was launched), here’s a quick summary: it’s built around the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) Content Credentials system. It lets you add a cryptographically signed piece of metadata that says you made the image. It can also link to social profiles on sites like Instagram, Behance, and, now, LinkedIn. A link to that metadata is also added as an invisible watermark into the image, so it should be retrievable even if someone screenshots it or strips its metadata.

Let’s do a quick compare and contrast, though. On the left is what those self-signed credentials look like when viewed in Adobe’s inspector, and on the right is what they look like when they come from a camera that bakes Content Credentials into the images it captures. You can interact with the inspector using the source links.

Self-signed credentials (source)	Credentials baked into an image at time of capture (source)

If you’re paying attention, it’s easy to spot the differences. But if you’ve only seen the first one, the UI doesn’t make it clear at all that there’s no information on how the image was made. Was it generated with an AI that doesn’t apply a watermark or add credentials of its own? Did a human artist spend painstaking hours putting it together? The tool has no idea, but the badge would look the same either way.

Now imagine it wasn’t an illustration but a photorealistic image. While the UI doesn’t show all the details that it does for a photo that’s had credentials since the shutter was taken, it’s also not really clear that those are missing. Visually, the tool gives as much credence to a picture that’s as verifiably real as it can be as it does to an image that could’ve come from anywhere.

There’s nothing that says the only thing someone’s done is upload a JPG or PNG to the tool

It’s also a problem of language. If you’re inspecting a self-signed image, there’s nothing that tells you that the only thing someone’s done is upload a JPG or PNG to the tool and check a box to promise that they’re the one who owns it. It uses squishy language like “information shared by people involved in making this content” because it has to; there’s no way to verify that, not that you’d get that impression if you weren’t reading it with a cynical eye.

The inspection part of the tool can show what changes were made to an image, provided that information is included in the Content Credentials. Screenshot: Mitchell Clark

The worst part is that there are good bones here. While only a handful of cameras generate Content Credentials at time of capture*, tools like Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw can add metadata of their own, building something akin to a chain of custody. The inspector can show what edits you’ve applied to an image if you’ve used Adobe’s AI tools at any point and even show if you’ve composited multiple images together. It should be crystal clear at a glance that images with those credentials are more trustworthy than self-signed ones.

* – And of those, the majority lock the feature behind a license only given out to news agencies and other commercial operations

It is worth noting that Adobe is only one piece of the puzzle – other software developers can implement support for inspecting Content Credentials and make the difference between the types of credentials clearer. Maybe there could be a color-coding system to differentiate credentials that came from a camera versus ones from editing software and tools like Adobe Content Authenticity.

Also, none of this is to say that the self-signing process shouldn’t exist because there are good reasons to use it. For example, suppose you have an image with that chain of credentials we talked about. You could use the Adobe Content Authenticity app to watermark it and link it to your socials so you get credit for it; the tool is smart enough to add things on top of existing Content Credentials. Illustrators could also use it to slightly raise the chances that their work will get credited.

Adobe Content Authenticity also lets you add a tag requesting that companies not use your image when building their Generative AI models. While many people would like a way to keep their work from contributing to AI tools, it’s worth noting this isn’t a silver bullet. Adobe’s support documentation explicitly calls the flag a “request,” and the legal framework around AI training is still in flux, so few enforcement mechanisms around opt-out requests like this exist.

Screenshot: Adobe

In a blog post, Adobe says it’s “working closely with policymakers and industry partners to establish effective, creator-friendly opt-out mechanisms powered by Content Credentials.” However, it appears to be early days. The company’s documentation says the preference is currently respected by its in-house AI image generator, FireFly, and that a company called Spawning is working on supporting it. Spawning runs what it calls a “Do Not Train registry,” which – in theory – lets you submit your work to a single place, which will let several companies know that you don’t want it used for their training. Spawning’s site currently says that Hugging Face and Stability AI (creators of Stable Diffusion) have “agreed to honor the Do Not Train registry.”

It’s unclear whether other companies like Google or MidJourney have or are building mechanisms to respect preferences like the ones embedded in Content Credentials. When we asked OpenAI, we were told nothing to share at this time. We’ve also reached out to Google and MidJourney and will update this article if we hear back.

While it’s clear that I think there’s work to be done on this app, it does seem like Adobe is willing to improve it. The public beta comes with new features, such as the ability to bulk-add credentials and preferences to up to 50 JPGs or PNGs at a time. Adobe says it’ll soon support larger files and more file types and that it’s working on integrating the app into programs like Photoshop and Lightroom. Again, though, that’s arguably only useful if the inspection tool makes it clear how much stock you should put in those generated credentials or if AI companies writ large start respecting your do-not-train preferences.

You can join the waitlist for the Adobe Content Authenticity beta for free on the company’s website. It requires an Adobe account but not a Creative Cloud subscription and works with any JPGs and PNGs, not just ones produced by Adobe apps.

Read our interview with Adobe’s senior Content Authenticity Initiative director

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April Editor’s photo challenge: RGB

In this month’s Editor’s photo challenge, we asked you to share your photos featuring a red, green and blue color palette. At this point, it’s no surprise that the DPReview community delivered – far from leaving us blue or red with anger, the images we’ve featured here made us green with envy.

Our top picks on the following pages are presented in random order. You can see all the photos submitted here.

Girl With Llama

Photographer: JeffryzPhoto

Photographer’s description: High up in the Andes Mountains of Peru near the Sacred Valley a girl walks with her pet llama. Even the llama is wearing red, green, blue, and white.

Equipment: Fujifilm X-T4 + Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR

Athens in full spring

Photographer: xenofon

Photographer’s description: At the heart of Athens, a metropolis of 3.5 million people, nature can still be present with all its beauty and grandeur. Provided you have the will and the patience to look closely enough.

Equipment: Canon EOS R10 + Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM

Cadillac #40

Photographer: Sergio Image

Photographer’s description: Going to see a race at the Sebring Raceway had been in my bucket list for many years. So to celebrate my retirement, my wife and I got the tickets and drove to this legendary track. For the first time, I experienced photographing what is now my favorite subject: race cars.

Equipment: Nikon Z9 + Nikon Nikkor Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR

RGB – Ryan, Gurcharan and Bhangra Smash Up

Photographer: Peter Freeth

Photographer’s description: The band Bhangra Smash Up performing at a charity event, Ryan, one of the band members, captured from the side of the stage with the colourful lighting emphasising the high energy performance that always has everyone on their feet. Band leader Gurcharan looks on, a little too out of focus.

Equipment: Sony a7 IV + Tamron 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Busy Bazaar

Photographer: LokeshS

Photographer’s description: During the Ramadan festival, the streets around the Shivaji Nagar locality of Bangalore turn into a virtual street fest. Food is the most popular item on sale and street vendors flourish. This picture was taken from behind one such vendor as wraps some kebab for a customer.

Equipment: Fujifilm X-E4 + Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8 R WR

After The Harvest

Photographer: OCDavo

Photographer’s description: A retired International A-160, quietly resting in the tallgrass, its weathered wooden bed and rust-warmed steel telling the story of a bygone era in the soft glow of early morning light.

Equipment: Olympus OM-D E-M5 + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro

Cap Fréhel

Photographer: Brecht_BE

Photographer’s description: The first summer things opened up again. We stood at the edge of Brittany, wind in our faces, the sea loud and endless. Everything felt sharply, undeniably alive.

Equipment: Olympus PEN-F + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro

Chlorophyll fluorescence

Photographer: iso rivolta

Photographer’s description: Chlorophyll fluorescence shown in a test tube. When excited with UV light, chlorophyll emits red light. The shadow of the tube is both green and blue, the latter from paper’s fluorescence.

Equipment: Pentax KP + SMC Pentax-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro

Velvet dresses

Photographer: lei945ca

Photographer’s description: In the Swiss Canton of Appenzell, they celebrate an old end-of-year tradition, called «Sylvesterchläuse». Participants wear red, blue, green and yellow velvet dresses, they shake cowbells and jodel during hours going from farmhouse to farmhouse. This is exhausting, so they need a break every now and then to rest and drink. In such a moment I took the picture.

Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

Yorkshire phone booth

Photographer: rkny

Photographer’s description: Taken in Elsack, Skipton, Yorkshire UK. 2012. My first extended time with the Cannon 50 mm 1.2 L. I was blown away by the Canon 5D with this lens at the time. But looking back at the files, they haven’t aged quite so well when compared with current camera.

Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark II + Canon EF 50mm F1.2 L USM

Colors, canal, cloud

Photographer: Anders A

Photographer’s description: Mum spoke enthusiastically about the vivid colors of the tulip fields in Holland. I started to wonder what they might look like from above, from a drone. This was in 2015 and drone tech was still very new and far from something everyone had. So, me and my tulip loving friend Ulf drove the 1000 km down to Holland a chilly day in April 2015 and started criss crossing the landscape. And my god, it looked fantastic! This is probably the best shot from the trip, from outside Sassenheim. The canals are used to flood the fields after harvest, to kill off germs and parasites.

Equipment: Sony a7 + Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* + HAB Paparazzo heavy lift drone

Woman In Red

Photographer: dasting

Photographer’s description: Sunday morning on the bluffs of El Matador State Beach in Malibu, CA, while traveling for work. Taken with my Leica M9 and Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM lens circa 1960 or so.

Equipment: Leica M9 + Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM

Hội An Night Market

Photographer: skitraveler

Photographer’s description: On a trip to Vietnam, I spent afternoon and evening in Hội An. I started with a cooking class and then moved onto the night market where the colors are as vibrant as the flavors in Vietnamese cooking. Really liked this row of stalls selling lanterns of all colors.

Equipment: Sony a7R IV + Sony FE 35mm F1.4 GM

Old scary red brick bridge

Photographer: Valery Seregin

Photographer’s description: This old bridge was probably useful for pedestrians at one time, but today it is a real challenge. The thing is that its covering is made of oval-shaped stone, so it is easy to stumble and fall. There is nothing to grab onto, there are no railings. Just imagine what it is like to use it in winter when the stones are covered with ice. Climbing onto it is not a problem, the problem is getting down. Dozens of people use it every day. Yes, it is old and beautiful, but it is scary and dangerous at the same time.

Equipment: Fujifilm X20

Kiberg Kitywakes

Photographer: Jon-Sverre

Photographer’s description: Kitywakes (3-toed sea gulls) on the harbor of Kiberg (70 degrees north x 30 degrees east – east of Istanbul!), Varanger, Norway this winter. Occupying fishing nets and smelling of Guano.

Equipment: Nikon Z8 + Nikon Nikkor Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR

Rainbow Lorikeet

Photographer: SigmaChrome

Photographer’s description: These beautiful native parakeets are quite common where I live and they are approachable if you are careful and don’t make any sudden moves. This one was feeding on my front lawn.

Equipment: Fujifilm GFX 50R + TTArtisan 90mm F1.25

Candy Factory

Photographer: GrantsImages

Photographer’s description: I’m not certain what they make at this factory, but I always imagine that it is fruit flavored life savors. Like the rolls we used to get at the 5 & 10 store when we were children.

Equipment: Nikon D800 + Nikkor AF-S 300mm F4E PF ED VR

Good afternoon Mr. Station Master.

Photographer: Cambrian Coast

Photographer’s description: Carrog Station is located on the Llangollen to Corwen heritage railway. Here we see the Station Master Platt saying good afternoon to the resident of the station house.

Equipment: Sony a7R IV + Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Moonlight Star Trail Over a Wild Tulips Field – Blufi – Sicily

Photographer: astrodariogiannobile

Photographer’s description: What is happening in Holland on this “day”? Nothing except that…we are not in the daytime and we are not in Holland!!! Strange? absolutely yes. We are in Sicily of course and what you see is a real field of wild tulips growing near the village of Blufi.

Equipment: Canon EOS 6D + Canon EF 8-15mm F4L Fisheye USM

Looking for more?

We’re already gearing up for our next monthly challenge, but in the meantime, why not check out some of our community challenges? User REHS is hosting a challenge called “Through a door, window or gate,” which is now open for submissions, and DrLex is looking for the best non-bird photo you’ve taken since April 14th. Voting is open for REHS’ Sunrise or Sunset challenge and for DrLex’s bird photos of 2025 challenge.

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Editor Richard Butler took the Sigma BF as a travel companion on his recent vacation to the UK. He wrote about the experience of using the camera, but we also wanted to highlight the sample images he shot.

Click here to read Richard’s real-world shooting experience with the Sigma BF

The gallery includes a mixture of out-of-camera JPEGs, shot primarily in the Mono and Rich color modes, along with a handful of images reprocessed from Raw in the camera, with adjustments made to highlight or shadow response.

One photo per day with the Sigma BF

In addition to his attempts to shoot one ‘good’ photo per day, Richard also spent a day on a photo walk around London with a friend from his earliest days of digital photography. These shots include more extensive use of the camera’s black-and-white mode, again with some examples re-processed in-camera.

A photo walk in London

Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review); we do so in good faith, so please don’t abuse it.

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