This wikiHow teaches you how to change the background color in a new or existing Adobe Photoshop file.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Changing the Background Color of a New File
Step 1. Open Adobe Photoshop
This application is marked by a blue icon containing the letters PS ”.
Step 2. Click File
It's in the far-left corner of the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Click New…
It's at the top of the drop-down menu that appears.
Step 4. Click the "Background Contents" drop-down menu: It's in the middle of the dialog box.
Step 5. Select the desired background color
You can choose one of the following options:
- “ Transparent ”: The file has no background color at all.
- “ White ”: The file will have a white background color.
- “ Background Color ”: The file will have a background color that you can choose from the available options.
Step 6. Name the file
Enter a name in the “Name:” field at the top of the dialog box.
Step 7. Click the OK button
It's in the upper-right corner of the dialog box.
Method 2 of 4: Changing the Background Color on the Background Layer (“Background”)
Step 1. Open Adobe Photoshop
This application is marked by a blue icon containing the letters PS ”.
Step 2. Open the image you want to edit
To open it, press the key combination CTRL+O (Windows) or +O (Mac), select the image file you want to open, then click the “ Open ” in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
Step 3. Click Windows
It's in the menu bar that appears at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Click Layers
The " Layers " menu window will appear in the lower right corner of the Photoshop window.
Step 5. Click Layers
It's on the left side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Click New Fill Layer
It's at the top of the menu.
Step 7. Click Solid Color…
Step 8. Click the drop-down menu Color: ".
Step 9. Click the desired color
You can choose the color you want to use as the background color.
Step 10. Click the OK button
Step 11. Refine the color selection
Use the color picker to adjust the colors to your liking.
Step 12. Click OK
Step 13. Click and hold the new layer
You can do this in the " Layers " window in the lower right corner of the Photoshop window.
Step 14. Drag the new layer so that it is slightly above the “Background” layer, then release
If the new layer has not been clicked or marked, click the layer first
Step 15. Click Layers
It's on the left side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 16. Scroll down and click Merge Down
This option is at the bottom of the “Layer” menu.
Now, the “Background” layer will display the background color you selected
Method 3 of 4: Changing the Background Color in a Photoshop Workspace
Step 1. Open Adobe Photoshop
This application is marked by a blue icon containing the letters PS ”.
Step 2. Open the image you want to edit
To open it, press the key combination CTRL+O (Windows) or +O (Mac), select the image file you want to open, then click the “ Open ” in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
Step 3. Right-click (Windows) or press Control key + left-click (Mac) the workspace in the Photoshop window
The workspace is the dark border that surrounds the image in the Photoshop window.
You may need to zoom out to see the workspace. To zoom out, click CTRL+ - (Windows) or ⌘ + - (Mac).
Step 4. Select the desired color
If the available color options are not what you want, click the option Select Custom Color ”, then select the preferred color and click “ OK ”.
Method 4 of 4: Changing the Background Color of the Image
Step 1. Open Adobe Photoshop
This application is marked by a blue icon containing the letters PS ”.
Step 2. Open the image you want to edit
To open it, press the key combination CTRL+O (Windows) or +O (Mac), select the image file you want to open, then click the “ Open ” in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
Step 3. Click the quick selection tool (“Quick Selection Tool”)
This tool is marked with a paintbrush icon with a dotted line that forms a circle at the end. It's at the top of the tools menu.
If you see a tool that looks like a magic wand, click and hold it for a moment. When the click is released, a drop-down menu with a selection of available tools will be displayed. On the menu, select the "Quick Selection Tool"
Step 4. Place the cursor over the main object of the image
Click and drag that part of the main object.
- If the object has a lot of detail, click and drag small parts of the object instead of moving the object as a whole.
- Once you have selected the main object of the image, click the bottom of the selected object and drag further to multiply the selection.
- Continue the process until there is a dotted line at the end or side of the main object of the image.
- If the selector has marked an area outside the main object, click the “Subtract from Selection” brush in the upper-left corner of the Photoshop window. The icon looks like the “Quick Selection Tool” icon, but has a minus sign (-) next to it.
Step 5. Click Refine Edge
It's at the top of the Photoshop window.
Step 6. Mark the “Smart Radius” selection
It's in the " Edge Detection " section of the dialog box.
Step 7. Adjust the radius slider to the left or right
Pay attention to the appearance of the effect in the image.
After the corners of the image are refined and as desired, click " OK ”.
Step 8. Right click or press Control key + click background image
After that, a pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Click Select Inverse
It's at the top of the menu.
Step 10. Click Layers
It's on the left side of the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 11. Click New Fill Layer
It's at the top of the menu.
Step 12. Click Solid Color…
Step 13. Click the drop-down menu Color: ".
Step 14. Click the desired color
Select the color you want to set as the background color.
Step 15. Click OK
Step 16. Refine the color selection
Use the color picker tool to adjust the colors to your liking.
Step 17. Click OK
After that, the background of the image will be filled with the color you chose.
