How to remove background from picture in Photoshop

Whether you want to remove background from a logo, portrait, or product photos, Photoshop is the best choice. 

In this post, you’ll find tutorials on how to remove background in Photoshop using:

• Quick Actions Panel
• Magic Wand Tool
• Quick Selection Tool
• Magnetic Lasso Tool
• Pen Tool
• Object Selection Tool
• Background Eraser Tool
• Icons8 Background Remover—a hassle-free option

How to remove the background of a picture using Quick Actions Panel

A new Background Removal Tool in Photoshop enables you to remove a background from an image in one click. It works best with clear subject-background distinctions. 

Let’s see how to quickly remove background in Photoshop in the video tutorial by Design With Dale.

1. Unlock the image in the Layers panel.
2. Go to the Window at the top menu and select Properties.
3. Scroll down to Quick Actions, and click Remove Background.

How to remove the background from image using Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand tool lets you easily remove objects from solid color backgrounds. Let’s see how to remove background in Photoshop using Magic Wand Tool in the video tutorial by Insider Tech.

1. Right-click on your image layer and click Duplicate Layer. Click the eye icon next to a layer to turn the original layer off. You’ll work on the duplicated layer.
2. Select the Magic Wand Tool from the left-hand toolbar.
3. Right-click on the background to select it. To edit a selection, use Add to selection or Subtract from selection options from the top left menu.
4. Go to the Select at the top menu, and click Select and Mask.
5. If Photoshop removed an object instead of the background, go to the Properties menu at the right-hand toolbar, and click Invert.

How to quickly remove background from picture using Quick Selection Tool

Quick Selection Tool excels with images that have complex details. It lets you quickly select the background by dragging the cursor over it. Let’s see how to remove the background of a picture in Photoshop using Quick Selection Tool in the video tutorial by Brendan Williams.

New to Photoshop? Learn selection tools basics here.

1. Select the Quick Selection Tool from the left-hand toolbar.
2. Check Enhance Edge in the top left menu.
3. Click and drag the tool over the subject you want to cut out. To edit a selection, use Add to selection or Subtract from selection options from the top left menu.
4. Go to the Layers menu at the right-hand toolbar, and press Add Layer Mask icon (rectangle with a circle in the middle).

How to remove background from photo using Magnetic Lasso Tool

Magnetic Lasso Tool is a great option for objects with complex edges, as it lets you manually outline an object you want to cut out. Let’s see how to remove the background from image in Photoshop using Magnetic Lasso Tool in the video tutorial by Brendan Williams.

1. Right-click on your image layer and click Duplicate Layer. Click the eye icon next to a layer to turn the original layer off. You’ll work on the duplicated layer.
2. Select the Magnetic Lasso Tool from the left-hand toolbar.
3. Outline your object by clicking along its edges. If you accidentally get out of the edges of your object, click Delete on your keyboard to remove the excess points. Close the path by clicking on the first point.
4. Go to the Layers menu at the right-hand toolbar, and press Add Layer Mask icon (rectangle with a circle in the middle).

How to remove background from an image using Pen Tool

Pen Tool works best only with simple objects. With Pen Tool, you have less control over the accuracy of the selection. Let’s see how to remove background from picture in Photoshop using Pen Tool in the video tutorial by Insider Tech.

New to Photoshop? Learn how to use the Pen tool here.

1. Right-click on your image layer and click Duplicate Layer. Click the eye icon next to a layer to turn the original layer off. You’ll work on the duplicated layer.
2. Select the Pen Tool from the left-hand toolbar.
3. Outline your object by clicking along its edges, and producing straight and curved lines. Close the path by clicking on the first point.
4. Go to the Paths menu at the right-hand toolbar and press the Load path as selection icon (a dashed circle).
5. Go to the Select menu at the top toolbar, and click Select and Mask.

How to remove background from an image using the Object Selection Tool

Object Selection Tool does everything automatically. You just need to make a couple of clicks. Let’s see how to remove background from photo in Photoshop using Object Selection Tool in the video tutorial by Brendan Williams.

New to Photoshop? Learn selection tools basics here.

1. Right-click on your image layer and click Duplicate Layer. Click the eye icon next to a layer to turn the original layer off. You’ll work on the duplicated layer.
2. Select the Object Selection Tool from the left-hand toolbar.
3. Right-click on the object you want to cut out. To edit a selection, use Add to selection or Subtract from selection options from the top left menu.
4. Go to the Layers menu at the right-hand toolbar, and press Add Layer Mask icon (rectangle with a circle in the middle).

How to erase background from an image using Background Eraser Tool

Background Eraser Tool is a one-stop solution for image background removal in Photoshop. You can use it for both simple and complex images. But it requires a learning curve. Check this dedicated article to learn how Background Eraser Tool works.

Let’s see how to remove background from an image in Photoshop using Background Eraser Tool in the video tutorial by Brendan Williams.

1. Select the Background Eraser Tool from the left-hand toolbar.
2. Adjust the brush size, hardness, and tolerance settings. Set Hardness settings to 100%. If your background has many colors, set high Tolerance settings. Otherwise, choose the lower value. Check Protect Foreground Color.
3. Go to the Limits settings at the top toolbar and choose Find edges from the drop-down menu.
4. Click and drag the eraser over the background of the image. It will erase all the image parts with the same color as the pixels from your last click. If you accidentally erased the parts of the object you want to keep, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) / Command+Z (Mac) to undo your last brush stroke, and start erasing again. Continue until the entire background is erased.

How to remove background from an image using Icons8 Background Remover

While the new Background Removal Tool in Photoshop may produce inaccurate results, and mastering other tools can take time, using external tools is a great idea. Go with Icons8 Background Remover. It’s an online tool that delivers precise, pro-looking results in 5–10 seconds. A few clicks and it’s done.

1. Go to the Icons8 Background Remover and upload an image you want to edit.
2. The tool will automatically remove its background.
3. The background is transparent. Download your image.

Now you have many options to get rid of image background: seven Photoshop tools, and Icons8. If you want to become a Photoshop Jedi, go with Photoshop or online Photoshop editor. For a hassle-free way to remove image backgrounds, use Icons8 Background Remover. 

Also, check how to remove background from hair in Photoshop, and learn how to remove white background in Photoshop.