How to Expand Backgrounds for Seamless Product Photography

Have you ever taken what felt like the perfect product photo, only to realize it doesn’t quite fit your website layout? Or perhaps it looked a little awkward on social media? You’re not alone. Whether you’re a small business owner, product photographer, or content creator, it’s frustrating when a great image falls flat simply because it doesn’t have enough background space to work with.

That’s exactly why BeFunky’s Expand AI tool was created. It uses artificial intelligence to extend the edges of your image beyond the actual photo, in the most natural way possible. It fills in backgrounds seamlessly, so your product photos have the space they need to shine. Whether you’re trying to match a specific aspect ratio, create a more impactful composition, or just give your product some breathing room, Expand AI makes it happen in just a few clicks.

From elevating the look of your online store to creating scroll-stopping content for social media, Expand AI is a game-changer for product photography. Here’s everything you need to know about this tool, which is available in our Photo Editor.

When Should You Expand Your Product Photography?

As we’ve mentioned, there are plenty of scenarios where the Expand tool comes in handy for product photography. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common ones below:

• Adjusting aspect ratios: Need a square image for Instagram but only have a portrait shot? Expand AI can fill in the sides to create a balanced image, no awkward cropping required.
• Creating breathing room: Speaking of cropping, if your product is too tightly cropped, it can really detract from the entire aesthetic of your photo. Expand AI can add space around it, making the image feel more open and professional.
• Enhancing backgrounds: A plain background can be transformed into a more appealing setting, as Expand AI can add in new and realistic details that previously weren’t there. This can help your product stand out among a sea of basic backdrops.
• Optimizing for different platforms: Don’t take several different photos of the same product just to fit different size requirements. Whether it's a website banner, a social media post, or a print ad, Expand AI helps you tailor your images to fit various formats – all within a click.

How to Use Expand AI for Your Product Images

Ready to put the Expand tool to use? Head directly to the Expand tool within the Photo Editor and open the product photo you wish to edit. Then, just follow these 3 steps below.

Step 1: Select the Aspect Ratio and Orientation

From the first dropdown menu, you can choose the new aspect ratio you wish to extend your image to. For this example, we’re expanding a very cropped, portrait oriented product photo into a square (1x1) oriented image that’s perfect for a perfume brand’s Instagram. 

You can also select the orientation of your new product image.

When you’re ready to expand your image, click the Expand AI button.

Step 2: Make Adjustments

The Expand AI tool will generate a realistic and expanded version of your product photo. You can click Generate Again to produce a different version of your expanded image, if you wish.

Additionally, you can adjust the Fade Edge slider to increase or decrease how much the original image’s edges blend with the expanded area.

Then, click Apply.

Step 3: Save Your Expanded Product Photo

Once you’re ready to finalize your new expanded product photo, click Save at the top of the screen. Then, select your desired save location.

Final Results: Repurpose Your Product Photos in a Single Click

Thanks to revolutionary AI, what was once impossible has now become incredibly simple. It’s hard to deny just how realistic and creative the end result is. You’d think this perfume photo had been shot like this all along! The Expand AI tool is the perfect way to change your image’s aspect ratio, without the need for cropping. It’s a true game-changer for your product photography.

More Product Photography Extensions You’ll Want to Try

Once you start using Expand AI, you’ll find it’s one of those tools you’ll reach for again and again – especially when you’re working with product photography. Here are a few ways creatives and small business owners are using this tool to take their product shots to the next level:

Etsy Shop Banners

Let’s say you’re a jewelry seller who wants to use an existing product photo on your Etsy shop banner. The problem? These images are all too cropped and don’t allow any room for your important shop details. Instead of retaking the photo or awkwardly stretching the canvas, you can use Expand AI to extend the original background. The result is a clean and balanced composition that blends perfectly with your shop’s aesthetic.

Social Media Ads

In this example, we’ve imagined a scenario where a small-batch coffee brand wanted to promote their latest roast with a Facebook ad, but the square product photo didn’t fill the space well. Using Expand AI, they’ve extended the background to create a wide-format image that looks both intentional and beautifully composed. With more room to add copy and a centered product, the ad now stands out in users' feeds. You can use the Expand tool to resize a product photo to fit any social media template size.

Marketing Posters

While extending an image for digital use is extremely popular, we can’t overlook just how helpful it is for print use too. Let’s imagine a local furniture store was designing a portrait-oriented poster to advertise their half-yearly sale, but most of their product photos were taken in landscape format. Instead of re-shooting everything, they used Expand AI to extend the image vertically and create a realistic background to complement their key furniture pieces. The additional space not only allowed the image to perfectly fit the poster template, but also created extra room for promotional text.

Expand Your Product Photos Beyond the Frame

BeFunky's Expand AI is a must-have for small business owners and creatives looking to enhance their product photography. It's so quick and easy to use, and delivers professional results without the need for extensive editing skills.

Don’t reshoot your product photos to match different platforms or aspect ratios. Just expand them using AI and they’ll be picture-perfect in seconds!

Ready to take your product images to the next level? Try Expand AI for yourself.

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