What is an outpainting API?

An outpainting API is a web service that extends images beyond their original borders using AI. You send a source image plus expansion parameters (directional or target aspect ratio), and the API generates new content that seamlessly continues the scene — matching lighting, perspective, texture, and style. Used by ad platforms, ecommerce brands, social tools, and AI image platforms to adapt imagery across formats without reshooting.

How does AI outpainting work?

The API analyzes the source image's content, style, and context, then generates plausible content in the expansion regions. The new content isn't a crop-fill or mirror — it's inferred from the scene. Edges blend invisibly with the original, and the generated regions respect the scene's lighting direction, depth, and perspective so the result looks like a wider capture of the same moment.

Can I expand in just one direction?

Yes. Expand any combination — top, bottom, left, right, or all sides. Specify exact pixel amounts per direction, or provide a target aspect ratio and the API calculates the expansion required on each side to preserve the subject.

Can I convert between aspect ratios?

Yes. Portrait to landscape, square to widescreen (16:9), widescreen to tall (9:16), or any custom ratio. Ideal for adapting one asset across platforms — a hero shot becomes a square Instagram post, a widescreen display banner, and a tall Stories format from the same source.

How large an expansion can I request?

The output is capped at 4096x4096 pixels. Within that bound, you can request any expansion — but quality depends on the ratio. Moderate expansions (up to ~2× the original dimension in any direction) produce the best results because the model has enough surrounding context to infer from. For larger expansions (3×+), consider running multiple API calls in stages — expanding in smaller steps tends to produce cleaner results than a single large jump.

Does the generated content match the original?

Yes. The expansion regions match the original's style, lighting, texture, and context for a seamless result. There are no visible seams, color mismatches, or obvious artifacts. The result looks like a wider capture of the same scene, not a collage.

Does the original image stay pixel-identical in the output?

Yes. The API only generates new content in the expansion regions — not over the original pixels. A narrow blending zone at the original border (a few pixels) ensures a seamless transition with no visible seam, but the core of your source image stays identical to what you sent. Critical for product photography and editorial work where original subject fidelity matters.

What happens if the expansion produces artifacts or looks weird?

Large expansions or unusual scenes (repetitive patterns, heavy texture, low-context backgrounds) can occasionally produce artifacts — duplicated elements, style drift, or hallucinated content. If the result isn't acceptable, re-run with smaller expansion steps (expanding in stages often produces better results than one large jump), a different target ratio, or a cleaner source crop. For best results, use outpainting for moderate expansions; larger jumps may need multiple API calls.

Do I need rights to the image I'm extending?

Yes. You need rights to the source image — your own photography, licensed stock, or images you have permission to modify. The generated expansion content is derivative of your source (the AI uses your image's style, color palette, and context to produce the extension), so usage rights follow the source image you provided. For commercial use, prefer your own photography or properly licensed stock.

How much does the outpainting API cost?

$0.55 per image with simple fixed pricing. Sign up and get $10 in free GPU credits to try it out. Contact us for volume pricing on bulk workloads.

Can I process images in bulk?

Yes. Batch endpoints with async webhook delivery. Process thousands of images per job with different expansion parameters per image — ideal for multi-format campaign rollouts, catalog adaptation, and aspect-ratio normalization across entire image libraries.

How fast is the outpainting API?

Typical response times are under 5 seconds for standard resolution images. Built for production workloads with consistent latency at scale.

What image formats are supported?

JPEG, PNG, and WebP. Output format depends on the solution.

Typical response times are under 5 seconds for standard resolution images.

How does pricing work?

Simple fixed per-call pricing. No GPU costs, no infrastructure to maintain.

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Ad CreativeProduct Imagery

One source image, every format

Outpainting API

Extend images beyond their original borders. Convert aspect ratios, adapt across platforms, and create wider compositions from any source image with one API call.

Get API access

Start with $10 in free GPU credits on signup — no commitment

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Rated 5/5 by early access developers

BetterPic·Read case study

BetterPic uses Runflow’s Outpainting API to deliver AI headshots across every aspect ratio — profile square, LinkedIn banner, widescreen hero — from a single generation.

Try it yourself

Input

image_url *

Your request will cost $0.55

Output

Example output

<5s

Average processing time

$0.55

Per image, fixed pricing

4096px

Max output resolution

Any direction

Expand top, bottom, left, right

How it works

No pipeline to build, no models to configure.

Send image + expansion params

Pull your source image and specify expansion — directional (e.g. '200px top, 300px right') or target aspect ratio (square, 16:9, 9:16, custom).

AI extends the scene seamlessly

Runflow's pipeline generates context-aware content that continues the scene — matching lighting, perspective, texture, and style beyond the original borders.

Get your expanded image

Receive the expanded image in under 5 seconds. Re-run with different params to generate multiple formats from one source — each call is $0.55/image.

Expand images in any direction

Extend an image beyond its original borders — top, bottom, left, right, or all sides. Specify exact pixel amounts per direction, or pass a target aspect ratio and let the API calculate the expansion. The AI generates context-aware content that seamlessly continues the scene.

Expand any direction or all sides at once

Directional params or target aspect ratio both supported

Seamless continuation — no visible seams or artifacts

Aspect ratio conversion, without cropping

Convert portrait to landscape, square to widescreen, widescreen to tall — any source ratio to any target ratio. Your subject stays centered and the AI fills the extended regions with appropriate content for the new canvas.

Portrait → landscape, square → widescreen, any custom ratio

Subject stays centered — no jarring crops

Content adapts naturally to the new canvas

Adapt one source across every platform

One hero shot becomes a square Instagram post, a widescreen display banner, and a tall Stories format. Multi-format campaigns from a single image — ship faster, spend less on assets.

One source image → every platform format

Meta, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter — all formats supported

Consistent brand across every surface, zero reshooting

Built for production scale

Process thousands of images per job with different expansion parameters per image. Perfect for multi-format campaign rollouts, catalog adaptation, aspect-ratio normalization, and post-processing AI-generated content across formats.

Batch processing with async webhook delivery

Different expansion params per image in a single job

JPEG, PNG, and WebP input/output up to 4096x4096px

Outpainting for every content format

From ad campaigns to editorial spreads. One image, every platform and canvas.

Ad Agencies & Campaign Teams

Adapt hero shots across every ad format — square for Instagram, widescreen for display, tall for Stories. One source, every placement. Think: Meta Ads, Google Shopping, TikTok Ads.

Ecommerce Brands & DTC

Expand tight product shots into hero banners and lifestyle frames. Create Amazon A+ content, Shopify homepage heroes, and PDP imagery from a single catalog photo. Think: Shopify Plus, Amazon A+, BigCommerce.

Social Media & Creator Tools

Power aspect-ratio conversion features in your creator product. Let users ship once, publish everywhere — portrait for Stories, landscape for feed, square for profile. Think: Canva, Later, Buffer, Unfold.

Real Estate & Architecture

Expand interior and exterior shots to show more of the space. Turn a standard shot into an immersive wide-angle view for listings and marketing. Think: Zillow, Airbnb, Compass, Redfin.

Publishing & Editorial

Adapt editorial imagery to full-page spreads, hero banners, or any format without cropping subjects. One photoshoot, every layout. Think: magazines, content sites, brand editorial teams.

AI Image Platforms

Post-process AI-generated outputs to any target aspect ratio. Deliver headshots, avatars, or generated art across every surface your users care about. Think: BetterPic, HeadshotPro, AI avatar platforms.

“

Outpainting is how we deliver one headshot across every format our users need. A portrait shot works for a profile photo, but LinkedIn banners and website heroes need landscape or widescreen — we extend the backdrop through Outpainting so the subject stays centered and the scene looks intentional. One generation, multiple delivered formats, no jarring crops.

Thibaut Hennau

CEO, BetterPic

Simple, per-image pricing

One price per expansion. No GPU fees, no infrastructure to manage.

$0.55/image

Fixed pricing for outpainting.

One API call per expansion. Re-run with different params to generate multiple formats from one source — no setup fees, no surcharges.

$10 in free GPU credits on signup

Directional expansion or target aspect ratio

Seamless scene continuation with matched lighting

Up to 4096x4096px output resolution

Batch processing with async webhooks

Under 5 seconds processing time

Get API access

Build vs. buy

Build your own

Weeks to ship

Generative model + aspect-ratio math + edge blending + batching

Runflow API

$0.55/image

One API call, production-ready, under 5 seconds

Processing large volumes?Contact for volume pricing

Your data stays yours

Images are processed in isolated environments with automatic cleanup. Zero data retention by default.

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GDPR

SOC 2 Type II compliant.

AES-256 encryptionIsolated processingEU data residency available

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Frequently asked questions

One source image. Every format your platform needs.

One API call. $0.55/image. Extend any scene to any aspect ratio. Start with $10 in free GPU credits on signup.

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