AI Image Editing & Inpainting

Generating an image is just the beginning. AI-powered editing tools let you modify specific regions, extend canvases, and fix imperfections without starting over. This lesson covers inpainting, outpainting, and editing workflows across platforms.

What Is Inpainting?

Inpainting means replacing or regenerating a specific region of an image while keeping the rest intact. Think of it as AI-powered "painting over" a selected area.

Common uses:

• Fix a hand with too many fingers
• Change a background element
• Remove an unwanted object
• Modify clothing or accessories
• Fix facial expressions

Midjourney Editing: Vary (Region)

Midjourney's Vary (Region) feature lets you select and regenerate specific areas:

How to Use Vary (Region)

1. Generate and upscale an image (U1-U4)
2. Click the Vary (Region) button
3. Use the selection tool to paint over the area you want to change
4. Write a new prompt describing what should appear in that region
5. Midjourney regenerates only the selected area

Best Practices

Tips for clean inpainting:

• Select slightly beyond the edges of what you want to change
• Keep your region prompt consistent with the existing image's style and lighting
• Use simpler prompts for the region — you don't need to re-describe the whole image
• Multiple small edits often work better than one large edit

DALL-E 3 Editing in ChatGPT

DALL-E 3's conversational editing is one of its strongest features:

Natural Language Edits

After generating an image, you can request specific changes:

Selection-Based Editing

In the ChatGPT interface, you can click on an image and use the built-in editor to:

1. Select a region by drawing on the image
2. Describe the change you want in that specific area
3. DALL-E regenerates just that region

This works well for:

• Changing backgrounds
• Modifying specific objects
• Adding or removing elements
• Fixing details

Outpainting: Extending Your Canvas

Outpainting generates new content beyond the original image borders, effectively expanding the scene.

Midjourney Zoom Out

After upscaling, use the Zoom Out buttons:

Button	Effect
Zoom Out 2x	Doubles the canvas, generating surrounding content
Zoom Out 1.5x	Moderate expansion
Custom Zoom	Choose your own zoom level and modify the prompt

Custom Zoom is especially powerful because you can add new prompt instructions:

DALL-E Outpainting

In ChatGPT, describe how you want the image extended:

"Extend this image to the right to reveal a garden path leading to a fountain."

Or use the editor to add transparent areas beyond the current borders and describe what should fill them.

Practical Editing Workflows

Workflow 1: Fix Anatomy Issues

AI sometimes generates extra fingers, distorted limbs, or odd proportions.

1. Generate your base image
2. Identify problem areas (hands are the most common issue)
3. Select just the problem region
4. Prompt with: "correct human hand with five fingers, natural pose"
5. Regenerate until the fix looks natural

Workflow 2: Background Replacement

1. Generate a portrait or subject image
2. Select the entire background region
3. Prompt with your desired new background
4. Adjust lighting terms to match: "matching warm side lighting from the left"

Workflow 3: Iterative Composition Building

Build complex scenes piece by piece:

1. Generate the base scene — landscape or environment
2. Inpaint a foreground subject — select a region and add your subject
3. Add atmospheric details — select the sky or background for clouds, light rays, etc.
4. Final polish — inpaint any remaining imperfections

Workflow 4: Combining AI Tools

For the best results, combine multiple tools:

Step	Tool	Purpose
1	Midjourney	Generate base image (best aesthetics)
2	DALL-E 3	Add text or precise edits
3	Photoshop (Generative Fill)	Fine-tune specific regions
4	Topaz or Magnific	Upscale to final resolution

Key Takeaway

Inpainting and editing transform AI image generation from a one-shot process into an iterative creative workflow. Use Midjourney's Vary (Region) for aesthetic edits, DALL-E 3's conversational editing for precise changes, and outpainting to expand compositions. The best results come from treating AI generation as the first step, not the last.