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What is Inpainting?
Inpainting is AI that fills in or replaces part of an image, based on the area around it and your instructions.
- Category Media & creative
- Also called outpainting, generative fill
- Updated 20 Oct 2026
Inpainting, explained simply
Inpainting lets you select a spot in a picture and change it. You can remove an object or swap in something new.
Outpainting does the reverse. It extends the picture beyond its edges. Tools may call this generative fill.
This matters because it makes photo fixes fast, like removing a stranger from a holiday picture.
The AI invents the new pixels. Edits can look off, and edited photos shouldn't be passed off as real.
On ITG Now, free tool guides cover image editing tools with inpainting, including ones you can run on your own computer.
Related terms
Text-to-imageDiffusion modelBackground removalAI upscalingContent Credentials
Where you'll see it on ITG Now
Questions people ask about Inpainting
What is outpainting?
Outpainting extends an image past its borders. The AI imagines what would be there.
Is inpainting free?
Several open source tools are free. Some apps limit use or charge.
Inpainting vs background removal: what is the difference?
Inpainting fills or changes a part of a picture. Background removal cuts the subject out from behind it.