Quick Tip: How To Extend Your Background In Adobe Photoshop

In this very short and simple video, photographer Terry White shares a really simple way to extend the background in your portrait to change the aspect ratio to square (1:1) making it easy to post on Instagram.

Instagram requires a 1:1 ratio images – most DSLRs shoot 3:2 images so you will need to either crop or extend your image to fit (this is true in many other cases that has nothing to do with posting images to social networks). This quick video will guide you on how to do this in a few simple clicks.

Its important to keep in mind that this technique will only work with a background that is simple (repeatable) otherwise you will see ugly stretch marks. Another option is to mark the new area and use content aware fill (this can sometimes give better results.

If you are a more advanced user make sure to check some of our other many other Photoshop video tutorials on LensVid’s Photoshop section.

Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.