Expand images with AI, refine with Affinity

Use AI to extend backgrounds, adjust aspect ratios, and reframe compositions, then manually refine every detail with full creative control.

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How to expand images in Affinity

If you have a Canva premium plan, you can unlock powerful AI features like Generative Expand within Affinity.

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Extend the canvas

Choose the Generative Expand tool, then drag the crop or canvas beyond the original image edges to define the new size, layout, or aspect ratio you need.

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Generate the expanded image

Click Expand to generate new AI image content that blends naturally with the surrounding area. You can generate additional variations or enhance detail using the Super Resolution Tool.

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Refine, edit, and finish

Edit the expanded areas like any other part of your image. Retouch details, adjust tones, mask edges, composite elements, or remove results entirely using Affinity’s photo editing and adjustment tools.

AI image expansion for professional work

Generative Expand uses AI to extend images beyond their original canvas, helping you seamlessly expand backgrounds, change aspect ratios, and create space for layouts without rebuilding assets from scratch. Results stay editable inside Affinity, so you can refine or remove generated areas as part of a professional workflow. Like all tools in Affinity’s Canva AI Studio⁠(opens in a new tab or window), this AI image expansion and outpainting tool is designed to assist your work – not replace it – and your files aren’t used to train AI features.

Creative using Affinity generative expand feature to expand clothing on model.

Expand images fast, without rebuilding

Extend backgrounds, widen compositions, or change aspect ratios in seconds when adapting images for print, web, or digital layouts. Generative Expand gives you a strong starting point, reducing manual reconstruction while keeping your original image intact.

Creative using Affinity generative expand to add in more body to a person to widen image.

Refine the result in one powerful workspace

Generated areas stay editable inside Affinity, so you can refine them using non-destructive adjustment layers, compositing tools, and precision retouching, all without switching apps. It’s one continuous workflow, giving you full control over every detail from first edit to final export.

Creative refining generative expanded artwork to a different tone.

FAQs

  • No. Generative Expand is designed to speed up setup work, not replace creative decision-making. It works best as a starting point that you refine and finish using Affinity’s editing tools.

  • Yes. Generated content can be adjusted, refined, or removed as part of your normal workflow, so you’re never locked into a result you don’t want.

  • It’s most useful when you need to extend images for new formats, layouts, or compositions, such as adding space for text, changing aspect ratios, or widening a background.

  • Yes. It’s built to support real production workflows, where speed matters, but control, quality, and refinement matter more.

  • No. Content you work on locally in Affinity isn’t used to train AI features. For content you choose to upload to Canva services, you’re in control and can review or update your preferences in Canva settings.

  • AI image expansion, often called outpainting, is a technique that generates new visual content outside the boundaries of an existing image. Instead of cropping or manually reconstructing missing areas, the AI predicts and creates additional pixels that match the lighting, perspective, texture, and style of the original scene. This makes it easier to reposition subjects, open up tighter compositions, or prepare images for different formats while maintaining visual consistency.

Where speed meets precision