Expand image function is not working

Hi ​@Rumyana Todorova, 

I understand you’re consistently seeing the “Can’t expand transparent background” error when using the Expand image.

I’ve tried to reproduce this on my end in Figma Design, but the feature is currently working as expected for me.
To help us investigate why this is happening specifically in your case, could you please clarify a few details?

• Just to double-check, do the images you’re trying to expand have any transparent areas?
• Is this happening in the desktop app, a supported browser, or both?
• Is this occurring in one specific file or across all of your files?
• If possible, could you share a screenshot or a short screen recording of the issue?

Once I have these details, I’ll be able to escalate this to our team for a take closer look.

Thank you!

Hi ​@Cassandra Chen — Tom here, stepping in for ​@Junko3 today. Thanks for the screenshot — I can see the error, though I wasn't able to reproduce it on my end.

To help me raise this with the right details, could you let me know:

1. Image placement: Does it make a difference whether the image is added as a frame fill versus a standalone layer like ​@Rumyana Todorova mentioned?
2. Transparency: Do the images you're trying to expand have any transparent areas?
3. Platform and version: Is this happening on the desktop, a supported browser, or both? If you're on the Figma Desktop App, are you running version 126.3.12 or later?
4. Scope: Is this occurring in one specific file, or across all of them?

If none of that narrows it down, we can also take a closer look at the file directly — just let me know and I'll send over steps for sharing access securely. Appreciate you helping us investigate. 🙏🏻

Hello all! 

I have encountered this issue again and really don’t see the logic in it.

When I upload the image or use it as a fill of a frame, it still does not give me the option to use the Expand Image feature.

You can find a screenshot attached with the layer structure and settings I have. There is still no logic to me why it does allow it in some files and not in others.

To answer the comments of both ​@Junko3 and ​@Tom Reem:

• Just to double-check, do the images you’re trying to expand have any transparent areas?
  No, the image is fully filled and I do use it as a fill in both ways - through uploading it directly to Figma as a layer (without Auto layout) and as a Fill to a layer or frame (could be with or without Auto layout,
   
• Is this happening in the desktop app, a supported browser, or both?
  The error is occurring in both the Desktop app and browser.
   
• Is this occurring in one specific file or across all of your files?
  It happens most often in one file but I have encountered it before in others as well. 
   
• If possible, could you share a screenshot or a short screen recording of the issue?
  Yep, it is attached.

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1. Image placement: Does it make a difference whether the image is added as a frame fill versus a standalone layer?
   Not on my side.
    
2. Transparency: Do the images you're trying to expand have any transparent areas?
   Nope, absolutely none.
    
3. Platform and version: Is this happening on the desktop, a supported browser, or both? If you're on the Figma Desktop App, are you running version 126.3.12 or later?
   Happens to me on both environments. I am running version 126.3.12
    
4. Scope: Is this occurring in one specific file, or across all of them?
   Mostly in one but it has appeared in others too.

--------------------------------------------------------------

One last note: There is no difference in the behavior when there is an image or fill colour below the image.

Please let me know if there is a solution for this now or in the near future.

Thank you for your help so far. Have a lovely day!
 

Hi ​@Rumyana Todorova,

 
Thank you for the additional information!
From the screenshot, it looks like the image has Auto layout and a Linear gradient applied to the fill. I tested a similar setup on my end, but the Expand background feature worked as expected for me.
This may need further investigation specific to your file setup, so I'll go ahead and create a support ticket on your behalf to escalate this issue.
Once you receive the ticket confirmation email, please reply with:

• A direct URL to the file
• Share view access to the file with support-share@figma.com (our official Support account — you won't be billed for this access)

This information will help our team take a closer look at your specific file setup and reproduce the issue to investigate further.

Thanks!

Never works for me as well, the AI tools on Figma are mediocre and constantly fail, do not waste time with them

I am getting something similar and really not sure why. This is the first time I’ve ever encountered this issue. My error is a bit different, it’s saying “blocked” which tells me it thinks the image might violate terms however it’s just me at a fair lol

Hey Sky, Celine from  the Figma Community Support team here.
Thanks for chiming in. The "Blocked – try different input" message usually means that the prompt might be violating Figma's usage terms. Since you mentioned it's just a photo of yourself at a fair, that doesn't sound like what you'd expect.

As a first step, I'd recommend trying again with a slightly different prompt or image to see if the behavior changes.

If you're still seeing the same error, please submit a bug report. Go to the Support Hub / Type “Report a bug” / Click Start a chat / Select Enter and follow the prompts.

It would be really helpful if you could include:

• The prompt you used.
• The image you uploaded (if you're comfortable sharing it).
• A screenshot or screen recording of the error.
• Any additional context about what you're trying to generate.

That'll help our team better understand why the request was blocked and investigate whether something unexpected is happening. Thanks!

Hey Celine, thanks for the response.

I’m using the out of the box expand feature from Figma, so there is no prompt necessary. I tried it on a different photo, still with a person in it (expanding an image of a carpenter making a table) and it worked fine. I just encountered it again, however, on a completely different photo for the same project. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason for the error.

I’ll log a bug report. Thanks!

Hey ​@Sky Hartman 👋 Let me know once your ticket is filed and I’ll keep an eye on it. — Jaycee

Ticket is filed!

Thank you! I can see in the backend that your support ticket has been escalated to our Technical Quality team, thank you for your patience.