How to Remove Background in Adobe Photoshop

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool for photo editing and graphic design. One of the most common tasks using Photoshop is removing the background from an image. This can be useful for various purposes such as creating thumbnails, product showcases, and more. In this guide, we will go deep into the steps, tools, and techniques used to efficiently remove backgrounds in Adobe Photoshop. It will be broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow.

Background removal tools

Adobe Photoshop offers many tools and techniques for background removal. The most suitable tool depends on the complexity of the image and the result you want. Some of the main tools are as follows:

• Magic Wand Tool: The simplest tool, great for removing solid backgrounds.
• Quick Selection Tool: Quickly selects sections of similar tone and color.
• Pen Tool: Best for precise selections and works well for objects with sharp edges.
• Background Eraser Tool: Useful for directly erasing complex backgrounds.
• Layer Mask: Allows non-destructive editing of selections.

Step-by-step guide to background removal

To remove background in Adobe Photoshop, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your image

Start by opening your image in Photoshop. You can do this by clicking File and then clicking Open, and finding your file from the directory.

Step 2: Choose the right device

Depending on the kind of image you are working with, you will need to choose the right tool for the selection. For simple backgrounds, the Magic Wand Tool may be sufficient. For more detailed work, you may prefer to use the Pen Tool.

Step 3: Using the Magic Wand Tool

To use the Magic Wand tool:

• Select the Magic Wand Tool from the toolbar. It may be grouped with the Quick Selection Tool.
• Click the background area you want to remove. Adjust the Tolerance in the Options bar to refine your selection.
• If necessary, hold down the Shift key to add more area to your selection.

Step 4: Using the Quick Selection Tool

The Quick Selection tool is ideal for selecting parts of an image based on color and texture. How to use it:

• Select the Quick Selection Tool from the toolbar.
• Drag the tool over the areas you want to select. It will intelligently select similar adjacent areas.
• You can subtract areas from the selection by holding down the ALT key while dragging.

Step 5: Using the Pen Tool

The Pen tool offers the most control for precise selections:

• Select the Pen Tool from the toolbar.
• Click to create anchor points around the object. Curved lines can be created by holding and dragging the points to adjust the curve.
• Once done, right-click and choose Make Selection. This loads the path as a selection.

Step 6: Refining the edge

Once you've made the basic selections, it's time to refine the edges. This ensures that the cut-out looks clean and natural:

• Go to Select and choose Select and Mask.
• Use the Refine Edge Brush tool on the toolbar to paint along the edges, improving the selection on areas such as hair or fur.
• Adjust the sliders under Edge Detection and Global Refinements according to your image's needs.

Step 7: Creating the layer mask

After refining your selection, it's worth using a layer mask for a non-destructive approach:

• Keeping your selection active, click the Add Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. This hides the background and reveals only the selection.
• Adjust the mask by painting on it with black or white to hide or reveal parts of it.

Tips for better background removal

Background removal can be tricky, especially for detailed images. Here are some tips to improve your results:

• Zoom in: Zoom in to work closely on edges and ensure an accurate selection.
• Use a tablet: A graphics tablet can allow for more precise control than a mouse.
• Color range: For more control, try using Selection > Color Range to select areas based on color.
• Feathering: Apply a slight feather to soften the edges of your selection, creating a more natural blend.
• Double-check the mask: Before finalizing, double-check the edges by enabling a contrasting background color to clearly see imperfections.

Save your work

Once you're satisfied with the background removal, save your work. If you plan to use the image on different backgrounds, save it in a format that supports transparency, such as PNG.

• Go to File and select Save As.
• Change the file type to PNG or the format of your choice.
• Make sure alpha transparency is maintained to protect the work.

Conclusion

Removing a background in Adobe Photoshop can seem like a daunting task, but with practice and an understanding of the tools available, it becomes easy to achieve professional-looking results. Whether you're removing a simple solid background or working on a complex background with intricate edges, Photoshop gives you the ability to do so with precision and flexibility.

As you become more familiar with each tool and technique, you'll discover which method works best for you for different types of images. Practicing these steps and continually refining your approach will allow you to master background removal in Photoshop.

Remember, practice makes perfect. As you practice these techniques on different images, you will develop a workflow that will allow you to remove backgrounds more efficiently and effectively each time.

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