How to Take Away the Background of a Picture

Your perfect photo, cropped and ready to shine except for that pesky background! Get rid of unwanted clutter and take away the background of any picture, one click at a time.

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take away the background of a picture
CapCut
CapCut2024-03-06
0 min(s)

Stuck with pesky picture backgrounds? Taking away the background of a picture can feel like a technical nightmare. But worry not! This guide offers a user-friendly roadmap, regardless of your image format, be it JPEG, PNG, SVG, or TIFF. Say goodbye to background woes and hello to creative freedom!

Table of content

The best tool to take away a picture background: CapCut cutout

CapCut cutout is a free tool that removes photo backgrounds in a single click. You don't need to be a tech wizard to use it, and it's great for personal and business projects.

Key features of CapCut cutout:

  • Instant object recognition: CapCut cutout quickly identifies the central subject of your photo and keeps it intact while removing everything else.
  • Smart color picker: CapCut cutout allows you to pick the background color from a palette or image and customize your image backdrop with the chosen color instantly.
  • Auto removal: CapCut's auto-removal feature kicks in when you upload your photo. You don't need to click or tap anything; the background is instantly removed, leaving only your subject.
  • Format flexibility: No matter the format of your photo, from the common JPEG to an animated GIF, CapCut can handle it.
  • Background customization: With just one click or tap, you can choose a new background image, select a color for the background, or even blur the background.

CapCut cutout gives you access to all these features without spending a dime, and you can take away the background of a picture. Plus, your photos come out clean, with no watermarks.

Ready to dive in? Signing up is easy. You can use your Google, TikTok, or Facebook account or just a simple email. Already using CapCut on your mobile? Even better. Just link your CapCut mobile account with CapCut online, and you're good to go.

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How to take away the background of a picture with CapCut cutout:

    Step
  1. Upload
  2. First, upload your image. You can do this by dragging the picture into the editing interface. Or, you can pick a picture from your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, or CapCut's Space if you've saved pictures there before.
  3. 
    Upload image
  4. If you're new, CapCut cutout has some example pictures you can try out.
  5. Step
  6. Remove & change the background
  7. As soon as you upload the photo/video, the "auto removal" feature automatically dismisses the background.
  8. 
     Auto removal of background in CapCut
  9. You can use the "See original" feature to check what your picture looked like before you took the background out.
  10. 
    Original image
  11. Once the background is gone, you can put a new one in. You can pick a color from the choices or use another image you like.
  12. 
    Add image to background
  13. You can also use the smart color picker to choose a new color for your background. It's a feature that lets you pick from different shades that will look good with your image. Just click on the color you want, and it'll change the background to that color. This makes your image pop just the way you want it.
  14. 
    Change background
  15. Step
  16. Export

When you're done, you can save your picture. You have two file types to choose from: PNG or JPEG. You can also pick the size of your picture, from small (360p) to big (2k).


Export options

If you want to put a different picture in place of the one you're working on, you can use the "Replace" button. This lets you swap the current image with a new one without starting over. Just click "Replace," and you can choose a new image from your device or your CapCut space, Google Drive, or Dropbox. It's super easy to switch pictures!


click "Replace"

How to take away the image background from PNG

A PNG format is mostly used for logos, illustrations, and graphics for websites or presentations. With CapCut cutout, you can easily strip away the background to make your PNGs pop on any backdrop you choose.


A general image of lipstick in PNG format
    Step
  1. Upload
  2. First, you need to get your PNG image into CapCut cutout. You can send it from your computer or pull it from your Google Drive or Dropbox. Already a CapCut mobile user? Even better. Fetch directly from CapCut's Space.
  3. Step
  4. Remove & change the Background
  5. As soon as you upload the image, the ‘auto removal’ feature is turned on automatically.
  6. 
    Image in PNG Format
  7. Once the background is removed, you can choose a new color or another image to go behind your picture.
  8. 
    Background removed
  9. Step
  10. Export

Last, save your new image. You can pick PNG to keep the background clear or JPEG if you add a new background.


Export image in 2k resolution

How to take away the image background from GIF

GIFs are those little animated videos or clips. If you wish to make a goofy GIF or maybe remove the background from the current one, CapCut cutout supports this format and can easily remove the background. Here are the steps:

    Step
  1. Upload
  2. To start with your GIF, upload it into CapCut cutout the same way you would with a PNG format. Use your computer, drag-and-drop, CapCut's cloud storage, or get it from Google Drive or Dropbox.
  3. Step
  4. Remove & Change the Background
  5. Just like with a PNG, CapCut cutout’s auto removal feature jumps into action and takes away the background automatically. Then, add any color you like or a different video or picture in the back to make your GIF stand out.
  6. Step
  7. Export

When your GIF looks good, save it in your desired resolution and format.


Auto removal working for GIF format

How to take away the image background from SVG

SVG stands for Scalable Vector Graphics. It is a type of image file that uses vectors, which means it is made up of lines and shapes rather than pixels. Removing the background from an SVG image can transform its versatility and application, especially in design projects.

To seamlessly execute the background removal from an SVG file, you can use Photopea. This free online tool offers photo editing features for different file formats within your web browser. You can begin right away by navigating to the Photopea website.

Here's a streamlined guide to take away the background of a picture using Photopea:

In Photopea, there are two ways to take the background out: the quick background removal method and the manual background removal technique.

Quick background removal

This method offers a fast and efficient way to clear the background from SVG images.

    Step
  1. Upload
  2. Click ‘Open from Computer’ or drag your SVG file right into the Photopea workspace to upload your image.
  3. 
    Photopea interface
  4. For this tutorial, we have converted the general image into SVG format.
  5. 
    Upload photo from computer
  6. Step
  7. Remove BG

After you have uploaded the photo, go to ‘Select’ and then click on ‘Remove BG.’


Remove BG

It will instantly remove the background of your image.


Background removed

Manual background removal

For instances where precision is key, or the automatic tools can't accurately discern the background, the manual removal process allows for detailed adjustments.

    Step
  1. Magic Wand Tool
  2. Choose the ‘Magic Wand’ tool from the toolbar. This tool is designed to select areas of similar color.
  3. 
    “W = Magic Wand” option
  4. Step
  5. Adjust settings
  6. Set ‘Tolerance’ to around 70 on the top settings bar. If it’s not right, tweak this number. Ensure ‘Anti-alias’ and ‘Contiguous’ are selected to ensure the edges are neat and only the connected areas of the same color are chosen.
  7. Step
  8. Select the background

Photopea lets you pick parts of your photo to work with. You'll see a dotted line showing what you've chosen.


Dotted lines

Click on the part of the background you wish to get rid of. If it misses bits, hold ‘Shift’ and click to select those parts.

After highlighting your background, go to the ‘Select’ menu and choose ‘Inverse.’ It will switch the selection to your main image.


Select and Inverse

In the Layers panel on the right, hit ‘Add Raster Mask’ to erase the background.


Final result

If it's not perfect, adjust the Tolerance or use the Shift click to improve your selection before applying the raster mask. Adjust as needed because every SVG file is unique and may require tweaking to get the selection just right.

For both methods, export options remain the same. You can save your photo as a PNG file to keep the transparent parts. Click "File," then "Export As," and choose "PNG." Click "Save."


Save your work

How to take away the image background from PDF

PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It's a way to save files so they look the same on all devices. It's great for documents, forms, and images you want to share or print without messing up their layout.

Steps to remove background from PDF in Photopea:

    Step
  1. Open Photopea
  2. First, go to Photopea.com on your internet browser. It's free and doesn't require any downloads or installations.
  3. Step
  4. Upload PDF
  5. Once you're in Photopea, click on 'Open from computer' or simply drag and drop your PDF file into the workspace. We'll focus on removing the background within this PDF.
  6. 
    PDF format for Photopea
  7. Your PDF might have more than one picture. Click on the one you want to remove the background from.
  8. 
    Page 2 selected
  9. We're working on the second picture. Over on the right, you can see which page of the PDF you're on.
  10. 
    Fast fix, Select, Remove BG
  11. For a fast fix, click 'Select' and then 'Remove BG.' Just like that, the background is gone!
  12. 
    Select, Remova BG
  13. Use the ‘Magic Wand’ option for more control. Click on the fourth picture. Up top, change 'Tolerance' to about 68. Make sure you check 'Anti-alias' and 'Contiguous' to make the edges clean, and pick only the parts that are touching and the same color.
  14. 
    Magic wand in Photopea
  15. Click on the part you don't want. Missed some spots? Press 'Shift' and click to add them.
  16. 
    Dotted lines
  17. Now, go to 'Select' and click 'Inverse.' In the 'Layers' area on the right, click 'Add Raster Mask'. This makes the background disappear.
  18. 
    Select and Inverse
  19. If you are not satisfied with the final result, change the 'Tolerance' or use 'Shift' click to get a better selection before you use the mask.
  20. 
    Final result
  21. Every picture is different, so you might need to try a few times to get it perfect.
  22. 
    Limited usage pop-up
  23. Photopea lets you do this for free, but sometimes you have to wait or watch an ad if you're not paying for it.
  24. Step
  25. Export

Once you are done, click 'File', then 'Export As', and choose 'PNG' to save your picture without the background.


Save your work

Photopea is a really handy online tool that works with many types of files, even ones with lots of layers from other programs like Photoshop. It directly supports files like PSD (Adobe Photoshop), XCF (GIMP), Sketch, XD (Adobe XD), and CDR (CorelDRAW). If you want to edit SVG and PDF images, it is a reliable solution!

Tips for enhancing your picture after background removal

After you have removed the photo's background, it's time to make the picture look even better.

  1. Upscale your images
  2. For photos made of pixels, like JPGs or PNGs, better quality comes with higher resolution. You can use CapCut's AI image upscaler to increase your image resolution in one go for better background removal.
  3. Ensure a clear outline
  4. A clear outline of your subject in the image simplifies background removal. A well-defined subject makes it easier to add elements like strokes, contour, or a new background, resulting in a cleaner finish.
  5. Pick a good new background
  6. Find a new background that looks good with the central part of the photo. It could be a color, a pattern, or a picture. The right choice can say a lot about the photo.
  7. Look natural

Unnatural effects often show distorted edges or mismatched backgrounds that don't blend well with the subject. So, opt for a tool that gives you a clean background removal. For example, tools like CapCut’s cutout offer an auto-removal feature that ensures the edges are smooth and the overall effect blends naturally with any new backdrop you choose.

Conclusion

CapCut cutout makes getting rid of photo backgrounds super easy. Think about making your selfie stand out by removing a cluttered background, showing off your products more clearly, or even putting your dog in a cool, moonlit scene. No wonder about 62% of users in a study lean on background removal to craft product mockups and presentations that capture attention.

Ready to streamline your creative tasks and make your projects shine? CapCut Cutout is here to help, offering its services for free to anyone and everyone, from hobbyists to business owners looking to make an impact with their photos!

FAQs

  1. How do you take away the background of a picture for free?
  2. Using tools like CapCut cutout to take away the background of a picture is easy and free. Simply upload and CapCut cutout will auto-remove the unwanted backdrop! Additionally, you can customize your image background with a solid color, a custom photo or a video clip.
  3. How do I remove an object from a picture?
  4. To remove an object from a picture without diving into the complexities of advanced editing software, you can use CapCut online editor. Start by uploading your image. Then, apply an overlay by selecting a new background or solid color. Use the "Mask" option on the original image to carefully select the unwanted object. You can also adjust the brush size and opacity for better control. This technique is more effective for simpler backgrounds and smaller objects but might require patience for complex scenes.
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