Are your Ai Edits Risking a Ban?

Following a recent PAGB Advice Notice, to all UK Clubs, warning against the use of certain types of Ai tools found in photo editing software, this post looks at the use of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) in PAGB and NCPF Competitions. The incorrect use of which could lead to a UK lifetime ban. See Risk Table of popular software programmes and some of their built in tools, below. In UK photography competitions governed by the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) and the Northern Counties Photographic Federation (NCPF), no specific editing programmes are "banned", however, specific generative Ai features within them will disqualify your entry and could lead to a ban.

The core principle for the PAGB and NCPF is that the final image must be entirely the work of the photographer and originate from a light capture (eg a camera).

What is Permitted (AI-Assisted)

Most federations distinguish between "AI-Assisted" (permitted) and "Generative AI" (prohibited). You can typically use any of the below mentioned programmes for:

• AI Sharpening & Denoising: Using tools like Topaz Photo AI or DxO DeepPRIME is generally allowed because they enhance the existing pixels rather than importing external content.
  

• Algorithmic Adjustments: Exposure, colour correction, and basic lens corrections are all standard permitted practices.

  
  

What is Banned (Generative AI)

An image will be disqualified if these specific functions are used, as they introduce pixels not taken by you:

• Generative Fill/Expand: Any tool that "invents" new background or objects (like Photoshop's Generative Fill or certain upscaling modes in Gigapixel AI that reconstruct textures from databases of "snippets" is strictly prohibited.
  

• Sky Replacement: Permitted only if the replacement sky was also photographed by you. Using the built-in AI sky libraries in Luminar Neo or Photoshop will result in a ban.
  

• Text-to-Image: Any graphic element created via a text prompt is strictly forbidden and assumes intent to cheat the rules. This would be the worst use of Ai in the eyes of the PAGB.

  
  

Summary of Risks by Programme Note: The following risk levels were evaluated by both ChatGTP and Google AI. Their findings were conclusive.

Tool	Competition Status	Risk Factor
Adobe Photoshop	High Risk	Banned: Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Sky Replacement (using Adobe's skies). Safe: Standard sharpening, "Remove Tool" with "Generative AI" unticked, and manual cloning.
Aiarty Enhancer	High Risk	Banned: If used to "upscale" with generative textures (adding fur/hair detail not in the original), it will be seen as creating new content.
ChatGTP and Ai chatbots	High Risk	You must assume that Generative AI has been utilized to enhance your images, as the specific tools employed by the site remain unclear.
Topaz Photo AI	Moderate Risk	Risk: "Face Recovery" or "Text Recovery" if they significantly reconstruct features not in the original. Safe: Standard Sharpening and Denoising.
Luminar Neo	Caution	Banned: Replacement is banned unless using your own images. Safe: AI Enhancer is fine; Sky/Background
Adobe Lightroom	Low Risk	Banned: "Generative Remove" (Early access feature) unless specifically disabled. Safe: AI Denoise, Lens Corrections, and standard Sharpening.
DxO PhotoLab	Safe	Its DeepPRIME sharpening is considered industry-standard technical correction.
ON1 Photo RAW	Safe	Tack Sharp AI is permitted for fixing focus issues.
Darktable	Safe	Uses traditional mathematical modules like "Diffuse or Sharpen" or "Contrast Equalizer". It currently lacks built-in generative AI that imports external pixels.
Affinity Photo	Safe	No built-in generative AI (Firefly-style). Its "Inpainting" tool is content-aware (using surrounding pixels) rather than generative (cloud-based), making it generally competition-legal.

Important Note: If you use 3rd party plugins inside your editing programme, the risk level shifts to that of the plugin, not the host software. Warning: If there is any doubt, PAGB and NCPF officials may request your RAW files to verify that the details in your final print were present in the original capture.

Additional restrictions for Nature and Wildlife Categories.

The NCPF and the PAGB, whose rules they follow, have a strict "no manipulation" policy for the Nature category. This is often referred to as the requirement for an "honest presentation" of the subject. While the rules do not ban processing entirely, they strictly prohibit any manipulation that alters the "truth" of the image.

What is Permitted (Technical Enhancements)

You are allowed to perform standard "darkroom" style adjustments that improve the technical quality without changing the content:

• Basic Adjustments: Cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, and sharpening.

• Technical Fixes: Noise reduction (minimisation) and removing elements added by the equipment, such as sensor dust spots or lens flare.

• Advanced Techniques: Focus stacking, HDR (exposure blending), and image stitching (panoramas) are permitted, provided the final result looks natural.

  
  

What is Banned (Manipulation)

Any technique that adds, removes, or moves pictorial elements is strictly forbidden:

• Adding/Removing Content: You cannot clone out a branch, add a bird, or move an animal within the frame.

• Generative AI: Using "Generative Fill" or any tool that "invents" pixels (like Photoshop's new AI features) is a grounds for immediate disqualification.

• Artistic Filters: Any treatment that makes the image look obviously "artistic" or "creative" rather than natural will see the image moved to the "Open" category or disqualified.

• Wildlife vs. Nature: If your image is being considered for a specific Wildlife Award, there must be no additions or removals of any component part, and you may be required to provide the original RAW file for verification. See below for Processing Rules.

  
  

The "Rule of Thumb"

If a judge or organiser suspects an image has been over-manipulated, they have the right to request your original RAW file or camera-original JPEG. If the details in your final entry don't exist in the RAW file, the image will be excluded.

Processing Rules

For both Nature and Wildlife entries, the following digital processing rules apply:

• Allowed: Cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, noise minimisation, HDR, focus stacking, and sharpening.

• Allowed (Limited): Cloning out minor distractions (like sensor dust or a small overlapping blade of grass) is permitted as long as it does not distort the "truth" of the scene.

• Banned: Any technique that adds, relocates, or replaces pictorial elements (e.g., removing a branch, adding a bird, or moving a subject) is strictly prohibited.

• Banned: Images that have been "artistically" treated to look unnatural or creative (e.g., heavy filters) are ineligible and should be entered in the "Open" category instead.

  
  

Verification: NCPF organisers often assume an image meets the criteria during initial judging, but they have the discretion to call for the original RAW file before confirming any award to ensure no prohibited manipulation has occurred.