◆ Photoshop · generate

Expand Photo Canvas Horizontally

Expand the classroom photo sideways to fit a bulletin-board banner without cropping students out by generatively exten…

2heights
2tasks
1roles do it
See the prompt↓More generate workflows

The same job, four prompts

do it · improve it · decide · become
AExecute — “help me do it”Expand the classroom photo sideways to fit a bulletin-board banner without cropping students…+
Expand the classroom photo sideways to fit a bulletin-board banner without cropping students out by generatively extending the canvas and filling new areas so the group remains intact for Friday’s display.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.
BImprove — “do it better”Extend the classroom photo to banner width while keeping every student intact: generatively…+
Extend the classroom photo to banner width while keeping every student intact: generatively expand the left and/or right edges, use content-aware fill to match floor and background patterns, and check proportions so no student appears stretched for Friday’s bulletin-board print.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid
The tool
Generative Fill

Generative Fill uses AI to add, expand, or remove content from your images based on text prompts.

  1. 1

    Open your image by selecting File > Open.

  2. 2

    Select the area you want to transform using a selection tool.

    Best practiceFor expanding the canvas, use the Crop Tool to extend the image boundaries first.

  3. 3

    Click the Generative Fill button in the Contextual Task Bar.

    NoteYou can also access it from Edit > Generative Fill, or Select > All then Edit > Generative Fill.

  4. 4

    Type a prompt describing the object or scene you want to generate in the text-entry field.

    NoteYou can leave the prompt field empty to have Photoshop generate content based on the surrounding image.

  5. 5

    Click Generate.

  6. 6

    Review the generated variations in the Properties panel.

  7. 7

    Select your preferred variation from the options.

  8. 8

    Save your image by selecting File > Save As or File > Save a Copy.

Generative Fill creates new content on a separate generative layer, allowing non-destructive edits.

Generative Fill functionality is integrated within Photoshop and is not directly exposed as a standalone API for external automation.

Glossary

words on this page
Contextual Task BarA floating bar that provides relevant tools and actions based on the current selection or task.ExampleWhen you select an object, the Contextual Task Bar appears with options to duplicate or delete it.
Content-Aware FillA feature that intelligently removes unwanted objects and fills the area with matching content.ExampleYou use Content-Aware Fill to seamlessly remove a person from the background of a photo.
Generative FillAn AI-powered feature that creates new image content based on text prompts or existing selections.ExampleUsing Generative Fill, you type 'add a sandy beach' to extend the ocean scene in your image.
Healing BrushA tool used to correct imperfections in an image by sampling surrounding pixels and blending them.ExampleYou use the Healing Brush to effortlessly remove a small blemish from a portrait by sampling nearby skin.
Save a CopyTo save the current document as a new file, leaving the original document open and unchanged.ExampleYou can 'Save a Copy' of your edited photo to share, while keeping the original file untouched.

The real tasks

1 of them
Expand a classroom photo sideways to fit a bulletin-board sized banner without cropping the students out.

Who does this

1 roles
Teacher (classroom materials)

Questions people actually ask

with the jobs and tasks they touch

It involves filling in missing parts of an image, like holes or gaps, using AI or manual tools. This helps create complete, smooth images or backgrounds. You might do this when removing objects or creating special effects.

Use it when fixing damaged photos, removing unwanted objects, or creating backgrounds with missing parts. For example, a graphic designer might fill in a hole in a background to make it look smooth before adding text.

Use features like Content-Aware Fill or AI-based tools, then refine with the clone stamp or healing brush. Good results require careful selection and sometimes multiple passes to match textures and colors.

Overfilling or mismatching textures, which makes the filled area obvious or unnatural. It’s important to blend edges carefully and check for color consistency.

A photographer retouching images or a graphic designer creating composites often perform this task to make images look polished or smooth.

AI can automate filling holes quickly, but it may produce unrealistic results in complex textures. Manual touch-up is often needed for perfect realism, especially in detailed areas.

Yes, it’s similar to Replace Sky or Vet Generated Backgrounds, as both involve filling or replacing parts of an image to improve or alter its appearance.

see alsoVet Generated Backgrounds →Replace Sky →