50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop, pt 1
There are probably hundreds of different ways to remove backgrounds in Photoshop, and this guide aims to show you many basic ways to do just that. Get started with the basics here.
Photoshop has so many ways to cut out backgrounds and isolate objects, it sometimes seems like it was the sole purpose the program was created. We’ll attempt to take a crack at as many of those many ways as we can in this multi-part article, detailing 50+ ways backgrounds can be deleted, erased, masked, hidden, and removed. Keep reading!
Unlocking the Background vs Duplicating it
When Photoshop opens an image, it sees it as an unlayered file, and “Locks” the background. Any attempt to erase or delete information will result in dropping back to the “background color” and not to transparancy—what you want when you try to isolate an object, or remove a background.
Double click your Background Layer get the above dialog box and
unlock it. That will transform it to a new layer called “Layer 0.” Many Photoshop purists will wag their fingers at you for using this method, as they insist that you can lose the deleted parts of your image forever. If you choose to use this “unlocking” method, make sure you save a copy of your image file under a different name to avoid overwriting any original versions you may need in the future.
To avoid any of said finger wagging, you can Right-Click on your background layer and pick “Duplicate” to create a perfect copy of your background . You can then click the
in your layers panel to hide the background layer, leaving it hidden away and intact. Either way will allow you to delete parts of your image to transparency. Both methods are about equal if you work carefully—use whichever one suits you best.
The Basics for Removing Objects, Backgrounds
Most of the time, removing a background involves creating a selection that isolates an object, person, or whatever. Once that selection is created, creating a new layer usually involves some form of Copy-Paste. This seems like an excellent place to begin, considering nearly every technique will involve one of these methods or keyboard shortcuts.
Cut, Copy, Paste: Shortcut Key (Ctrl + X, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V)
Your basic cut and copy to clipboard functionality dating back through dozens of years of computer programs. Cut and copy are most obvious way to get your isolated selections into new layers.
Copy Merged: Shortcut Key (Ctrl + Shift + C)
This may look like the
opposite of isolating objects, but it’s useful nonetheless. If you have a huge pile of layers and a selection that goes over several of them,
Copy Merged will combine them into a single layer when you paste.
Paste In Place:
Shortcut Key (Ctrl + Shift + V)
Paste has a bad habit of putting your newly copied information wherever it wants, usually in the center of your artboard. This can be annoying, so use
Paste in Place to paste your new layer directly on top of where you cut it from.
Paste Into:
Shortcut Key (Alt + Ctrl + Shift + V)
If you have a selection, use
Paste Into to have Photoshop automatically create a layer mask, trimming what you paste into your selection.
Paste Outside:
Shortcut Key (None)
The same basic idea as
Paste Into, except in reverse. Paste Outside automatically creates a mask using whatever current selection you have as it pastes the image on your clipboard.
Layer via Copy, Layer via Cut:
Shortcut Key (Ctrl + J, Ctrl + Shift + J)
For Photoshop users that can’t be bothered to press commands for Copy
and Paste, there’s
Layer via Copy and
Layer via Cut. In one quick motion, a Ctrl + J or Ctrl + Shift + J will copy your selection, and do a
Paste in Place, aligning your new layer directly from where you copied it from.
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