Tutorial: Remove Background in Photoshop

Removing background might seem like a tedious task, but it's actually quite simple.

Here's a step by step guide on how to remove backgrounds in Adobe Photoshop — and it's much easier than you might think.

Tutorial: Photoshop Background Removal

This is how you can remove the background in Photoshop automatically.

1. Convert to Layer

First of all, if you've just imported an image in Photoshop this image will be considered a "background" in the application, and you won't be able to edit it. To change this, right click the background layer in your Layers window and click "Layer from Background...". A popup window will ask you for the Layer Name, but anything will do — just click OK and you have an editable layer.

2. Remove Background

Open up the Properties panel (if you don't see it, activate it by going to the Window menu and selecting Properties) and scroll down to the Quick Actions area. Here you'll find two options:

1. Remove Background
2. Select Subject

Both options uses the same algorithm in Photoshop to identify the subject that should be isolated (kept in the image), but their following actions are a bit different; the Remove Background option automatically identifies the subject and removes the background, while the Select Subject option identifies the subject and selects it.

3. Option 1: Remove Background

If you want to automatically remove the background from your subject, the easiest and most straightforward way of doing so is to use the Remove Background option. When finished, your subject will be cut out on an empty layer in front of a transparent background.

4. Option 2: Select Subject

If you want a bit more control and flexibility before the background is removed, you can use the Select Subject option. This means that the subject will only be selected, and you'll have full control of how that selection is used; you may choose to copy the subject to a new layer, or you may want to expand the selection first. Either way, the Select Subject is the option for those who want some additional control.

5. Fine-tuning

Once you have selected one of the options above, you'll have a result that you may or may not be completely happy with. This is normal when it comes to automated functions, as it's pretty much impossible to excel in every aspect; Photoshop will try its best to remove the background, but sometimes the image information might not be sufficient for this to succeed completely.

The best way to fine-tune your result is to use the Eraser tool and carefully removing more of the subject in case Photoshop missed some parts of the background.

You may also come to the conclusion that you want to keep more of the subject; then go back a few steps and use the Select Subject action instead — this allows you to expand the selection manually by selecting the Magic Wand Tool and holding down Shift to expand the current selection. When you're happy with the selection, just copy and paste it to a new layer.

Easier than ever

This automated feature in Photoshop has made it easier than ever to remove backgrouns from photos, even if the photos are filled with different colors in the background. Simply put it's an amazing tool that gives great results in over 90 % of our user cases.

Cheaper than ever

If you don't already use Photoshop, it's also cheaper than ever to get; just subscribe to the lowest tier on the Adobe Creative Cloud and you'll have a legit license of the world's most loved image editing application in no time.