This step-by-step tutorial explores how to use ImageEdit’s Generative Fill feature to expand images with AI. Learn how designers and photographers can automatically adjust aspect ratios, add contextual content, and reframe visuals using advanced outpainting technology powered by Nano Banana.
A beautifully framed image can make or break your design, but what happens when your photo doesn’t fit your layout? Perhaps you require additional space for text in a banner, a wider crop for a cinematic frame, or a vertical version for social media. Traditionally, expanding an image meant painstaking manual work — cloning, masking, and patching every detail pixel by pixel.
That’s where AI image expansion comes in. With ImageEdit’s Generative Fill, powered by Nano Banana technology, you can automatically expand images with AI. It seamlessly fills the extra space, matching the lighting, textures, and details — all without manually selecting, brushing, or masking anything. It’s a fast, reliable way to adapt your visuals for any ratio or format.
Whether you’re a designer preparing assets for multiple layouts or a photographer looking to tell a broader story, AI outpainting gives your images new creative life.
TL;DR
AI image expansion lets you automatically extend your photo’s borders with realistic, context-aware content. With ImageEdit’s Generative Fill, you can:
- Upload an image in JPG or PNG format.
- Select a new ratio (1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, or 4:3).
- Let the AI fill in the expanded areas instantly.
The result: Seamlessly extended, professionally balanced images ready for any platform or composition.
How to expand an image with AI: step-by-step tutorial
Step 1: Open ImageEdit and upload your image
Start by launching ImageEdit and uploading your photo. You can drag and drop files directly into the workspace or click the Upload button in the toolbar. Supported formats: JPG and PNG.
For best results, use a high-resolution image — clear details help the AI interpret textures and edges accurately.
💡 Tip: You can use a stock photo from the Envato library or even an AI-generated image or graphic.
Step 2: Choose the expand function
Once your image has loaded, look at the right-hand sidebar and click Expand. This opens the AI Generative Fill feature, which automatically analyzes your image composition and determines how to extend it naturally.
Unlike traditional editing, there’s no need to mask or paint selections — ImageEdit handles it automatically. The AI predicts how the image should continue based on lighting, colors, and subject context.
Old-school Photoshop methods require clone stamping, edge healing, and constant adjustments. With ImageEdit, AI does all that instantly, creating a clean, realistic expansion in seconds
Step 3: Select your preferred aspect ratio
In the Expand panel, you’ll see preset ratios designed for common creative formats:
- 1:1 – Perfect for product grids and Instagram posts.
- 16:9 – Ideal for YouTube thumbnails, website banners, or presentations.
- 9:16 – For Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, and mobile layouts.
- 2:3 or 3:2 – Great for portraits or gallery prints.
- 3:4 or 4:3 – Useful for slides, ads, and design mockups.
Simply click on the desired ratio, and ImageEdit will automatically expand your canvas. The AI instantly fills in any new empty space with content that visually matches the edges of your image.
Step 4: Preview the generated result
When the AI finishes generating, you’ll receive one option for your expanded image. It’s important to review the result carefully:
- Does the lighting match the original photo?
- Are textures (like grass, fabric, or sky) consistent?
- Does the composition look natural and proportional?
If you spot any inconsistencies, simply cancel and regenerate until you find the version you prefer.
Why previewing matters: Inconsistent textures or lighting can make an image feel artificial. Always select the option that maintains visual harmony.
Step 5: Download your expanded image or generate more
Once you click Keep, you can then select Download, and your new, expanded image will be saved automatically as a high-quality PNG file.
If you need to expand a different image, simply click on New to start again. Then you can choose a different ratio according to your needs.
Pro tips for better AI image expansions
To get the most out of ImageEdit’s Generative Fill, try these professional tips:
- Use high-quality source images. AI works best when it has strong visual cues. Avoid blurry or underexposed photos — clear lighting and defined subjects yield better AI expansion accuracy.
- Match ratios to your use case- Do you need multiple versions of the same asset? Start with 1:1 for product listings, 9:16 for social media, and 16:9 for marketing headers. This ensures brand consistency across every platform.
- Combine features for creative results. Pair Generative Fill with AI background remover to isolate your subject first, then expand the background freely for composite designs.
- Save variations. Each generation can inspire a different creative direction — especially useful in design mockups, storyboards, or advertising campaigns. Keep multiple versions to build your creative library.
Why expand images with AI?
AI image expansion isn’t just a convenience tool — it’s a game-changer for creative workflows.
- Adapt visuals for multiple platforms. One asset can now serve every format — social posts, web banners, and printed ads — without awkward cropping or empty space.
- Fix composition issues. If your subject feels too centered or cut off, generative fill lets you rebalance the frame by adding more space around your focal point.
- Save time on production. Expanding an image manually can take 30 minutes or more. With ImageEdit, the AI finishes the same task in seconds, freeing you for higher-level creative decisions.
- Keep realism intact. Because the AI references textures and light from your original photo, the extended areas look believable, not digitally forced.
What makes ImageEdit’s generative fill different
While other tools require manual brushing or area selection, ImageEdit automates the entire process.
The AI doesn’t just stretch your image; it recreates new contextual content — sky, water, walls, fabric, scenery — that fits seamlessly into your expanded frame.
Key advantages:
- Fully automatic: No masking or cloning required.
- Multi-ratio output: Choose from 7 common aspect ratios.
- Context-aware: AI understands lighting, color, and subject depth.
- Fast results: Expansion completes in seconds.
This makes it ideal for designers who need quick adaptations across campaigns or photographers looking to frame shots for new media formats.
Common mistakes to avoid
Even the best tools can be misused. Avoid these pitfalls for flawless AI image expansion:
- Using low-resolution files: Blurry or pixelated sources confuse the AI, leading to unrealistic fills.
- Over-expanding in one go: Massive ratio changes can distort context. Try gradual expansions for better accuracy.
- Ignoring color grading: AI-generated areas may appear slightly brighter or cooler; apply minor color adjustments afterward to ensure cohesion.
- Relying on AI for storytelling: AI can expand context, not meaning. Always ensure the new composition aligns with your creative intent.
AI image expansion FAQ
Q: What is AI image expansion?
A: AI image expansion (also called outpainting) uses artificial intelligence to generate new visual content beyond an image’s existing edges, extending it naturally without manual editing.
Q: Which ratios can I expand to in ImageEdit?
A: You can choose from 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, or 4:3, each suited to different design needs.
Q: Do I need to make selections or use brushes?
A: No — ImageEdit automatically analyzes your image and fills in borders contextually. No manual selection needed.
Q: What is Nano Banana?
A: Nano Banana is Google DeepMind’s image generation model integrated into ImageEdit. It understands composition, color, and context to generate natural extensions and background fills.
Q: Can I use the expanded image commercially?
A: Yes. Under Envato’s commercial license, you can use AI-generated results for marketing, e-commerce, or creative projects.
Q: Is ImageEdit only for designers?
A: Not at all — it’s equally powerful for photographers, marketers, and content creators who need fast, high-quality results without technical complexity.
Final thoughts: from cropped to complete
With ImageEdit’s Generative Fill, expanding your images with AI is no longer a technical challenge — it’s a creative advantage.
You can reframe, reformat, and rethink your visuals without opening a single selection tool. Whether it’s turning a portrait into a wide hero banner or giving your composition more breathing space, AI outpainting unlocks new storytelling possibilities.
What once required hours of manual cloning and retouching now takes a few clicks. Combined with Nano Banana’s contextual intelligence, ImageEdit’s AI image expansion is fast, natural, and accessible — perfect for the modern designer’s workflow.
Your images no longer have to fit the frame. Now, the frame fits your imagination.
