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Extend Background · Free

Extend Background in Any Photo Online

Just describe where you need more space. AI generates matching background seamlessly.

Vertical headshot with tight crop on gray background
Before
→
Same headshot extended to landscape with matching gray background
After

Extend Background in Any Photo Online

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

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Popular use cases:
  • YouTube thumbnails
  • Social media banners
  • LinkedIn cover photos
  • Print preparation
  • Marketing materials
  • Website hero images
  • Presentation slides
Cost
Free No signup required
Time
Instant results in 15-30 seconds
Works on
Any device - browser, phone, tablet, desktop
Powered by
AI-powered photo editing
Scenario Prompt Time
Add headroom extend background upward above the head for more headroom 20s
Landscape banner extend background on both sides for 16:9 landscape ratio 30s
Square format extend background on left and right for square 1:1 ratio 25s
Print bleed extend background on all sides for print bleed margin 35s

How it works

  1. Upload your photo

    Upload a clear photo showing the area you want to edit. Good lighting and sharp focus help the AI deliver better background results. JPG, PNG, WebP up to 7MB.

    Expect: Simple backgrounds like sky or walls: 20-30 seconds. Complex patterns or scenes: may need 2-3 refinements.

  2. Describe how to extend

    Type exactly what you need: 'extend the background upward to add more headroom' or 'add more background space on both sides for banner crop.' Be specific about which direction and how much. The AI understands and generates matching content.

    Tip: Mention key elements to match: 'extend with matching blue sky and soft clouds' helps the AI continue the existing scene naturally.

    Copy one of these to get started:

    Portrait to landscape for social media banner extend the background on both left and right sides to create landscape aspect ratio, matching the existing background texture and colors
    Try This →
    Adding headroom above subject extend the background upward above the head to add more headroom, continuing the sky and background naturally
    Try This →
    Square to 16:9 for YouTube thumbnail add more background space on left and right to convert to 16:9 widescreen ratio, seamlessly matching the scene
    Try This →
    Vertical to square for Instagram post extend background on left and right to make square 1:1 ratio, matching colors and lighting of existing background
    Try This →
    3 more prompts
    Creating print-ready image with bleed extend the background outward on all four sides by about 10 percent for print bleed margin, continuing the existing textures
    Try This →
    Product photo needing more context space extend the background below and to the sides to add more negative space around the product, matching the surface texture
    Try This →
    Environmental portrait with more scene extend the background on the right side to show more of the environment and setting, generating matching scenery
    Try This →

  3. Generate and review

    Tap generate and examine where the new content meets the original. Check for texture continuity, lighting consistency, and natural transitions. These seam areas need the most attention.

    Tip: Zoom to 100% at the edges where new content was added. That's where mismatches become visible when used in final designs.

  4. Refine the transition if needed

    If the new area looks different or the seam is visible, tap markers along the transition zone and regenerate. This helps the AI focus on blending that specific boundary.

    Tip: Markers are for precision refinement, not required. Most simple extensions like sky or solid colors work perfectly without them.
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Extend Background in Any Photo Online

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

"Needed to turn a portrait shot into a landscape banner. Typed 'extend background on both sides' and it matched my sky perfectly." @DesignWithMark

See it in action

Vertical headshot with tight crop on gray background
Before
->
Same headshot extended to landscape with matching gray background
After

Portrait to landscape banner

Vertical headshot needed for website hero banner. Extended both sides to create widescreen crop without losing the subject.

Prompt: extend the background on both left and right sides to create landscape 16:9 aspect ratio, matching the plain gray studio backdrop seamlessly
Try This →
Portrait with head cropped too tight at top edge
Before
->
Same portrait with extended sky giving proper headroom
After

Adding headroom for better composition

Subject's head was cropped too tight at the top. Extended upward to add breathing room while matching the sky.

Prompt: extend the background upward above the head to add more headroom and sky, continuing the blue gradient naturally
Try This →
Tight product shot with minimal surrounding space
Before
->
Same product with extended background creating space for text
After

Product photo for wide banner

Product shot was too tight for marketing banner. Extended the surface and background to create space for text overlay.

Prompt: extend the background on both sides and below to add more negative space around the product, matching the white marble surface texture and soft lighting
Try This →

Detailed Guides by Scenario

📷

Home & Interior Design

Preview how background would look in a room or space before committing to a purchase or renovation.

Common Scenarios

  • Visualizing background in a living room, bedroom, or office before buying
  • Creating client mockups that show background in their actual space
  • Comparing different placements of background in renovation plans

Best Practices

  • Upload a well-lit, straight-on photo of the room for the most realistic result
  • Specify the size and position — e.g., 'add a large background on the left wall'
  • Match the room's lighting in your prompt: 'warm lighting' for evening shots, 'natural daylight' for window-lit rooms
📷

Creative & Social Content

Use background to create eye-catching content for social media, digital art, or personal projects.

Common Scenarios

  • Adding background to photos for unique social media posts that stand out in feeds
  • Creating fantasy or composite images that incorporate background for art projects
  • Making holiday or themed content by placing background in seasonal photos

Best Practices

  • Be specific about the style — 'realistic background' vs. 'illustrated background' gives very different results
  • Use reference images when you want the AI to match a particular look
  • For social content, try unusual placements that create a surreal or humorous effect
📷

Professional & Marketing Use

Incorporate background into marketing materials, presentations, and product catalogs without expensive photo shoots.

Common Scenarios

  • Adding background to product mockups and marketing banners
  • Creating presentation slides that show background in context
  • Building a catalog of variations that feature background in different settings

Best Practices

  • Use high-resolution source images — marketing materials demand sharp details
  • Keep brand guidelines in mind: specify colors and style that match when adding background
  • Generate multiple versions and A/B test which placement performs best in ads

If something looks off

AI changed the wrong area or something I didn't want changed

Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone. This happens when your photo has multiple possible extension directions.

Try: Tap a marker on the specific edge where you want extension, then regenerate with the same prompt
Try This →

Tip: Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS edge specifically.' Use them when description alone is ambiguous.

Visible seam where new content meets original

Why: The lighting or texture in the generated area doesn't perfectly match the original. Complex backgrounds are harder to blend than simple ones.

Try: extend the background with seamless blending, matching the exact lighting direction and texture of the original
Try This →

Tip: If the seam persists, tap markers along the transition line and regenerate to focus the AI on that boundary.

Extended area has different color temperature

Why: The AI generated content with slightly different warmth or saturation. This is common when extending outdoor scenes.

Try: extend the background matching the exact color temperature and saturation of the original photo
Try This →

Tip: Be specific about colors: 'matching the warm golden sunset tones' rather than just 'matching colors.'

Pattern or texture doesn't continue naturally

Why: Complex repeating patterns like bricks or tiles are harder for AI to extend coherently than organic textures like sky or foliage.

Try: extend the background continuing the [brick/tile/pattern] pattern naturally, maintaining the same scale and alignment
Try This →

Tip: For geometric patterns, mention 'maintaining alignment and perspective' to help the AI match the grid.

Extended area looks artificial or too smooth

Why: The AI defaulted to a simplified version of the background instead of matching its full complexity.

Try: extend the background with realistic detail matching the texture and grain of the original photo
Try This →

Tip: Adding 'matching the photo grain' helps preserve the authentic look rather than AI-smoothed appearance.

Quick answers

Do I need to mark where to extend before describing?

No! Just describe what you want: 'extend background on the left' or 'add more sky above.' The AI understands directional instructions. Only use markers if you need to refine the transition after your first attempt, but most simple extensions work without them.

Can I extend in multiple directions at once?

Yes. Type 'extend the background on both left and right sides' or 'add more space on all four sides.' The AI can generate matching content in multiple directions simultaneously. This is perfect for aspect ratio conversions where you need to add space symmetrically.

How much can I extend a photo?

For best results, extend up to 50% of the original dimension in any direction. Larger extensions require more AI generation and may show inconsistencies. If you need dramatic expansion, consider doing it in stages: extend once, then extend the result again.

What backgrounds extend best?

Simple, consistent textures extend most seamlessly: clear sky, solid colored walls, out-of-focus bokeh, water, and grass. Complex patterns like detailed architecture or crowds are harder because the AI must generate believable continuation. For complex scenes, be extra specific in your prompt about what elements should continue.

Can I use this to change the aspect ratio of my photo?

Absolutely. This is one of the most popular uses. Type 'extend background on left and right to convert to 16:9 widescreen' or 'add space above and below for 4:5 portrait.' The AI adds matching content to reach your target ratio without cropping or stretching your subject.

Is EditThisPic's AI background extender really free?

Yes — you get 1 free edit per week, no account needed. For unlimited edits, plans start at $3.99/month.

Can I extend background on my phone?

Yes. EditThisPic works in any mobile browser — iPhone, Android, tablet. No app download needed.

What photo formats does the AI background extender support?

JPG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC. Upload any common photo format and EditThisPic handles the rest.

Related Tools

Browse all enhance tools →
Remove Background from Photo When you want to replace the background entirely rather than extend it Change Photo Background When you need a completely different scene behind your subject Crop and Resize Photo When you can afford to lose some image area to change proportions Fill Empty Space in Photo When you have gaps or missing areas within the image to fill Add Sky to Photo Add sky when extending the upper portion Change Sky from Photo Modify sky when extending the image Remove Person from Photo

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