PROMPT GUIDE

How to Use img2img and Inpaint (Fixing Only Part of an Image)

img2img and inpaint are what you use in Stable Diffusion when you want to "fix only the hands" or "change only the outfit color". The most important setting is the denoising strength, which decides how much of the original stays. This guide covers its ranges and the steps for fixing just one part.

Last updated: 2026-10-22 approx. 4 min read

日本語版

The short answer

img2img redraws the whole picture using the original as a base, and inpaint redraws only the area you paint. The key setting is denoising strength: about 0.2 to 0.35 for light cleanup and about 0.4 to 0.55 for fixing hands or faces. Start around 0.4 and adjust up or down.

What is the difference between img2img and inpaint?

img2img redraws the whole picture, and inpaint redraws only the area you paint.

img2img (image to image) redraws the entire picture to match the prompt, using the original as a base. Inpaint redraws only the area you paint (the mask), and it is usually included as one mode of img2img. Use img2img to change the overall mood, and inpaint to fix only part of a picture, such as a hand or face.

Original illustration before img2img: girl in a blazer in a classroom — 直す前の元の絵

img2img outfit change example: same composition with a sailor uniform — 直す前の元の絵

Illustration usage rules

Feature	What it does	Good for
img2img	Redraws the whole picture	Changing the coloring mood, finishing a rough sketch, shifting the color tone
inpaint	Redraws only the painted area	Broken hands, fingers or eyes, outfit colors, adding small items
outpaint	Draws beyond the edges	Widening a portrait into landscape, extending the background

What denoising strength should you use?

Start around 0.4; raise it if nothing changes and lower it if too much changes.

Denoising strength decides how much the original picture changes. Close to 0 keeps it as it is, and close to 1 redraws almost without using the original. It is the number you will adjust most often.

Denoise	How much it changes	When to use
0.2-0.35	Almost unchanged, only details tidy up	Cleaning up lines or coloring a little
0.4-0.55	Shapes stay, rendering changes	Fixing small hand or face problems, changing the coloring
0.6-0.75	Composition stays, contents change a lot	Changing the type of outfit, finishing from a rough sketch
0.8+	Nearly a different picture	Borrowing only the composition

Rinka's tips

Start around 0.4. Raise it if nothing changes and lower it if too much changes
Redrawing at the same size (or the same ratio) as the original keeps shapes from shifting

How do you use img2img? (Redrawing the whole picture)

Load the original and its prompt, change only the words you want to change, and generate at a denoising strength around 0.4.

Load the original picture into the img2img screen
Enter the prompt used to make the original (if you do not have it, describe the picture with tags)
Rewrite only the words for what you want to change (for example the coloring mood, time of day or color tone)
Keep the same ratio as the original, set the denoising strength around 0.4, and generate
If the change is too small, raise it by 0.05 at a time, then pick the picture you like

How do you fix only part of a picture with inpaint?

Paint the part to fix, write only what you want there in the prompt, and generate at 0.4 to 0.6.

Load the original into the inpaint screen and paint over the part to fix (a hand, the eyes, part of the outfit)
Choose the setting that redraws only the masked area (labeled "Only masked" or similar)
In the prompt, write briefly only what you want in the painted area (for a hand: hand, five fingers)
Set the denoising strength to 0.4 to 0.6, make several images and choose the best one
If the join with the surroundings looks unnatural, increase the mask blur or the padding a little

Rinka's tips

Paint a little wider than the part you want to fix. A tight mask makes the seam stand out
Redrawing "only masked" renders that part larger and then puts it back, so small hands and faces are easier to fix cleanly
To change only the outfit color, write only color plus clothing in the prompt (such as red dress)

What if it does not work? (Common mistakes and fixes)

Here are common problems with their causes and fixes. Change only one thing at a time and compare with the same seed, which makes the cause easier to find.

Problem	Common cause	Fix
Nothing changes	Denoising strength is too low	Raise it by 0.1 at a time
It turns into a different picture	Denoising strength is too high	Lower it to around 0.4
The seam around the fix stands out	The mask is too tight or blur is too low	Paint a wider area and raise the mask blur
A tiny person or face appears in the fix	The prompt for the painted area includes character tags	Write only what you want in that area
Shapes stretch vertically or horizontally	The size has a different ratio from the original	Use the same ratio as the original
Colors change across the whole picture	Redrawing everything with img2img	Use inpaint when you only need a part

Copy and paste: example prompts for fixing

With inpaint, the trick is to write only what you want in the painted area. The first example is for a hand, the second for an outfit color, and the third for changing the mood to evening with img2img.

hand, five fingers, detailed fingers, masterpiece, best quality

red dress, masterpiece, best quality

1girl, solo, [tags describing the original], sunset, orange sky, warm lighting, masterpiece, best quality

For compositions and negative prompts that prevent broken hands: How to Fix Bad Hands in AI Art: The Complete Guide →

To find fixes by symptom: AI Art Troubleshooting Guide (Look Up Fixes by Symptom) →

For Hires.fix to enlarge as a finishing step: Hires.fix Settings (Upscale Ratio, Denoising Strength, Upscaler) →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What denoising strength should I use for img2img?

About 0.2 to 0.35 for light cleanup, 0.4 to 0.55 for fixing hands or faces, and 0.6 to 0.75 for bigger changes such as a different outfit. Start around 0.4.

How is inpaint different from img2img?

img2img redraws the whole picture, while inpaint redraws only the area you paint with the brush. Inpaint is better when you want to fix just one part.

The inpainted area looks out of place. What should I do?

Paint a slightly wider area and raise the mask blur. A denoising strength that is too high also makes it stand out, so try lowering it a little.

How do I change only the outfit color?

Paint only the outfit with inpaint, write only color plus clothing in the prompt, and generate at a denoising strength around 0.5.