Expand Lightroom images on iPad using AI features in Photoshop for iPad

Matt Rae
4 min readDec 20, 2023

With the addition of Generative Expand and Fill in Photoshop for iPad v5.4, it is now possible to integrate these features into your Lightroom editing workflow on Lightroom for iPad.

In this article I’ll showcase how you can achieve this workflow to expand your image bounds, remove objects, and add elements with Generative AI.

Open Lightroom images in Photoshop

Thanks to interoperability between Lightroom and Photoshop on the iPad, it is easy to open images from your Lightroom library in the Photoshop app. To do this, click on the share icon in Lightroom.

Next, click on Edit in Photoshop. The Photoshop app will open, and your image will load.

Tap the share icon in Lightroom, then tap on ‘Edit in Photoshop’ to open your image in Photoshop for iPad

Expand your image with the crop tool

If you have an image you like, but need to adjust the framing of the image by either adding width or height, Generative Expand in Photoshop for iPad can help.

To expand your image, click on the crop tool.

Click on the crop tool to open the crop interface and access Generative Expand in Photoshop for iPad

With the crop tool open, expanding the image is as easy as dragging the boundaries of the image to the desired size you would like, and clicking on the Generative Expand button to the left.

If this is your first time using Generative AI tools in Photoshop for iPad, you will be prompted to accept the terms of use before continuing.

Use generative expand in Photoshop for iPad to adjust the framing of your image.

Once the expand is completed, the crop interface will close, and you can continue editing your image in Photoshop, or send the image back to Lightroom.

Photoshop will generate three variations of the fill, allowing you to select which one fits your need the best. If you’re not happy with the results, tap Generate again to regenerate the fill. For the highest quality results, or if you find the fill isn’t matching the resolution of your image, try expanding the image in smaller increments.

Generative expand creates three variations to choose from. If you’re not happy with the results, click Generate again.

Remove elements with Generative Fill

Not only can Generative AI help you expand your image in Photoshop for iPad, it can also be a helpful tool for a variety of removal tasks.

In this sunset image, there is an object near the horizon line that does not match with the standup paddle-boarders in the water. To remove that, use the Lasso tool to draw a selection around the object.

Use the Lasso tool in Photoshop for iPad to select objects you would like to remove.

With the selection made, tap on Generative Fill in the contextual toolbar. To perform a removal, leave the prompt area blank and tap Generate.

Use Generative Fill to remove selected objects in Photoshop.

Add elements to your image with Generative Fill

In the same way as removing an object, elements can be added to the image using Generative Fill.

In the same sunset image, there is a gap on the right of the sunset causing the image to look unbalanced. Adding a kayak here will help to fill the space.

Just like with removing an object, the Lasso tool can be used to select the area where the kayak should be placed.

Use Lasso to select a space to fill with Generative Fill.

Tapping Generative Fill, and providing a prompt of Sea Kayak will generate a kayak in the selected area.

Use a prompt to populate the selected area with the desired content.

Once again, variations will be provided in Photoshop and can be toggled between to see the different results. Tap the desired variation to select it.

Toggle between variations to achieve the desired results.

Send the completed photo back to Lightroom

Once the desired results have been achieved, the image can be returned to Lightroom to apply final enhancements and refinements. To do so, tap on the Send to Lightroom button in the top left.

Tap Send to Lightroom to send the edited image back to Lightroom.

The image will appear next to the original image and have a Photoshop icon in the top right corner. Tap on this image to continue applying edits and presets within Lightroom.

Tap on the image with the Photoshop icon to continue applying edits.

With final adjustments made, your image is ready to share from Lightroom to your favourite social channels, a shared Lightroom Album, and more.

Easily enhance your photo and apply final touches in Lightroom for iPad.

Try it yourself by downloading Lightroom and Photoshop for iPad today.

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Matt Rae

Senior Product Manager for Community Advocacy at Adobe, thoughts are my own. Photographer, designer, and explorer of the outdoors.