How to Edit with Meta AI on Instagram

Forget downloading another editing app - Instagram is rolling out powerful new creative tools right inside its platform, powered by Meta AI. These new features let you completely change your image’s background or apply an entirely new artistic style with just a few words. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find and use Meta’s AI editing tools, with actionable steps and creative ideas for making your content stand out.

What Are Meta AI Editing Tools on Instagram?

Meta AI on Instagram refers to a suite of generative AI-powered editing features built directly into the post creation process. Instead of just adding a filter or adjusting brightness, these tools use artificial intelligence to understand your photo and fundamentally alter it based on text prompts you provide. This means you can create scenes that were never physically captured, turning a simple photo into a unique piece of visual content.

Currently, the main AI features being tested and rolled out to users in the US are:

• Backdrop: This tool intelligently separates the main subject of your photo from its background, allowing you to replace the original background with an AI-generated scene. You just describe the new background you want, and the AI creates it for you.
• Restyle: This feature reimagines the entire aesthetic of your photo. You can prompt it to convert your image into a "watercolor painting," make it look like "a collage of ripped magazines," or apply any other creative style you can think of.

These tools represent a major shift in mobile photo editing, giving creators the ability to execute complex creative concepts without needing advanced software like Photoshop. Keep in mind, these features are still in their early phases and are being gradually released, so they may not be available on your account just yet. If you don't see them, check back periodically as the rollout expands.

How to Access the AI Editing Tools: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding the Meta AI editor is straightforward once you know where to look. It’s located in the same place you've always gone to edit your photos, but with a new icon you'll need to spot.

Step 1: Start a New Post

Open your Instagram app and tap the plus icon ("+") at the bottom of the screen to start creating a new post. Select "Post" from the options.

Step 2: Choose Your Photo

Select a photo from your phone’s gallery that you want to edit. For the best results with AI, choose an image with a clear, well-defined subject. Photos with good lighting and a distinct foreground and background work best. Once you've chosen your photo, tap "Next."

Step 3: Find the AI Edit Button

You’ll now be on the standard editing screen where you normally apply filters and make adjustments. Look for a new icon at the top left of your image. It typically looks like a rectangle with stars or sparkles on it. Tap this icon to open the Meta AI editing interface. If you don't see this icon, the feature may not have rolled out to your account yet.

Mastering Backdrop: The AI Background Changer

The Backdrop tool is perfect for saving a great photo with a distracting or boring background. Whether your room was too messy for that product shot or the scenery behind your selfie was just uninspired, Backdrop lets you swap it out for something amazing.

How to Use Backdrop:

1. After tapping the AI Edit button, you'll be prompted to choose a feature. Tap on "Backdrop."
2. Meta AI will automatically detect and select what it believes is the main subject in your photo. You can usually refine this selection if needed.
3. A text box will appear at the bottom where you can type a prompt describing the background you want. Be descriptive! Instead of just "in a forest," try something like "in an enchanted forest at twilight with glowing mushrooms."
4. Tap "Generate." Instagram will give you a few different background options based on your prompt. Swipe through them and pick the one you like best.
5. If none of the options work, you can hit the "Back" arrow and tweak your prompt for different results. Once you’re happy, tap "Done" to apply the new background.

Tips for Writing Great Backdrop Prompts

The quality of your result depends almost entirely on the quality of your prompt. Here’s how to get better results:

• Be Specific: Name the objects, colors, and textures you want to see. "Standing on a cobblestone street in Paris" is better than "on a street."
• Set the Atmosphere: Use descriptive adjectives to influence the mood. Words like "dramatic," "serene," "vibrant," or "haunting" can make a big difference.
• Reference a Style: You can dictate the artistic style of the background. Try prompts like "surrounded by a Japanese watercolor-style garden" or "in front of a gritty, cyberpunk cityscape."

Example Scenarios for Backdrop:

For a Fashion Creator: Take a photo of an outfit against a plain wall, then use Backdrop to place yourself in a "futuristic neon-lit alleyway" or on a "sun-drenched beach in Greece."

For a Food Blogger: Your delicious homemade cake deserves better than your cluttered kitchen counter. Use Backdrop to place it on a "rustic farmhouse table with scattered flower petals" or a "sleek, minimalist marble countertop."

For a Pet Account: Transform a simple photo of your dog in the living room into a hilarious anachronism by prompting "chased by dinosaurs through a prehistoric jungle."

Unlocking Creativity with Restyle

Restyle takes things a step further by altering the artistic DNA of your entire image. It's less about changing the scene and more about changing the *style* of the scene itself. This is your chance to turn ordinary photos into works of art that stop the scroll.

How to Use Restyle:

1. After tapping the AI Edit button on your photo, select "Restyle."
2. Just like with Backdrop, a text box will appear. Here, you describe the artistic style you want to apply to the image.
3. You can get creative with prompts ranging from art movements to specific materials. For example, you could type "impressionist oil painting" or "made out of clay."
4. Tap "Generate" and Instagram will provide a few styled options for you to choose from.

Creative Prompt Ideas for Restyle:

Don't be afraid to experiment with wild ideas. Here are a few to get you thinking:

• Art Movements: "Surrealist painting," "Pop art comic book style," "Art Deco poster," "Cubism."
• Materials &, Textures: "Knitted from colorful wool," "Carved from wood," "collage made from newspapers and ripped paper," "Sketch in colored pencil."
• Thematic Styles: "Vintage 1950s sci-fi movie poster," "Holographic and futuristic," "Faded and antique photograph," "Gothic architecture sketch."

Example Scenarios for Restyle:

For a Brand: Turn your latest product photo into a "detailed architectural blueprint drawing" to highlight its design or an "ethereal watercolor piece" for a softer, more artistic campaign.

For an Artist: Apply a "stained glass window" effect to a self-portrait or restyle a landscape photo as if it were "painted on the side of a crumbling brick building."

For Everyday Fun: Restyle a picture of your cat into a "regal oil painting of a king," or turn a group photo with friends into a page from an "action comic book."

Best Practices and Current Limitations

Meta AI is a powerful tool, but it's not magic. Following a few best practices will help you get the most out of it while avoiding common pitfalls.

The Dos:

• Start with a Good Photo: The AI works far better with clear, high-resolution images. Good lighting and a distinct subject are the foundation of a great AI-assisted edit.
• Embrace Experimentation: The most interesting results often come from the weirdest prompts. Think outside the box and try combining different styles and ideas.
• Be Transparent with Your Audience: People are generally excited about AI-generated visuals, but they also value authenticity. Instagram automatically adds a "Made with AI" label to images that use these tools, but you can also embrace it in your caption or with a hashtag like #MetaAI.
• Use It to Enhance Your Brand: Think about how these styles can fit into your overall grid aesthetic. Could you create a recurring series of "watercolor" posts or use stylized backdrops to make your campaign creative more cohesive?

The Don'ts:

• Rely on it for Every Post: Overusing AI can make your feed feel impersonal or inauthentic. Mix these stylized shots with your regular, unedited content.
• Expect Flawless Results Every Time: Generative AI is still evolving. You may encounter glitches, like weird-looking hands, strange textures, or results that completely miss the mark. Don't get frustrated, just re-roll or adjust your prompt.
• Mislead Your Audience: Avoid using Backdrop to misrepresent a product or create a false depiction of your experiences (e.g., claiming you visited a place when you only used an AI backdrop). Honesty builds trust.

Final Thoughts

Meta AI's editing tools on Instagram give you a powerful new suite of creative options directly in the app. By mastering the art of the perfect prompt for both Backdrop and Restyle, you can fix difficult backgrounds, explore new aesthetics, and generate visuals that capture attention without ever leaving Instagram.

Once you’ve crafted that perfectly edited image, the next step is getting it in front of your audience at the right time. At Postbase, our goal is to streamline that entire process. We built a visual content calendar so you can plan your posts, then schedule your new AI-enhanced creation across Instagram, TikTok, and all your other platforms at once. Since we designed Postbase specifically for a modern, video-first world, you can rely on it to handle your Reels and visually-driven content smoothly, letting you spend more time creating and less time juggling different apps.