One of the most useful techniques to learn in Photoshop is removing the background of an image. This allows you to paste your subject in any image you want, without the hassle of blending out the background, or messing with a large white canvas. There are several ways to remove the background of an image, depending on the complexity of the image. This article teaches you how to remove a background using Photoshop Elements.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Simple Background Erase
Step 1. Open an image with a plain background
This method works only on images with a plain color background, or close to a plain color. Follow these steps to open an image in Photoshop:
- Click File (file)
- Click Open (open).
- Select the image with the background you want to remove.
- Click Open.
Step 2. Open the background layer
You can do this via the Layers panel. Usually, this panel is on the right side. Most unedited images only have one layer named “Background” (background). If you don't see it, click Windows (window) followed Layers. Follow these steps to create a layer from the background:
- Go to the Layers window.
- Right click the background layer.
- choose Layers From Background….
- Select an option in the preset and press OK.
Step 3. Select the Magic Eraser tool
To select Magic Eraser, click Eraser in the toolbar on the left, then click the Magic Eraser icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4. Set the Magic Eraser setting
After selecting Magic Eraser, you will see the settings in the top menu bar in the top left corner. Set the following settings:
- Set the Tolerance to 20-30. A low tolerance number will keep parts of the original image from being erased when using the tool. If the Magic Eraser erases too many subjects, lower the tolerance. If the tool doesn't remove enough background, increase the tolerance. Perform the following steps to adjust the Magic Eraser settings.
- Check the Anti-aliased box.
- Check the Contiguous (adjacent) box.
- Set the Opacity to 100%.
Step 5. Click the background
The magic Eraser tool will erase all the clicked color, turn it into a transparent background.
If Magic Eraser erases parts you don't want to erase, press Ctrl + Z or Command + Z to undo the last action. You can undo multiple steps using the History panel on the right. If you don't find the History pane, click Windows in the menu bar at the top and select History.
Step 6. Erase the rest of the background
If the background consists of one plain color, you can remove it with one click. If the background is made up of multiple colors, you can click on multiple areas of the background to remove them all. If there is any part of the background around the edges of the subject, you can use the regular eraser tool to carefully remove the remaining edges of the background with a one-click technique.
- Click the circle icon (brush) in the upper left corner to display the brush menu (brush). Choose one of the solid circle brushes. If you want to smooth out the edges of your shape, lower the Hardness level by about 10%.
- Press [ or ] to adjust the brush size.
Step 7. Save the image
Now you have an object with a transparent background that can be overwritten into another existing image. You need to save the image in a format that supports transparent images. Follow these steps to save the image:
- Click File
- Click Save as (save as).
- Enter a name for the next file File Name (filename).
- Select PNG, GIF, or PSD in the drop-down menu next to "Format".
- Click Save
Method 2 of 3: Removing Complicated Backgrounds
Step 1. Open Photoshop Elements
The program has a black icon with an image resembling a camera shutter in the middle. Click the Photoshop Elements icon to open this program.
Step 2. Open the image with the background you want to remove
This method works well with images that have complex backgrounds. Follow these steps to open an image in Photoshop:
- Click File
- Click Open.
- Select the background image you want to remove.
- Click Open.
Step 3. Select the Background Eraser tool
To select the Background Eraser tool, click the icon that resembles an eraser in the toolbar on the left. Then, click the Background Eraser tool at the bottom of the screen.
Step 4. Set the brush options
You can adjust the brush settings in the top left corner of Photoshop. Follow the steps below:
- Click the circle icon (brush) in the upper left corner to display the brush menu. Choose one of the solid circle brushes.
- Set the Hardness number to 100% so that the edges of the brush erase as much as the center.
- Set the diameter to a size that matches the image you have.
Step 5. Set Limits to Contiguous
This will remove the selected color in the circle, but only if the colors touch each other. This helps you don't erase the color in the subject of the photo so only the background is erased.
If you have parts of the image where the background is within the subject (such as strands of hair that appear see-through), use the Dis contiguous option to remove the background from within isolated sections
Step 6. Set the Tolerance to a low number
A low Tolerance number limits the erasing of areas that are very similar to the sample color. A high tolerance number will erase a wider range of colors. Set your tolerance to something between 20-30. If the Background Eraser partially erases the subject, lower the tolerance. If the tolerance is not enough to remove the background, increase the tolerance.
Step 7. Move the cursor near the edge of the subject
You will see a circle with a small “+” sign in the middle. This “+” sign indicates a “hotspot” and removes the clicked color whenever it appears within the brush circle. This will also extract the color at the edges of the foreground object so that the color halo is not visible if the foreground object is then pasted onto another image.
Step 8. Click around the edges of the subject
Use the one-click technique when you erase around the edges of the subject.
Use the one-click technique near the edges of the subject in the photo
Step 9. Check your progress
When you click and drag the image, you will see a checkerboard pattern in the deleted area. This checkerboard represents the transparent part.
Step 10. Increase the size of the eraser brush and erase the background
You can use a background eraser, or a regular eraser. After cleaning the background around the edges of the subject, you can increase the brush size and click and drag to broadly sweep and erase the rest of the background.
- You can press [ or ] to adjust the brush size while working.
- Press Ctrl + Z or Command + Z to undo all the mistakes made. You can also open the History panel on the right and go back a few steps. If you don't find the History pane, click Windows in the menu bar at the top and select History.
Step 11. Erase all the remaining background around the edges
If there is no background left around the edges of the subject, you can reduce the size of the eraser brush and remove the remaining background around the edges using the one-click technique using the regular Eraser tool.
Step 12. Save the image
Now you have an object with a transparent background that can be overwritten on any existing image. You need to save the image to a format that supports transparent images. Follow these steps to save the image:
- Click File
- Click Save as.
- Enter the file name in the box next to the text File Name.
- Select PNG, GIF, or PSD in the drop-down menu next to "Format".
- Click Save
Method 3 of 3: Using the Polygonal Lasso Tool
Step 1. Open Photoshop Elements
The program has a black icon with an image similar to a camera shutter in the middle. Click the Photoshop Elements icon to open this program.
Step 2. Open the image with the background you want to remove
This method allows you to separate the subject from the image without actually removing the background.
- Click File
- Click Open.
- Select the image with the background you want to remove.
- Click Open.
Step 3. Select the Polygonal Lasso tool
The Polygonal Lasso tool (polygon lasso) has an icon that resembles an angled lasso shape. To access this tool, click Lasso in the toolbar on the left. Then, click the Polygonal Lasso tool at the bottom.
Step 4. Align the gray lines along the edges of the subject and click
This step sets the gray line and generates a new point with a new line connected to the mouse cursor.
Step 5. Trace the shape of the subject using the Polygonal Lasso tool
Trace along the edges of the subject and click to create an outline around the subject. The curved area needs to be clicked more to get the shape right. Straight lines don't need to be clicked much. Take your time and make sure the gray line around the subject is as accurate as possible.
Otherwise, you can try using the Magnetic Lasso tool in the Lasso Tool menu. This option has an icon similar to the Polygonal Lasso tool, but added a magnet. This Magnetic Lasso tool will try to detect the edges of the subject when it is traced around the subject. This step can save you time, but is not as accurate as the Polygonal Lasso tool
Step 6. Click the starting point of your outline
When you are finished tracing the outline of the subject using the Polygonal Lasso tool, click the starting point of the outline to make a selection of the subject. Once the selection has been made, you will see a gray line similar to a moving dotted line.
Step 7. Add or subtract the outline area of your shape
After you make a selection, add or subtract the selection area. This step is useful if there is a part of the subject that you forgot to trace, or if you select a part that should not be included. Follow these steps to increase or decrease your selection in the image:
-
Add (add):
Select the Polygonal Lasso tool. Then, click the icon that resembles two squares joined together at the bottom of the screen. Then, use the Polygonal Lasso tool to trace the area you want to add to the selection.
-
Subtract (reduce):
Select the Polygonal Lasso tool. Then, click the icon that resembles two squares that are slightly stacked on top of each other at the bottom of the screen. Then, use the Polygonal Lasso tool to trace the portion of the selection that you want to remove.
Step 8. Copy and paste the created selection
You can copy and paste the selection onto a new layer, or into another image. Follow these steps to copy and paste the selection.
- Click Edit in the menu bar at the top.
- Click Copy (copy).
- Click Edit.
- Click Paste (paste).
Step 9. Turn off the background layer
To turn off the image's background layer, click the eyeball-like icon next to the background layer in the Layers panel on the right. This step disables the background layer and removes the background..
Step 10. Save the image
Now you have an object with a transparent background that you can override any other image. You need to save the image in a format that supports transparent images. Follow these steps to save the image:
- Click File
- Click Save as.
- Enter the file name in the box File Name.
- Select PNG, GIF, or PSD in the drop-down menu next to "Format".
- Click Save
Tips
The magic wand tool works best when the background is a single color and there are dissimilar outlines around the image
Warning
- All your work will be undone if the image is saved as a JPEG file.
- The magic wand tool can erase parts of an image if they match the background.
