Outpainting vs Inpainting — When to Use Which

XBRUSH has two editing features that sound similar but do completely different things: Edit (Inpainting) and Outpainting. Once you understand the difference, you can pick the right one instantly instead of guessing.

One-Line Definition

Edit (Inpainting): Changing What's Inside

Select the Edit tab at the top of the workspace.

Upload your image, describe what you want changed, and AI replaces the content accordingly.

Experiment: Casual Outfit → Professional Suit

A person sitting in a yellow t-shirt and jeans.

Prompt: "Transform the casual look into a suit, shown from the front, professional atmosphere"

Multiple versions with the outfit changed to a suit are generated. Pose, background, and facial features stay the same — only the clothing changes.

Grey suit with a tie. Professional look, same person, same composition. The image size and framing didn't change at all.

When to Use Edit (Inpainting)

• Outfit or prop swap — Change clothing style, color, bag, shoes
• Background replacement — Keep the subject, change the setting
• Product photo styling — Swap tableware, props, or background mood
• Expression or pose adjustment — Tweak specific elements naturally

Key rule: Use Edit when you want to change the content while keeping the image size and framing the same.

Outpainting: Extending Beyond the Edges

Select the Outpainting tab at the top of the workspace.

Experiment: Portrait → Wider Frame

A portrait shot taken at an outdoor café. The subject fills the frame.

Upload the image to open the canvas editor. Choose the direction and amount to extend, then generate.

Several expanded versions are generated. The café background fills in naturally around the subject.

The original portrait expands into a square frame. The atmosphere and style carry through seamlessly.

When to Use Outpainting

• Change aspect ratio — Portrait to landscape, square to 16:9
• Add breathing room — Create space for text or headlines
• Standardize sizes — Match images of different dimensions to the same canvas
• Complete a crop — Extend a cut-off arm or leg naturally

Key rule: Use Outpainting when you want to expand the canvas size or change the aspect ratio.

Quick Decision Guide

Want to change the image's size or ratio?     → Outpainting
Want to change something inside the image?    → Edit (Inpainting)
Want to remove the background entirely?       → Background Remover
Want to sharpen a low-res image?              → Upscale
Want to add text or layout elements?          → Edit in Canvas

A Powerful Combination

The two features work even better in sequence:

1. Use Outpainting to get the canvas size right first
2. Use Edit to adjust the content
3. Use Background Remover to finish with a transparent PNG

For example, when making game sprites with characters of varying sizes, use Outpainting to standardize everything to 512×512, then remove backgrounds for clean transparent PNGs.

Tools Used

• XBRUSH Edit (Inpainting) — Replace content inside the image (nano-banana-pro, Seadream 4.5)
• XBRUSH Outpainting — Extend image beyond its edges (Qwen Image Edit)
• XBRUSH Background Remover — Remove background
• XBRUSH Upscale — Enhance resolution