Extend Image and Video Backgrounds Using Generative Expand

Are you tired of your vertical photos and videos feeling limited by their orientation?
Photoshop’s Generative Expand is here to revolutionize your creative possibilities.

From the rise of Generative Fill, you can now use Generative Expand to extend an image or video background! Get ready to unlock the power of AI-driven expansion and take your content to the next level.

Extend Backgrounds in Photos

Step 1: Prepare Your Photos

Start by opening your vertical photo in Photoshop. Access the Crop Tool from the toolbar.

Step 2: Extend the Background with Generative Expand

Head to the Options bar and find the Fill dropdown. Choose “Generative Expand.”

Drag the crop handles to define your new horizontal composition.

Alternatively, select a ratio preset from the dropdown.

For a cinematic look, we’ll go with 16 by 9.

Hit Enter and watch the magic unfold as Generative Expand fills the empty spaces.

Step 3: Add Customization and Personal Flair

Utilize the Lasso Tool to select specific areas of the image for improvement.

Click “Generative Fill” and input a descriptive prompt like “mountains.”

Witness Generative Expand in action as it transforms your selection.

Navigate through the variations using the arrow icon, and pick the one that resonates with your vision.

Add depth and frame to your image by selecting a corner and applying a prompt like “leaves with shallow depth of field,” like the screenshot below.

Generate the prompt and enjoy remarkable results.

Extend Backgrounds in Videos

Step 1: Prepare Your Video

Open a stabilized video in Photoshop’s Timeline panel. Ensure your footage is shot on a tripod for optimal results.

Locate the Video group in the Layers panel and select it.

Access the Crop Tool and set the ratio to 16 by 9.

Scale the crop using Alt Shift (Windows) or Option Shift (macOS) while clicking and dragging from the center.

Step 2: Extend the Background with Generative Expand

Confirm the changes with the Generative Expand option selected from the Fill dropdown.

Experiment with the diverse variations to find the one that resonates with your creative vision.

Step 3: Add Customization and Personal Flair

Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to introduce additional content to your video.

Explore the myriad of creative opportunities as you add elements like a water tower to your scene.

Cycle through the variations to witness the astounding transformations.
Take a moment to decide which variation perfectly aligns with your artistic intent.

Step 3: Perfecting the Playback

Click the Play button in the Timeline panel to preview your video.

Observe the generated layers play seamlessly throughout the clip.

Extend the generated layers by dragging their edges to cover the entire video duration.

That’s it! With Photoshop’s Generative Expand, the limitations of vertical visuals are a thing of the past. Elevate your photos and videos to new horizons, engage your audience, and creatively tell your story.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, please like and subscribe for more!

Other Photoshop Generative Fill articles you might enjoy:
Seamless Photo Blending with Photoshop’s Generative Fill
Generative Fill in Photoshop – The Ultimate Guide!
Photoshop Generative Fill: Low Resolution Fix!
Photoshop’s Generative Fill: Intensity Variation