But more importantly, it gives you plenty of extra canvas to explore new ideas.

What Is Outpainting in DALL-E 2?

Otherwise, you will get an entirely separate image generation, as you’re able to see below.

Top down photo of open paint containers

Photoshop has a similar feature that’s worth checking out.

Be careful as your credits can go fast!

It’s also possible to upload your own image to the editor.

An AI-generated painting of a woman with her cat in the center of a Japanese landscape, made with Dall-E

Below we will walk you through exactly how to extend an AI image using this tool.

Look for the button with three dots to open an extended menu, then clickEdit image.

Generate a New Frame

Now we get to the fun part.

A new generation frame in the Dall-E editor displaying two different images for the same prompt

To start Outpainting, select theAdd generation framebutton or pressFfor the keyboard shortcut.

An empty generation frame will appear, which you could move around the screen with your mouse.

This will give DALL-E enough information to fill in the blank section with an image that matches the original.

The Dall-E homepage

When you’re happy with the frame placement, simply punch that spot to pin your selection in place.

Then you’ve got the option to hit theGeneratebutton beside the prompt.

ClickAcceptto commit to the one you like.

An image of a woman and cat created with Dall E, options to edit the image displayed to the right

If none of them look good, you’re free to clickCancel.

Download the Image

All that is left to do is download the final image.

To download the image, tap the download icon just above the Generate button.

Dall-E editing tools with the option to upload an image

When to Use Outpainting in DALL-E 2

Outpainting is a useful tool for a few reasons.

It also gives AI artists the freedom to build larger scenes and expand landscapes past the initial generation.

Just verify to watch your credits closely, it can easily become addictive!

Dall-E editing tools displaying the option to add a generation frame

Dall-E editor window interface

An image in the Dall-E editor showing a newly generated frame