How to Use Instagram AI Image Generator

Instagram's AI image generator lets you transform your Stories from simple photos into imaginative scenes with just a few words. This article is your complete guide to using the AI backdrop feature, complete with step-by-step instructions, creative ideas for your brand, and tips for writing prompts that get amazing results. We'll show you exactly how to find the tool, use it effectively, and make your content stand out.

What is the Instagram AI Image Generator?

When people talk about the Instagram AI image generator, they're typically referring to a feature inside Instagram Stories called "backdrop." It's an AI-powered editing tool designed to completely transform the background of your photos. You simply provide a text prompt - like "standing on a rainbow-colored cloud" or "surrounded by adorable Corgi puppies" - and the AI generates a new background to match your description, seamlessly cutting out the subject from your original photo.

Meta, Instagram's parent company, has been rolling this feature out, starting with users in the United States. If you don't see the icon a bit later, don't panic - it might not have reached your account just yet.

Think of it as a super-powered green screen built directly into the app. It's meant to be a fun, fast way to add a layer of creativity to your everyday content. While it's not as complex as dedicated AI art platforms like Midjourney or DALL-E, its strength lies in its simplicity and direct integration into the Instagram workflow you already know.

How to Use the AI "Backdrop" Feature in Stories: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to try it out? Using the AI backdrop tool just takes a couple of taps. Here’s a breakdown of the entire process from start to finish.

Step 1: Open Stories and Add Your Photo

First, open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the plus (+) icon at the top of your screen to access the Stories camera. You can either take a new photo right then and there or swipe up to select an existing picture from your phone's gallery. For the best results, choose a photo with a clear subject (like a person, a pet, or a product) that stands out from the background.

Step 2: Find and Tap the "Backdrop" Icon

With your photo on the screen, look at the row of icons at the very top. You should see an icon of a person in front of a rectangular frame with sparkles. This is the Backdrop tool. Tap it. The first time you use it, you might see a quick intro screen from Instagram explaining what the feature does.

Step 3: Tell the AI What to "Imagine"

Once you tap the icon, Instagram will automatically highlight what it thinks the main subject of your photo is. A text box will appear at the bottom with the prompt, "Imagine..." This is where you bring your idea to life.

Type in a description of the background you want to create. This is your chance to get creative!

• Want to be on top of a mountain? Try: "A breathtaking mountain vista at sunrise"
• Showing off a coffee mug? Try: "On a cozy, rustic wooden table next to a stack of old books"
• Want something totally unique? Try: "In a futuristic city with flying neon cars"

After you type a prompt and tap the button, the AI will get to work. Be patient for a moment as it processes your request.

Pro-Tip: If the AI didn't select the right subject, you can tap "Select" to manually highlight which parts of the image you want to keep in the foreground before generating the background.

Step 4: Review and Choose Your Favorite AI Background

The AI won't just give you one option. Two or three different versions based on your prompt will pop up as little thumbnails. You can tap on each one to preview it in full screen behind your subject. Some might be exactly what you envisioned, while others might be slightly more abstract or stylized.

If you love one of them, you're almost done! If none of them hit the mark, don't worry. You can tap the prompt box at the bottom of the screen again to edit your original text or write a completely new one and generate a fresh batch of options.

Step 5: Finalize and Post Your Story

Once you've selected the perfect AI-generated background, tap "Done" in the top right corner. This merges your subject with the new backdrop. Now, you're back in the regular Stories editor. You can add text, mention other accounts, drop in stickers, or use any of the usual Story tools to put the final touches on your creation. When you’re happy with the result, just share it to your Story as you normally would!

Because the feature is new, Instagram will automatically add a "Try it" sticker to your Story, making it easy for your followers to give the AI generator a spin themselves with their own photos.

Creative Ideas for Using Instagram AI for Your Brand

This tool is more than just a neat trick, it's a powerful way to make professional-looking and engaging content without a big budget or professional editing software. Here’s how your brand can make the most of it.

1. Create Fantastical Product Showcases

You no longer need an expensive photo shoot to make your products look epic. Take a simple, clean photo of your product against a plain wall and use the backdrop tool to place it in any environment imaginable.

• For a skincare brand: Place your moisturizer on a "dewy jungle leaf surrounded by misty fog."
• For a sneaker brand: Have your shoe "splashing into a galaxy of stars and planets."
• For a coffee shop: Showcase your latte "resting on a floating cloud in the sky."

This allows you to create aspirational or surreal visuals that capture the feeling of your brand, not just the physical product.

2. Bring "Behind-the-Scenes" to Life

Show off the human side of your brand with a playful twist. Snap a picture of your team working in the office and use the AI generator to add some fun.

• Transform your Monday morning meeting into a "Starship command bridge on an intergalactic mission."
• Put your founder "on stage accepting a massive gold trophy."
• Show your design team "painting with vibrant neon light streaks."

It's a fantastic way to produce entertaining content that feels authentic and shows your company's personality without being overly polished.

3. Drive Audience Engagement and Interaction

Get your community involved in the content creation process. Use the "Question" or "Quiz" sticker in your Stories to ask your followers for prompt ideas.

For example, you could post a picture of yourself waving and ask: "I'm using Instagram's new AI backdrop tool. Where should I go? Wildest idea wins!" Then, in your subsequent Stories, share the creations based on the best suggestions, giving a shout-out to the people who submitted them. This creates a fun, two-way conversation that makes your audience feel like part of the show.

4. A/B Test Different Visual Moods

Not sure if your brand's aesthetic should be dark and moody or light and airy? The AI backdrop tool is an incredible way to quickly test different visual styles. You can use the same product photo with two distinct prompts:

• Version A Prompt: "In a moody, minimalist studio with dark tones and dramatic shadows."
• Version B Prompt: "In a bright, sunny field of wildflowers with a soft glow."

Post them at different times or use "This or That" Poll stickers to see which style resonates more with your audience. This gives you instant feedback that can inform your broader visual content strategy, saving you time and guesswork in the future.

Tips for Writing Prompts That Work

The quality of your AI-generated background comes down to the quality of your prompt. Here are a few tricks to help you get better and more predictable results.

Keep It Simple but Descriptive

Instagram's AI model isn't built for overly long or complex prompts filled with technical commands like a tool such as Midjourney. Instead of writing "photorealistic shot on 35mm film, volumetric lighting, epic composition, --ar 9:16," you'll get much better results with a simple descriptive phrase.

Focus on a clear setting and a mood. `Adjective + Noun + Style` is a great formula.

Examples:

• Instead of: "Big office"
• Try: "A stylish, modern loft office with huge windows"

• Instead of: "Forest"
• Try: "An enchanted, glowing forest at twilight"

Include an Artistic Style or Material

If you want a more styled look, try adding a medium or artistic vibe to your prompt. The AI understands many different styles and can dramatically alter the feel of the image.

• "background of a watercolor painting of a beach"
• "standing in a classic, black-and-white film noir street"
• "surrounded by a field made of colorful knitted yarn"
• "a pop-art cartoon explosion"

Don't Be Afraid to Re-roll and Tweak

Your first prompt is often just a starting point. If the results aren't quite what you wanted, tap the text box again and tweak your wording. Changing a single word can make a huge difference. If you asked for a "busy street" and it looks too chaotic, try "a quaint European cobblestone street." The process is about quick iteration. Keep trying different phrasing, and you'll quickly get a feel for what works best.

Final Thoughts

Instagram's AI image generator gives you a powerful creative tool packed into a feature that’s both fun and easy to use. By mastering the backdrop tool and learning how to shape your prompts, you can create limitless eye-catching visuals, engage with your followers in playful new ways, and build a stronger brand story without needing a design studio.

Inventive content grabs their attention, but consistency wins them over. At Postbase, we built our whole platform to make that consistency feel effortless, especially for modern content formats like Stories and Reels that legacy tools struggle with. Using our visual calendar, you can plan all your social content in one clean view and rely on our rock-solid scheduling to publish on time, every time, across all your platforms.