Use the image editor to generate and edit images with Google AI

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Use the Google AI-powered image editor for your Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns to save time and resources while producing high-quality image assets tailored to your business and brand. With the help of Google AI, you can generate new images, replace image backgrounds, auto-enhance images and create all image sizes that you need to reach audiences across Google's advertising channels. Learn more About generative images in Google Ads.

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How to edit and generate an image using AI

Note: For now, generating and editing images with Google AI is available to US users only.

You can access the image editor from the asset library. For your Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns, you can also access the image editor from the media picker when you're choosing images for an asset group.

Open the image editor

Use this method if you want to generate a new image.

An animation showing how to open the image editor in Google Ads.

  1. In your Google Ads account, on the page menu, click Tools icon Tools Icon.
  2. Under "Shared library", select "Asset library".
  3. Click + New, then click or hover over Image.
  4. Click Generate and edit with AI.
  5. You can then decide whether you’ll edit an existing image with AI or generate a new image making either of the following selections:
    • Choose image: Use an existing JPEG or PNG image. You can choose from your asset library or upload an image from your computer.
    • Generate image: Generate a new image from a text prompt, using Google AI.
      1. In the right panel, enter a text prompt describing the image you want.
      2. Click Generate.
      3. You can choose up to 8 images. Click a thumbnail to view a larger version of the image.
      4. Click Generate more to come up with more options. You can also edit the prompt as needed, or add a previous prompt that you've copied into the prompt box by hovering over the text and clicking the paste icon Paste.
      5. Click Select when you're satisfied with the image. You can then make edits to the image if you'd like.

How to edit an image

When you open an image in the editor, it's displayed as a main image and 3 versions in different sizes as additional aspect ratios. Edit the main image, and those edits will be reflected in the other aspect ratios.

A toolbar at the top of the image editor workspace lets you take the following actions when you're editing an image.

Tool Function
Undo
Redo
Revert image
Zoom in
Zoom out

Edit a specific image

An animation showing how to edit a specific image in Google Ads.

You can use this method if you find a specific image that you want to copy and edit, either in the asset library or when selecting images for a Performance Max or Demand Gen asset group. Some media picker tabs may not have this option.

  1. Hover over the image that you want to edit.
  2. Click More 3-dot in the corner of the image, then click Copy and edit with AI.
  • In the media picker for Performance Max and Demand Gen assets, you can also click the edit icon Edit while hovering.
  • While viewing details about an image in the asset library, under "Actions", click Copy and edit with AI.

Your edits will be made to a copy of the image, and the original will be unchanged.

Crop an image

The image editor crops an image to 3 different sizes that match the recommended aspect ratios for landscape, portrait, and square image assets for Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns. Select a thumbnail in the panel to view the cropped version of the image in that aspect ratio. The cropped area of the image will be outlined by a rectangular frame.

You can adjust the cropped area with the following steps:

  • Click and drag the middle of the cropped area to move the entire cropped area.
  • Click and drag the corners of the frame to resize the cropped area. The cropped area will maintain the same aspect ratio.

Remove or restore an image’s aspect ratio

You can remove an aspect ratio you don't want with the following steps.

  1. In the side panel, hover over the thumbnail for the aspect ratio you want to remove.
  2. Click the Remove tooltip that appears in the corner of the thumbnail to remove it.
  3. To restore an aspect ratio you previously removed, click the Add button Add icon for that aspect ratio.

Replace an image’s background

Follow these steps to replace an image's background with a custom scene generated with help from Google AI.

  1. Click Replace background.
  2. If needed, you can adjust the foreground by selecting Remove or Restore and a brush size. Then, manually paint over the parts you want to exclude from or include in the foreground.
  3. Click Next when you're done reviewing the foreground.
  4. Enter a text prompt to generate a new background. Only prompts in English are currently supported. Review the guidelines for writing effective prompts.
  5. Click Generate.
  6. You'll have a choice of up to 4 backgrounds. Click a thumbnail to view your image with the selected background.
  7. Click Generate more again to come up with more options. You can also edit the prompt as needed.
  8. Click Apply when you're satisfied with the image's new background.
Send feedback on a generated background image
You can provide feedback on the generated background.
  1. Hover your cursor over the thumbnail of the background image.
  2. Click More More and then click Provide feedback.
  3. Enter the details of your feedback and click Send feedback.

This form allows you to mention whether you like the image or not. You can also mention why the image isn’t good enough to be added in the campaign. You can also write more about the image at the bottom.

Adjust color

You can improve an image's color and lighting with the Adjust color tool.

Auto enhance

Auto enhance automatically adjusts the brightness, contrast, and saturation of the image. This option will reset any manual adjustments.

Manual adjustment

  • Using the sliders for manual adjustments shows an immediate effect on the preview of the image.
    • Brightness
    • Contrast
    • Saturation
    • Sepia
    • Hue
    • Invert (this is a toggle)
  • Clicking the icon for a manual adjust property (for example the sun icon for Brightness) will reset that specific property.
  • Clicking the “Reset” button at the bottom will undo all manually adjusted properties.

Once all adjustments have been made, click “Apply”.

Remove, add, or replace objects

Follow these steps to remove, add or replace an object in your image with help from Google AI.

To remove an object

  1. In the image editor, click Erase object.
  2. Select the object that you want to remove, using the Rectangle or Brush tool. You can adjust the Brush size using the Brush size slider to make more precise selections.
  3. When you’re done selecting the object, click Erase.
  4. Click Save when you're satisfied with the result.
  5. You can undo the change by using the back arrow.

To add an object

  1. In the image editor, click Add new object.
  2. Select the area in which you want to add an object using the Rectangle or Brush tool. You can adjust the Brush size using the Brush size slider to make more precise selections.
  3. When you’re done selecting the area, click Next.
  4. Enter a text prompt to generate a new object in the area that you've selected. Only prompts in English are currently supported. Review the guidelines for writing effective prompts.
  5. Click Generate.
  6. You'll have a choice of up to 4 versions. Click a thumbnail to view your image with the selected object.
  7. Click Generate more again to come up with more options. You can also edit the prompt as needed.
  8. Click Apply and then Save when you're satisfied with the image.
  9. You can undo the change by using the back arrow.

To replace an object

  1. In the image editor, click Replace object.
  2. Select the object that you want to replace using the Rectangle or Brush tool. You can adjust the Brush size using the Brush size slider to make more precise selections.
  3. When you're done selecting the object, click Next.
  4. Enter a text prompt to generate a different object, replacing the object that you've selected. Only prompts in English are currently supported. Review the guidelines for writing effective prompts.
  5. Click Generate.
  6. You'll have a choice of up to 4 versions. Click a thumbnail to view your image with the new object.
  7. Click Generate more again to come up with more options. You can also edit the prompt as needed.
  8. Click Apply and then Save when you're satisfied with the image.
  9. You can undo the change by using the back arrow.

Expand image

Follow these steps to expand an image with help from Google AI.

  1. In AI image editor, click Expand image.
  2. Select the desired aspect ratio and drag the handles to adjust the width and height.
  3. Click Expand.
  4. Click Save when you're satisfied with the result.

How to save an image to your asset library

When you're done editing an image, you can save it to your asset library with the following steps.

  1. Click Save.
  2. Enter the name you want to use for the edited image.
  3. Select the aspect ratios you want to save.
  4. Click Save.

In Google Ads, only the main image will appear in your asset library. However, any additional aspect ratios you saved will be available in the media selector when you're constructing an ad.


Guidelines for writing effective prompts

Follow these tips for best results when you write your text prompts:

  • Use more than one word. Try to add adjectives or context to nouns.
  • List multiple attributes with commas rather than a descriptive paragraph.
  • Specify any additional objects you want in the image.
  • Include the mood, color scheme, or type of lighting.

Example prompts

  • dinner table with yellow flowers, ambient light
  • in the woods, optimistic, warm color palette, film still, cinematic lighting
  • a solid backdrop with swirling pink satin, studio lighting, HD
  • an outdoor summer scene with brightly colored flowers, sunny day, bright light

Content restrictions

Generative AI tools in Google Ads are designed to automatically limit the creation of certain content. This includes:

If no images were created for a prompt you specified, try to reword it in a way that clearly avoids the content Google Ads isn’t designed to create. Prompts must be specified in English.

Assets created by generative AI aren’t guaranteed to be approved by Ads Policy. For example, sometimes assets are disapproved in combination with other assets, or in line with local regulation.

Review any generated or suggested assets to ensure that they’re accurate, not misleading, and not in violation of any Google advertising policies or applicable laws before you publish them.


Eligibility

Google restricts which advertisers have access to manually prompted image generation. If you don’t have the options to create generated images in Google Ads using your own prompts, check that you are using the Google Ads interface in English and that your account:

  • Is active and has been running ads for at least 30 days
  • Has a history of policy compliance
  • Has not completed Election Advertising Verification
  • Is not advertising in a sensitive vertical (for example, sexual and political ads)

If your account is newer, you may still notice automatically suggested generative images to review when creating certain campaigns even if you can't use your own prompts.

Image generation capabilities are rolling out gradually to eligible advertisers, so these features may not be available to you yet, even if you’re otherwise eligible.


Generative image safety in Google Ads

We’re committed to upholding our principles for developing generative AI technology responsibly and at the highest standards for fairness, privacy, and security. We’re taking multiple steps to be both bold and responsible with helpful generative AI tools in Google Ads.

For example, Google AI is designed to not automatically suggest generative images for sensitive verticals, such as political or pharmaceutical ads. Note that in addition to limiting the use of Google's AI for political campaigns, Google Ads Policy requires disclosure of manipulated media uploaded from any third-party tools for certain political ads.

All advertising content is subject to Ads Policy, regardless of how it’s created, and generative AI content is held to the same set of content standards, reviews, and enforcement for any policy violations, including inappropriate content and misrepresentation.

All images generated by Google Ads include mechanisms that allow them to be identified as generated, such as an open-standard markup that will surface on tools like Google Image Search, as well as a SynthID, which is an imperceptible, digital watermark that is resistant to manipulations of the image, such as screenshots, filters, and compression.

We take privacy and security seriously, and any information you provide to Google to create ads, including generative AI, is treated in line with our Google Ads Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Note that generative AI is an experimental technology, and may display inaccurate or offensive content that doesn’t represent Google’s views. Don’t rely on generative AI features in Google Ads for medical, legal, financial or other professional advice. As this technology evolves, we’re continuously evaluating and improving our approach to safety.

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