The ultimate guide for remove background Photoshop 

In the ever-expanding digital landscape, where images and videos dominate, mastering design skills has become essential. Whether you’re a photographer or a social media enthusiast, a common crucial task in your toolkit is remove background. 

In this blog post, let’s delve into the ultimate guide, exploring 7 best ways to remove background in photoshop

How popular is it to remove background in Photoshop?

Removing backgrounds in Photoshop is extremely popular across various industries, including photography, graphic design, e-commerce, and social media. This task is widely used to enhance visual appeal, create consistent product images, and seamlessly integrate subjects into different projects. Special is in e-commerce and design fields, where the need for polished and aesthetically pleasing visuals is paramount.  

Following Statista, Adobe Photoshop is the most popular graphics and photo editing software product in 2023. Adobe’s Efforts make Photoshop accessible to a broad audience. It’s a user-friendly interface design and intuitive tool. Also, Photoshop is suitable for both beginners and professionals because of its Versatility and Multifunctionality. 

How to Remove Background Photoshop

Here are the top 8 ways to remove backgrounds from your photos using Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud and some recommendations when using each tool that helps you quickly remove background in photoshop

How to Remove a Background in Photoshop with Photoshop’s new Remove Tool, powered by AI. 

Explore the upgraded Photoshop in 2023, featuring an AI-powered Remove Tool for effortless image editing. This tool takes a step beyond the Object Selection Tool, specifically focusing on removing backgrounds with ease.

Highly recommended: People looking to remove background tool using just a couple of clicks, the image that does not have too many details

Remove background with AI-powered Remove Tool

Step 1: Select the “Remove Tool” on the tool drawer with the Spot Healing Brush

Step 2: Select “remove background” on a box appears below the image

Step 3: Let Photoshop remove the background for your image

Step 4: To refine the edges, switch between the “Subtract from Mask” and “Add to Mask” options located beneath the image. Use “Subtract from Mask” to eliminate any lingering background. Conversely, employ “Add to Mask” to restore any parts of your subject that might have been unintentionally removed

Remove a Background in Photoshop with the Object Selection Tool

The Quick Selection Tool efficiently detects edges in your image for seamless subject-background separation. Once you’ve painted a selection, this tool effortlessly distinguishes your subject from the background.

Highly recommended: Image with more complex details and high contrast between your subject and background. 

Remove background Photoshop using Object Selection Step by step: 

Step 1: Open your image

Select your image and drag it on the Photoshop icon present on your desktop or go to File> Open and find your photo if you have already opened your image on Photoshop. 

Step 2: Choose the ‘Quick Selection Tool’

Navigate to the tools panel and select the ‘Quick Selection Tool.’ If it’s not immediately visible, check if it’s nested within the ‘Magic Wand Tool.’

Select the ‘Quick Selection Tool’ in Photoshop.

Step 3: Initiate Background Removal Selection

Position the ‘Quick Selection Tool’ over your subject and commence the selection process. As you select, you’ll notice marching ants outlining the chosen area. Carefully work around your subject until you have included everything you intend to keep.

Begin your selection to remove background photoshop.

It’s possible to make inadvertent selections during this process. If that occurs, hold down the ‘Alt’ key (PC) or ‘Option’ key (Mac) to activate the subtraction mode, allowing you to erase from your selection. Finish your selection to remove the background in Photoshop.

Step 4: Transfer Your Selection to a New Layer

Proceed to examine your selection in a new layer. Right-click on your selection and choose ‘Layer Via Copy.’

Place your selection in a new layer in Photoshop.

Step 5: Observe Your Subject in a New Layer

Your subject is now housed in a new layer with a transparent background, preserving the original photo. Disable the visibility of the original photo to reveal your image with the removed background. 

Photoshop removes background with Quick Action

The Quick Action tool is a user-defined operation that enables you to perform a series of actions or advanced functions with a single click, removing background is one of those tasks.

Highly recommended: use with images with high contrast between subject and background, and when the subject has fairly simplistic lines

Read more: How to product photography lighting setup

Remove background from image photoshop with Quick Action

Step 1: Access the Discover Panel

   – Use the search icon at the upper right of the app workspace or press Cmd/Ctrl + F.

   – Alternatively, choose Help > Photoshop Help from the menu bar.

Step 2: Navigate to Quick Actions in the Discover Panel

   – In the Discover panel, go to Browse > Quick Actions.

Step 3: Select “Remove Background”

   – Within Quick Actions, choose the option labeled “Remove Background.”

Step 4: Apply the Changes

   – Click the Apply button to remove the background from your photo.

Step 5: Try on a Different Layer (Optional)

   – If you want to try the action on a different layer, select it in the Layers panel.

   – Click Refresh to apply the action to the selected layer.

Step 6: Undo Changes

   – To revert the applied changes, click the Revert button.

Step 7: Explore More Quick Actions

   – To discover additional quick actions, click Browse more quick actions.

Note: You can also find Quick Actions under the layer Properties panel by selecting the Remove Background button.

Remove background Photoshop with the Background Eraser Tool

The Background Eraser tool works by identifying and erasing similar colors on your background as you paint over them. It’s not the most flexible tool, but it’s a nice, beginner-friendly one. The tool permanently removes the pixels from the layer it paints over when you paint over a photo’s background. 

Highly recommended for: when the background of your image is multicolored or when you want to quickly and easily create cutouts without having to bother with selections or layer masks.

Remove background Photoshop using Background Eraser Tool

Step 1: Select the Background Eraser tool from the toolbar, typically located under the Eraser tool.

Step 2: Paint along the edges of your subject, ensuring the center of the brush is on the color you want to erase. Start around the edges first, especially if dealing with a large background, to expedite the process.

Step 3: Switch to the Eraser tool from the toolbar, set the opacity to 100%, and erase the remaining background areas that are not near the edges.

Step 5: After erasing, add a background color for a quick check. Click the Layer Effects icon, choose Solid Color, and select a color. Place the new color fill layer below Layer 1 to identify areas requiring touch-ups.

Step 6: Continue refining with the Eraser tool, addressing any missed parts in your image. Use the Background Eraser tool to fine-tune areas near the edges of your subject.

Step 7: To save your edited image, go to the menu bar, click File, and choose Save a copy. Save the file as a PNG for transparency preservation. 

Remove background Photoshop with Polygonal Lasso Tool

The Polygonal Lasso Tool is a great option for removing backgrounds in Photoshop when the image has straight edges or sharp corners.  It allows us to draw easily freeform selection outlines based on straight-sided polygonal shapes

Highly recommended for: Image that has a lot of straight edges like building or geometric.  

Quickly remove background photoshop using Polygonal Lasso Tool

Step 1: Pick the Polygonal Lasso Tool to delete a background. Then, in the Options Bar, choose the type of selection you want: create a new one, add to an existing one, subtract from a selection, or intersect with a selection.

Step 2: Place points around the part you want to delete. For instance, if you want to erase the sky in the background, click to set a starting point, then keep clicking to make points around that area. Finally, click on the starting point again to finish and create a selection.

Now, you will have an active selection around the background

Step 3: Reverse the selection and apply it as a layer mask. With Layer Masks, the selected area stays visible, and the rest is hidden. Invert the selection by holding Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) and clicking the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers Panel. This action creates a linked layer mask for the original layer.

Tips for quickly remove background photoshop using Polygonal Lasso Tool

Temporarily Activate The Regular Lasso Tool: Hold Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) then click and drag your cursor to temporarily switch tools.

Add To Selection: Hold Shift and add more points to quickly add to a selection without changing the mode.

How to Remove Background Photoshop Using The Pen tool

The Pen tool is the tool that gives you the most control over your edit, it’s great for precise editing, but takes time and practice. You use it to draw the shape of your subject with points and curves. It’s best for when you want detailed selections or work on images with lots of details or odd shapes. 

Highly recommended: Images that have intricate details or irregular shapes

Remove Background on Photoshop using The Pen tool:

Step 1: Duplicate the Background Layer

   – Open your image in Photoshop.

   – Right-click the Background layer and choose “Duplicate Layer.”

   – In the pop-up box, name your layer and click OK.

   – Turn off the original layer by clicking the eye icon.

Step 2: Select and Use the Pen Tool

   – Select the Pen tool from the left toolbox (above the Text tool).

   – Zoom in to the area you want to start working on.

   – Begin at the edge of your subject or another starting point, clicking to create anchor points.

   – For curved lines, click, hold, and drag to adjust the curve.

Step 3: Fine-Tune with the Direct Selection Tool

   – Use the Direct Selection tool (hidden under the Path Selection tool) to adjust anchor points or directional lines.

Step 4: Save and Complete the Path

   – Once you’re satisfied with the path, go to Window > Paths to reveal the Paths panel.

   – Click the three-bar menu, choose New Path, and name your path.

   – Your path is now saved in the Paths panel.

Step 5: Make selection and Remove background in Photoshop

   – Right-click your path in the Paths panel and select Make Selection.

   – Click OK in the dialog box (leave defaults for now).

   – Go to Select > Inverse to select everything except the subject.

   – Press Delete to auto remove background photoshop

Note: If you need a tool that helps you remove background effortlessly remove.pics is a good choice. 

How to Remove Background in Photoshop Using Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand tool is one of the adobe photoshop remove background that easiest way of creating a transparent background by converting images into layers. 

Highly recommended: intermediate level of using Photoshop and can work with layers

Remove background Photoshop using Magic Wand Tool step-by-step

Step 1: Click on the lock button on the right side of the photo thumbnail to unlock the image.

Step 2: Your background is now Layer 0.

Step 3: Click on the > Selection tool on the left-hand toolbar.

Step 4: Select the > Magic Wand tool. 

Step 5: Click on the photo background. 

Step 6: Delete the background to remove background in photoshop

How to Remove Background in Photoshop Using The Color Range Tool

The Color Range Tool is a selection tool that allows you to select parts of an image based on its color. This makes it easy to select one a specific color and then change its hue, saturation/brightness or remove background color photoshop

High recommended: Images that don’t have too much color

Remove background Photoshop using Color Range Tool

Step 1: Open the Photo
Opening the product photo in Photoshop. Drag the image onto the Photoshop canvas from your folders.

Step 2: Take a Layer Background
After opening the photo, create a background layer for the product in the Layer Panel. Duplicate the background layer (Ctrl+J) to keep the original image non-destructive.

Step 3: Select Color Range
To remove the white background, use the Color Range tool. Choose the new layer and go to Selection > Color Range.

Step 4: Click on White Background
In the Color Range pop-up, click once on the white background. Decrease fuzziness until the object is almost black and the background is white.

Step 5: Press Enter or Click OK
Press Enter or click OK. This selects the white areas within the image.

Step 6: Make Deselection
Deselect any remaining selected parts by using a selection tool and pressing Alt + Left Mouse button. Right-click, choose “Select Inverse,” then “Layer via Copy” to separate the product.

Step 7: Finalize

You now have a new layer with a transparent background. Click on the adjustment layer, choose the solid color option, and fill the background with a clean white color. Your white background is successfully remove background photoshop using the Color Range tool in Photoshop.

Remove background faster and simpler with Removepics 

Remove.pics is a tool that allows everyone to remove 100% of the background automatically in just 1 click in 3 seconds. No matter if your image is simple or complicated, how many colors, etc. In addition the application of AI helps increase the accuracy of removing background because every pixel of the image can be removed.

Highly recommended: everyone needs quick and high-accuracy results without waiting for or installing app

Remove background in remove.pics in just 4 steps

Step 1: Access to remove.pics website and Choose “Background” mode 

Step 2: Click on the “Upload image” button select the image that you want to remove from the background or “Ctrl V” to paste the image

Step 3: Click “Enter” to let the tool automatically scan and remove the background. 

Step 4: Choose “Copy to clipboard” to copy or “Download HD” to save your result. 

Conclusion

In summary, background removal tools are widely used, and the choice of online photoshop remove background tool depends on your skill level, preferences, and specific requirements. Whether you’re a professional designer or someone looking to enhance personal photos, the best way to remove background in photoshop, these tools can help you achieve the desired result.