Instagram is introducing an AI-powered solution to the problem of photos not fitting the platform’s aspect ratio.With the new feature called “Expand Your Image”, photos uploaded by users will be automatically expanded.
Instagram will now expand photos with AI
Photos uploaded to Instagram from smartphones often do not fill the frame due to the mismatch between the aspect ratio of the phone camera and Instagram’s preferred 4:5 ratio. This results in the addition of white borders to preserve photo size.
Instagram is testing a new feature that automatically expands photos using generative artificial intelligence. The AI model analyzes the uploaded image and adds new sections around the edges to fill the 4:5 frame without cropping any part of the photo.
In the examples shared by Meta, artificial intelligence analyzed a photo with trees and added tree leaves at the top of the frame. In another photo, it completed the image by adding an arm to the image of a person’s hand.
While the Expand Your Image feature has limitations, Instagram says the tool could become more versatile as algorithms evolve. According to the company, not every photo can be expanded naturally and these areas will not be part of the image.
The “Expand Your Image” tool will be one of many AI-powered image editing features on Instagram. Other features, such as “Restyle” and “Backdrop”, allow to modify photos to apply various visual styles or change backgrounds.