Place any image in your InDesign document and drag the image frame to expand the image size or select any image with empty space in the frame.
- InDesign User Guide
- Get to know InDesign
- Introduction to InDesign
- Workspace
- Generative AI (Not available in Mainland China)
- Introduction to InDesign
- Create and layout documents
- Documents and pages
- Create documents
- Work with parent pages
- Work with document pages
- Set page size, margins, and bleed
- Work with files and templates
- Convert PDFs to InDesign files in InDesign (Beta)
- Create book files
- Add basic page numbering
- Number pages, chapters, and sections
- Convert QuarkXPress and PageMaker documents
- Share content
- Understand a basic managed-file workflow
- Save documents
- Grids
- Layout aids
- Documents and pages
- Add content
- Text
- Add text to frames
- Threading text
- South-East Asian Scripts
- Arabic and Hebrew features in InDesign
- Create type on a path
- Bullets and numbering
- Glyphs and special characters
- Text composition
- Text variables
- Generate QR codes
- Edit text
- Align text
- Wrap text around objects
- Anchored objects
- Linked content
- Format paragraphs
- Format characters
- Typography
- Format text
- Review text
- Spell check and language dictionaries
- Add references
- Styles
- Tables
- Interactivity
- Graphics
- Color and transparency
- Text
- Find and replace
- Share
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Generative Expand fills the empty frame around your image with content that naturally blends with the original.
Generative Expand (Beta) is a beta feature in InDesign now available for testing and feedback.
Effortlessly extend existing images with the Generative Expand feature.
You can generate elements relevant to your existing image or type a prompt to add specific elements per your choice.
- Before you proceed, ensure you're connected to the internet, as Generative Expand requires cloud processing.
- Currently, Generative Expand is only available in the InDesign versions of English International and English North America.
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Select Generative Expand (Beta) from the Contextual Task Bar. You can also access Generative Expand from the Text to Image panel.
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Select Generate without typing anything in the prompt field to fill the empty frame with relevant elements from the existing image.
You can also type a description of the output you're looking for in the prompt field and then select Generate.
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Select the left or right arrows to view and select different variations of your prompt.
Select Window > Text to Image (Beta) to view all the past variations.
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You can also select Ellipsis to Show Text to Image (Beta) Panel, View GenAI Guidelines, Hide Context Bar, Pin Context Bar.
Note:Once you select Hide Context Bar, the Contextual Task Bar will not open by default when you create or select an image frame. Select Window > Contextual Task Bar to view it again.
Tips and tricks
- Once you select an expanded variation, the Contextual Task Bar and panel will change to Text to Image as the text frame has no empty space.
- If there is some empty space in the image frame, you can use the Text to Image panel drop-down to switch to Generative Expand.
- For an effective text prompt, stick with simple and direct language. Use three to eight words, including a description, character, color, scene, and more. Don’t worry about adding commands like add or remove. Instead, use simple phrases like sunrise behind mountains, a man with headphones, or an ice cream parlor. Learn more about writing effective prompts.
Frequently asked questions
How is Generative Expand different from other tools in InDesign?
Generative Expand is a generative AI-powered capability powered by Adobe Firefly. Unlike other InDesign capabilities, this enables you to expand an existing image to fill the intended frame and aspect ratio, all from within the InDesign app.
How should I use Generative Expand? What can InDesign users do with Generative Expand?
Generative Expand is a generative AI-powered capability that makes it easy for designers to extend an existing image to fit the intended frame.
What are examples of ways I can use Generative Expand?
- Generative Expand is an AI-powered capability that extends existing images to fit the referenced frame in the layout.
- Users can create a specific background for their reference image using a text prompt.
- Generative Expand lets you extend the image to a different aspect ratio, filling the space in seconds.
- Generative Expand will present you with three different choices, allowing you to explore various creative concepts.
How does the Generative Expand feature in InDesign accelerate creative workflows?
With Generative Expand, you can quickly extend an image to fit any layout, all from within InDesign.
Do users need to be experienced with InDesign to use Generative Expand?
Generative Expand is available to InDesign users of all levels. You can explore this feature from the Contextual Task Bar or from the Text to Image panel.
Is the extended image editable?
Generative Expand generates outputs that cannot be edited at this time.
What is the maximum resolution of the output created using generative AI features in InDesign?
The Firefly model currently returns an output of 2K resolution for generated images (up to 4K for expands) to InDesign.
What are some key tips & tricks needed to get the most out of Generative Expand in the InDesign app?
- Determine the intended frame size. Position your image within the frame, considering where it will be expanded. For example, if you position the image to the far left of your frame, it will be extended to the right boundary. Generative Expand will fill any white space.
- Use the text prompt to expand the image with specific elements.
- Stick with simple and direct language with your text prompt, approximately 3-8 words that include a description, color, or scene. Don’t worry about adding commands like “add” or “remove”. Instead, use simple phrases like “bright tropical flowers.”
Can I use the images generated with Generative Expand for commercial purposes?
In general, you may use outputs from generative AI features commercially. However, if Adobe designates in the product or elsewhere that a beta version of a generative AI feature cannot be used commercially, then the generated outputs from that beta feature are for personal use only and cannot be used commercially.
You can get more information about the usage guidelines in the Adobe Generative AI User Guidelines page.
Should I add Content Credentials for images generated using Generative Expand?
Adobe may attach or publish Content Credentials for content created with generative AI features to let people know it was generated with AI. Learn more about Content Credentials.
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