How to Remove a Background with Adobe Illustrator

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-31 09:30

To be able to change the background of an image using Adobe Illustrator, you need to use the Pen tool or the Magic Wand to outline the foreground object. After that, right-click the image and select “Make Clipping Mask”. From here, you can "remove" an image's background and use the image for your website or other creative project. Learn how to use Adobe Illustrator's tools to remove backgrounds from photos and logos, clear backgrounds, and how to save fresh images. made.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Using the Pen Tool

Step 1. Open the image in Adobe Illustrator

Step 2. Press the Z button to activate the Zoom tool

To be able to remove the background of an image, you need to create an accurate outline around the part of the photo that will be the foreground. Use the Zoom tool so you can outline the shape as accurately as possible.

If the drawing you're working on is fairly simple, such as a single shape or outline, use the Magic Wand tool

Step 3. Press Cmd+Space. button (Mac) or Ctrl+Space (PC) to enlarge the image.

Step 4. Press the P button to select the Pen tool

This tool allows you to select objects by creating outlines through a series of clicks. Each click will leave one “anchor point” (anchor point). Every time a new anchor point is added, a line will appear connecting the new anchor point with the previous one.

You can also select this tool by clicking the pen icon in the toolbar

Step 5. Click once again on the foreground edge to leave the first anchor point

Your goal is to surround the foreground object (which will be separated from the background) with an outline through these anchor points.

Step 6. Click around the edges of the object to outline the shape until you return to the first anchor point

Leave the anchor point as close to the object's edge as possible; Illustrator will do its best to correct your clicks to make them more accurate.

You can press the Space key to move the off-screen image so that it can be viewed. This step will help if you've enlarged the image enough that you can't see the entire image. The cursor will turn into a small hand and can be used to move the image in any direction. Use this tool to show areas so they can be seen without breaking the outline of your Pen tool

Step 7. Click your first anchor point (again) to complete the outline

This object is now surrounded by a dotted outline.

Step 8. Click the Select tool to show all objects

The part of the image that is outlined is now considered a self-contained object. The newly selected object and its background will now be surrounded by a selection outline (usually a blue outline).

Step 9. Click the foreground object once, then hold down Shift while clicking the background

This step will select both objects at once.

Step 10. Right-click (or press Ctrl+click) the foreground object, then select “Make Clipping Mask”

Your background will be white. Now, you can only see foreground objects outlined by the Pen tool.

The white background color will make it easier for you to change the background

Step 11. Remove the white background by making it transparent

If you only want to save the image without a background, press the Y key to switch the “Magic Wand” tool, then click the white background. Now press the Del key.

Step 12. Save the image as an. EPS file for use in any page layout or design software

The. EPS format is used in almost all graphics and word processing programs. Click “File”, then “Save As”, and then select “Illustrator EPS (*. EPS)” from the File Format drop-down menu. Type in a name for your file, then click “Save.”

Backgrounds made transparent will not change once saved in this format

Step 13. Save the image as a-p.webp" />

• Click “File,” then “Save for web.” Select “PNG-24” from the dialog box that appears, then check the box next to “Transparency” if you have a transparent background. Click “Save”, select a save location, then click “Save” again.
• For small files with little color, you can select “.gif” instead of “.png-24” from the menu. Images saved in this format will load faster on the web, although sometimes the sharpness is not the same.

Method 2 of 2: Using the Magic Wand. Tool

Step 1. Determine if the “Magic Wand” tool can be used for your drawing

The Magic Wand tool uses a color and stroke width to outline a selection with one click. This method is most effective for images where the background is in sharp contrast to the object.

• For example, if the image is a black star shape on a checkerboard background, you can use the Magic Wand tool to remove the background.
• If your image has multiple colors, such as a photo, use the Pen tool.

Step 2. Double-click the Magic Wand tool in the left toolbar to bring up the Magic Wand panel

This tool is in the form of a stick with fireworks at the end. This is the panel where you specify the image area to be selected when clicking the Magic Wand on an object.

Step 3. Select " Fill Color " if the object you want to separate is a solid color

Select this option, then click the object with the Magic Wand tool to select all the colors in the image that are the same color as the one you clicked.

• For example, if you click the Magic Wand on a purple triangle on a pink background, all purple colors will be selected.
• In addition, if there is more than one object in the image that is the same color, all the same colors in the image will be selected.

Step 4. Select " Stroke Color " if the object you want to select is surrounded by a line with a certain color

Stroke Colors refer to the color of the line that surrounds the object, while Fill Color is the area within the outline. If you use Stroke Color as a parameter, click on the line surrounding the object to define that color, and not the area within it.

• For example, if you want to remove the background from a red circle that has a blue outline, use “Stroke Color” so that the blue outline is included in your selection.
• If you click the Magic Wand tool on a certain line color while activating this parameter, all objects of the same color as that line will be selected.

Step 5. Enter a number in pixels (0-255 for RGB colors, 0-100 for CMYK) in the “tolerance” box if you selected “Fill Color” or “Stroke Color” as parameters

The tolerance number affects how flexible (or tolerant) the tool is in matching all colors to the area where you are using the Magic Wand tool.

• The default is 32px, which means when you click on a color, all the same colors in the image, as well as variations of that color within the 32px range will be selected.
• If the object has a gradient, you can increase the tolerance for the additional selected color.
• For most objects, having a start will suffice.

Step 6. Select “Stroke Weight” to select lines of all colors that have the same weight

This tool will select all lines that have the same thickness as the selected line.

Step 7. Enter a number between 0-1000 (pixels) in the “tolerance” box if you selected “Stroke Weight” as the parameter

A lower number indicates a more accurate match. This means that if you click on a 10px line with a tolerance of 0, the tool will only click on a line that is exactly 10px long.

The default setting is 5px, which isn't specific enough for thin lines. If it turns out that this initial option selects more lines than you thought, change the tolerance to 0

Step 8. Click the object on the image that you want to save

Click once on an object in the foreground to select it based on the criteria specified in the Magic Wand setting. Once clicked, a dotted outline will appear around the selection.

If the selected area doesn't work as expected, press Cmd+⇧ Shift+A (Mac) or Ctrl+⇧ Shift+A (Windows) to deselect. After that, return to the Magic Wand panel to adjust the parameters and try again

Step 9. Press Shift key and click the background

This action will select both the foreground and background objects.

Step 10. Right-click (or press Ctrl+click) the foreground image, then select “Make Clipping Mask”

This will immediately remove the background and leave the foreground image as well as a white background.

Step 11. Remove the background by making it transparent

Press the Y key to select the Magic Wand tool (this time, you don't need to bring up the panel), click the white background once, and press the Del key.

Step 12. Save the image as an. EPS file for use in any page layout or design software

The. EPS format is used in almost all graphics and word processing programs. Click “File”, then “Save As”, and then select “Illustrator EPS (*. EPS)” from the File Format drop-down menu. Type in a name for your file, then click “Save.”

Step 13. Save the image as a-g.webp" />

• Click “File,” and “Save for web”. Select “GIF” as the preset, and tick the “transparency” box if your background is transparent. Click “Save,” enter a file name and image location, then click “Save” again.
• If the image has more colors than the maximum GIF capacity (256), for example from a photo, choose “PNG-24” instead of GIF. Your image will be saved as a-p.webp" />