How to Extend Background in Photoshop: Comprehensive Guides

Summary: This is a post that shares effective ways to help you extend background in Photoshop. Especially, we will share how to extend image background with newly released Adobe Generative Fill tool to help you expand background with the help of AI.

Adobe Photoshop is a staple of any graphic designer's toolkit. One of the most popular techniques used in Photoshop is the ability to extend backgrounds with relative ease, because this skill can help create stunning visuals that can be used for a variety of different projects.

In this blog, we will share how to extend background with 3 basic tools like the Photoshop Content-Aware Scale tool. Plus, with Adobe releasing its newest AI tool called “Generative Fill” this year, you can extend image background automatically with the help of its inbuilt AI tool in Photoshop. So, we will also share the exclusive tutorials to help you expand image with AI. Let’s roll!

How to Extend Background in Photoshop (3 Ways)

How to Extend Background in Photoshop Using Content-Aware Fill

1. Open your image file in Photoshop to stay ready for image background extension.
2. Use the Lasso tool on the left menu bar to select the image background area as needed.
3. After finish your selection operation, click “Edit” on the top of the screen to find the “Content-Aware Fill” in the popup window.
4. According to your needs, adjust the settings and options in the “Content-Aware Fill” dialog box.
5. You can preview your settings, and you will see a red overlay in the Preview, which represents the area that will be extended.
6. Press “Enter” or click the “Ok” button to apply and extend background in Photoshop.

How to Stretch an Image in Photoshop Using Content-Aware Scale

1. Open your image file in Photoshop
2. Use the Lasso tool on the left menu bar to select the image background area as needed.
3. Go to the top tool bar and click “Edit” icon. Then, click the “Content-Aware Scale” in the new popup window.
4. At this moment, the “Content-Aware Scale” tool will automatically select the background area the you’ve done. And a blue line will surround it.
5. Then you should drag the selected area to somewhere you want to have an extended background.
6. Press “Enter” to finish your background extension operation.

How to Build a Background in Photoshop Using the Crop Tool

1. Open your image file in Photoshop to get ready for image background extension.
2. Press the shortcut “Ctrl + C” to open the “Crop” tool, or you just find it on the left dashboard.
3. Drag the crop tool to extend the canvas size beyond the current background of the image.
4. Click the “Apply” button to extend canvas size.
5. Press the shortcut “Ctrl + J” to open the “Spot Healing Brush”, or you just find it on the left menu bar.
6. Go to the top tool bar and click “Edit” icon. Then, click the “Content-Aware” in the new popup window as the healing type.
7. Drag the tool to fill the area that you want to extend, and you can repeat until you are satisfied with the extended background in Photoshop.

How to Extend Background in Photoshop Using AI Generative Fill

To use the newly-released tool called “Generative Fill”, you have to know how to extend the image background using the Crop tool to extend the canvas size mentioned above. After that, you will use the “Marquee Tool” to start your AI background extender. Let’s see how to extend image background using Generative Fill:

1. Open your image file in Photoshop to get ready for image background extension.
2. Press the shortcut “Ctrl + C” to open the “Crop” tool, or you just find it on the left dashboard.
3. Drag the crop tool to extend the canvas size beyond the current background of the image. Then, click the “Apply” button to extend canvas size.
4. Find and click the “Rectangular Marquee” Tool on the left tool bar to select the newly extended canvas.
5. Then, you will see the new “Contextual Task Bar” directly below, and you can click the “Generative Fill” to enter your prompts.
6. Finally, AI tool will fill the extended background according to your entered prompts automatically.

Bonus: Expand Image Background with Online AI Image Extender

If you are not familiar with Adobe Photoshop, you can try some online AI image extenders to help extend image background faster and easier than ever. Here you can try Fotor’s upcoming AI image extender to help you make image inpainting and image outpainting with the help of AI.

Backed up the cutting-edge artificial intelligence, Fotor makes it possible that everyone can have fun and explore the image possibilities with the help of AI. As long as you have unlimited inspirations and creativities, Fotor’s AI image extender will turn your ideas come true.

How to Use the Image Extender in Fotor

1. Upload an image or use Fotor AI image generator to generate a new one.
2. Use the AI image expander tool to brush over the part or the periphery of the uploaded images. Enter the descriptions for an element or background you want AI to generate, and choose one to use.
3. You can repeat the operations to get more possibilities for expanding images. Save AI-extended images once you are satisfied.

Conclusion:

In this blog, we have shared how to extend background in Photoshop with basic 3 ways, including using the Content-Aware Fill, Content-Aware Scale, and Crop tool. More than that, we also share how to use the newly-released Generative Fill tool to help extend background with the help of AI. All the AI background extension is based on your entered prompts. If you find Photoshop difficult, try some online image background extender to simplify the operation. Hope you find this blog helpful!