This wikiHow teaches you how to turn a white background transparent in Microsoft Paint. If you are using Windows 10, your computer comes with the latest version of MS Paint (known as Paint 3D) which allows you to remove the background with just a few clicks. If you are using an older version of Windows, you cannot save an image with a transparent background in Paint. However, you can cut out the subject of the image and paste it onto a different background.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Paint 3D
Step 1. Open Paint 3D
Windows 10 comes with the latest version of MS Paint called MS Paint 3D. You can find it in the “Start” menu or by typing “Paint 3D” into the Windows search bar.
You can use this method for any solid colored background
Step 2. Click Open
This option is the second box on the left side of the program's startup page.
Step 3. Click Browse files
It's at the top of the right pane.
Step 4. Select the desired file and click Open
The image will be opened and ready to be edited.
Step 5. Click the Canvas tab
This tab is indicated by a hashtag icon in the toolbar at the top of the program window.
Step 6. Slide the “Transparent canvas” switch to the active position or “On”
This switch is in the right pane, under the " Canvas " segment. The background color will be removed, but at this stage you may not notice the difference.
Step 7. Uncheck the "Resize image with canvas" option
It's in the middle of the right pane.
Step 8. Drag the corners of the canvas until the image fits inside
You can drag the small squares in each corner of the canvas inward until they are close to the part of the image you want to save.
Step 9. Click Magic select
It's in the light gray section of the toolbar, in the upper-left side of the screen. The icon looks like the outline of a human looking into its shadow. The "Magic select" panel will expand to the right side.
Step 10. Click Next
This option is in the right pane.
Step 11. Uncheck the "Autofill background" option
This option is in the right pane.
Step 12. Click Done
The selected portion of the image will be cut from the background and placed on the new cross section background (which is also white).
Step 13. Click the Canvas tab again
This hashtag symbol is in the bar at the top of the program window.
Step 14. Slide "Show canvas" switch to "Off" position
It's at the top of the right pane. Now, you will only see the cropped part of the image, on a gray background.
Step 15. Click the Menu button
It's a folder icon in the upper-left corner of the Paint 3D window.
Step 16. Click Save As
It's in the middle of the menu.
Step 17. Click Image
This option is marked with a box with a mountain photo icon.
Step 18. Check the box next to the text " Transparency"
This box is in the right pane. The background of the image will be changed to a chessboard pattern indicating transparency. The pattern will not be saved with the subject or image.
Step 19. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
Step 20. Enter a file name and click Save
The cropped portion of the image will be saved, complete with a transparent background.
Method 2 of 2: Using MS Paint
Step 1. Open Paint
Type "paint" into the Windows search bar and click Paint in the search results to quickly open the program.
- If the computer is running Windows 10, follow the Paint 3D method.
- You cannot change white background to transparent in MS Paint. However, this method will teach you how to cut out the part of the image you want to save and paste it onto another background.
Step 2. Click the File menu
It's in the upper-left corner of the Paint window.
Step 3. Click Open
Step 4. Select the desired image and click Open
Make sure you choose an image with a white background.
Step 5. Click Color 2
It's in the toolbar at the top of the screen, to the right of the color palette.
Step 6. Click the eyedropper icon
It's in the toolbar at the top of the screen (in the "Tools" panel).
Step 7. Click an empty area on a white background
The background color is now shown in the " Color 2 " box.
Although the box already displays white (according to the background color), this step is actually a precautionary measure if at any time the background of the image has a gray tone or other color
Step 8. Click the down arrow
under the Select option.
It's in the toolbar at the top of the Paint window. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Click on Transparent selection
This option is at the bottom of the menu. A tick will appear next to the option to indicate that the option has been selected. The “Transparent Select” tool ignores the white background when you copy an image in Paint and pastes it into another image to use as a new background.
The “Transparent Select” tool ignores the white background when you copy an image in Paint and pastes it into another image to use as a new background
Step 10. Click the down arrow again
under the Select option.
The menu will open again.
Step 11. Click Rectangular selection
It's at the top of the menu. With this tool, you can create a grid frame next to the subject of the photo to select it.
Step 12. Select the part of the image you want to save
Click and drag the cursor around the entire subject, then release the mouse button. A selection box with a dotted frame will appear around the selected area.
All subjects that do not match the color in the " Color 2 " box in the selection will be saved. If the background is not plain white (e.g. there are shadows or objects in the background that do not need to be saved), select “ Freeform selection ” so you can manually select the part of the image you want to save.
Step 13. Click Copy
It's in the upper-left corner of the Paint window, in the "Clipboard" pane. The selected portion of the image will be copied.
Step 14. Create or open a new file
Once the selected section is copied, you can open the image where you want to paste the selected subject. You will be prompted to save or undo changes to the previously copied image before opening a new file.
- Click the menu " File ” in the upper-right corner of the Paint window.
- Click " New ” to create a new file, or select “ Open ” to open a different image.
Step 15. Click Paste
It's in the upper-left corner of the Paint window. The subject or part of the previously copied image will be pasted into the new image.
- Click and drag the selected part to move it.
- There may still be a bit of white on the sides of the pasted image. Keep reading this article to find out how to get rid of it.
Step 16. Click Color 1
It's next to the color palette, at the top of the screen.
Step 17. Click the eyedropper (eyedropper) option on the toolbar
Step 18. Click the background color next to the white corners
If there is any remaining white in the corner of the pasted image, click the background color next to the corner to select a new background color. That way, you can mask the white areas to match the new background color.
Step 19. Click the brush option (paintbrush)
This paintbrush icon is to the right of the " Tools " panel, at the top of the Paint window.
You can click the down arrow under brush options to select a different brush type
Step 20. Coat the white corners
Use the brush to coat the remaining white corners around the part of the image you pasted on.
- Zoom in on the image and try not to color or overlay the main image.
- If the new background doesn't have a single solid color, you may need to use the eyedropper option several times.
- Click the drop-down menu under the option “ Size ” to change the brush size. Use a large brush to overlay the large white corners, then enlarge the image and switch to a smaller brush for greater precision.
- Look for the white part that was not copied by the “Transparent Select” tool in the image. Use a brush to recolor the parts.
- If you accidentally color or overlay a part of the image you shouldn't, press Ctrl+Z to undo the action.
