Beginners Guide to Photoshop's Generative Fill Tool

How to Use Generative Fill in Photoshop

Photoshop's Generative Fill Tool is a game-changing feature that leverages AI to expand, enhance, and transform images effortlessly.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to use this tool to extend an image—starting with one side and then progressing to expand both sides simultaneously.  Once the image is extended, I'll show you how to fix imperfections using Photoshop’s innovative Remove Tool, another AI-powered tool.

Whether you’re working with your own image or practicing with a sample from Adobe Stock (like the one I'm using below), this guide will equip you with the skills to seamlessly extend your creative possibilities.

Here is the stock image I selected for this tutorial, ready to be edited in Photoshop:

Step 1: Use the Crop Tool to Expand the Canvas

Start by selecting the Crop Tool from the toolbar, or press keyboard shortcut 'C' to activate it.  This tool is essential for adjusting the canvas size and creating space to expand your image.

In the Options Bar at the top of the screen, set the aspect ratio to 'Ratio.'  This setting ensures that your canvas resizing is flexible and not bound by fixed dimensions.

Next, make sure both the Width and Height fields are left blank.  This allows you to expand the canvas in any direction without any constraints, providing the freedom to tailor the size as needed for your project.

Step 2: Expand the Canvas to the Left or Right

To enlarge the canvas, start by clicking on the crop border's left or right handle, then drag it outward in the direction you want to expand.  This action increases the canvas size while preserving the original image's alignment.

In this example, my goal is to create additional space on the left side of the image to match the direction the woman is facing. Therefore, I’ll drag the left crop handle outward to achieve the desired composition.

When you release the mouse button, Photoshop will fill the newly added canvas area with your selected Background Color.  This is typically set to white by default, but you can customize it in the toolbar or Layers panel before resizing.

Finally, press 'Enter' (or 'Return' on a Mac) to confirm and apply the adjustment, locking in the expanded canvas size.

Step 3: Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool

Next, you’ll need to outline the newly added canvas space.  To do this, select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the toolbar or press 'M' on your keyboard to activate it.

This tool allows you to precisely highlight the area you’ve just incorporated, making it ready for further edits or AI-generated enhancements.

Step 4: Outline the Expanded Canvas

With the Rectangular Marquee Tool active, draw a selection around the newly added portion of the canvas.  This selection highlights the area where the Generative Fill will work its magic.

For a seamless blend between the AI-generated content and the original image, ensure that your selection slightly overlaps the edge of the existing image.  This overlap is crucial for creating a smooth transition and avoiding visible lines or inconsistencies.

Step 5: Activate Generative Fill Using the Contextual Task Bar

After outlining the expanded canvas, look for Photoshop's Contextual Task Bar located beneath your selection.  This innovative feature streamlines your workflow by offering relevant tools and options based on your current task.

If the Contextual Task Bar isn’t visible, you can enable it by navigating to the 'Window' menu in the top Menu Bar and ensuring that the 'Contextual Task Bar' is checked.  Once enabled, it will appear below your selection, ready for the next step.

Step 6: Generate AI Content for Expanded Area

Click the 'Generate' button in the Contextual Task Bar to initiate the Generative Fill process.  A dialog box will appear, offering a text field where you can specify the desired content for the selected area.  To seamlessly extend the edges of your image, leave the field blank.  This tells Photoshop to automatically generate content that matches the original image.  Once ready, click 'Generate' to proceed.

As Photoshop processes the request, the file is temporarily sent to Adobe's AI servers via the Internet.  A progress bar will appear during this time, providing an estimated completion time.  Typically, the generation process takes only 10–15 seconds—a brief wait for the incredible transformation about to unfold.

Once complete, the expanded section is filled with AI-generated content that flawlessly integrates with the original image's perspective, depth of field, and lighting.

For example, in this demonstration, the woman's shadow and the foreground illumination are extended naturally, maintaining the original light source's direction.  Subtle details, like reflections on the glass pane before her, also align harmoniously with the original composition.

In the Layers Panel, you’ll notice a new Generative Layer created above your image.  This layer is marked with a unique icon in the lower-right corner of the thumbnail.  It includes a built-in mask that confines the AI-generated content to the selected region, allowing for easy adjustments or refinements later.

Step 7: Explore & Select Variations

After generating the AI content, the Properties Panel will display three unique variations of the generated area.  Each thumbnail represents a distinct interpretation by Photoshop’s AI. 

You can preview these variations by clicking on their thumbnails and evaluating which version aligns best with your vision.  In this example, I found the first variation to be the most satisfying.

Alternatively, you can cycle through the variations using the left and right arrows in the Contextual Task Bar.  This feature lets you quickly compare options without returning to the Properties Panel.  While exploring, I noticed the third variation didn't resonate with me—it presented a rather untidy building side that disrupted the overall aesthetic.

Take your time to experiment with the options.  Once you’ve identified the most appealing variation, you can proceed to the final refinement stages.

Step 8: Regenerate for Additional Variations (Optional)

You can easily create additional options if the initial three AI-generated variations don’t meet your expectations.  Simply click 'Generate' again in the Properties Panel to produce three new alternatives.

A progress bar will appear briefly before adding new variations, stacking on top of the previous ones.  This allows you to explore unlimited variations without losing access to earlier results.

Generative AI often brings an element of surprise—some results may be quirky, while others might align perfectly with your vision.  For example, in my case, the fourth variation didn’t blend well with the building’s structure, but the fifth was nearly perfect, except for a minor blue reflection at the bottom of the glass.

To refine the results further, I clicked 'Generate' once more.  This time, the first variation among the new set turned out to be an absolute winner!  However, a few distracting elements remained in the scene, which I’ll address in the following steps using Photoshop’s Remove Tool.

This iterative process ensures that you can fine-tune the generated content until it meets your creative standards.  Keep experimenting until you find the perfect result!

Refining AI-Generated Content Using the Remove Tool

While Photoshop’s Generative Fill often produces impressive results, minor inconsistencies or distracting details may still appear.  Instead of repeatedly clicking 'Generate' to seek perfection, you can achieve precise cleanup with Photoshop’s Remove Tool, a powerful AI-enhanced feature.  Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Create a New Layer Above the Generative Layer

Since the Generative Layer is non-editable, any modifications require a separate, editable layer.  To do this, click the 'Add New Layer' icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel.  This will create a blank layer positioned above the Generative Layer, providing a non-destructive workspace for your refinements.

Working on a new layer ensures your edits are reversible and allows for greater flexibility during the cleanup process.  With your layer structure in place, you’re ready to address any imperfections.

Step 2: Activate the Remove Tool

Locate the Remove Tool in the toolbar, grouped with the Spot Healing Brush and other healing tools.  If it’s not immediately visible, click and hold on the displayed healing tool to reveal a dropdown menu, then select the Remove Tool from the options.

Step 3: Configure Tool Setting for Optimal Cleanup

For precise and efficient cleanup, ensure the following settings are enabled for the Remove Tool:

1. Sample All Layers: This allows the tool to analyze and blend content from all visible layers while keeping your corrections confined to the new layer.
2. Remove After Each Stroke: This ensures that each stroke is automatically processed and applied, streamlining your workflow.

Step 4: Remove Distractions with Precision Brush Strokes

Adjust the size of the Remove Tool’s brush using the left ([) and right (]) bracket keys to fit the area you want to refine.  Once the brush is sized appropriately, simply glide it over the unwanted elements to remove them seamlessly.

For example, if Generative Fill introduced a small artifact near the base of the glass, you can easily erase it with a single brush stroke.  Photoshop will highlight the affected area in magenta, providing clear visual feedback as the tool processes and blends the correction flawlessly.

Upon releasing the mouse button, the unwanted element disappears, seamlessly replaced by AI-generated content that blends perfectly with the surrounding area.

Photoshop’s Remove Tool proves to be an invaluable complement to Generative Fill, providing precise cleanup and refinement for flawless results.

Summary: Image Extension with Generative Fill

Expanding an image using Photoshop's Generative Fill is a remarkably simple and effective process.  Here's a quick recap of the steps:

1. Expand the Canvas: Use the Crop Tool to enlarge the canvas in your desired direction.
2. Select the New Area: Outline the expanded section with the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
3. Activate Generative Fill: Click 'Generate' to let Photoshop’s AI create seamless extensions.
4. Explore Variations: Choose your favorite from the generated options, or click 'Generate' again for additional alternatives.
5. Refine with the Remove Tool: Eliminate distractions or imperfections to achieve a polished final image.

 And there you have it—an extended, professional-quality image made effortless with the power of Adobe's Generative AI!

Do you have any questions or comments about using the Generative Fill Tool in Photoshop?  Leave us a comment below - we would love to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!