How To Expand Your Canvas Size in Adobe Photoshop

Step 1:  Open the image you want to work with.

Choose File>Open, and then pick the file you would like to work with.  In our case, this image is severely cropped. The subject is looking directly into the edge of the image.  It is important to give your subject what is known as "lead room".

Step 2:  Extend The Canvas Size

Choose Image>Canvas Size from the Menu at the top of the screen.

For my purposes, I want to extend my canvas to the right, I click on the left side of the Anchor box to push the canvas extension to the right.  Make sure you click on the opposite of what you want to do.  If you want to extend down, click the top of the box.  If you want to extend left, make sure you click the right side of the box.

I want to change my dimensions to be double the original width.  I multiplied the existing pixels by two, and typed the numbers in the box.  Click Ok, and the canvas will expand.

This is the original size of my image.  It is displayed in inches, but I want to see the dimensions in pixels.

Change your dimensions to pixels by clicking the box to the right of the height and width field and selecting pixels.

Step 3:  Blend The Color Of The New Canvas Size

We need to make a solid color adjustment layer.  In the layers panel, choose the half black, half white, circle.  Then choose Solid Color.  Just choose whatever color comes up and press OK.

The Solid Color layer will cover your image, that's okay.

Click on the layer mask to select it and then press Ctrl (PC) or Command I, this will invert the layer mask and the solid color layer will disappear.

Next, select the brush tool, set the brush hardness to 0%, and then select the solid square to the left of the layer mask.

Double click on the square of color in the new layer you have just created.  Select a color with the color picker that is closest to the edge of the original image.  Next, select the black layer mask, and make sure that you are working with a white brush.  See our tutorial on using layer masks if you aren't sure.  Brush over the area outside your original image making sure that the edge becomes concealed and the image is seamless.

It should look like this when you are finished!

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