I remember sweating over product photos for my first e-commerce store. Needed clean white backgrounds but kept getting jagged edges around hair. Tried everything until I discovered the magic of dedicated background removers. Changed everything.
Why You'd Want to Remove Backgrounds
People ask "how do you take the background out of a picture" for tons of reasons. Online sellers like me need clean product shots. Graphic designers blend images. Social media folks create stickers. Even my cousin removed her ex from vacation photos (bit extreme, but effective).
Common Situations Where Background Removal Matters
- Selling clothes online (that mannequin looks awful)
- Creating professional headshots (goodbye messy office background)
- Designing marketing materials (nobody wants distracting elements)
- Making memes (we've all been there)
Manual Background Removal Methods
When I started, Photoshop was the only option. Took me 45 minutes per image. Here's the reality:
| Tool | Learning Curve | Time/Image | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | Steep (weeks) | 10-60 mins | $20.99/month | Precision edits, professionals |
| GIMP (Free) | Very steep | 20-90 mins | $0 | Budget users with patience |
| Affinity Photo | Moderate | 15-40 mins | $54.99 one-time | Photoshop alternative |
Getting Hair Right in Photoshop
Select and Mask tool is your friend. Use edge refinement brush with these settings:
- Smooth: 5-10
- Feather: 0.5 px
- Shift Edge: -15% to +5% (prevents halo effect)
Still messes up frizzy hair though. Took me three tries to fix my sister's wedding photo.
Pro Tip: Shoot against solid colors if planning manual removal. Green screens aren't just for weather forecasters.
AI Background Removers (Game Changers)
Automated tools exploded last year. Most use similar AI but differ wildly in output quality. Tested 14 services for this guide.
| Service | Price | Accuracy | Speed | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remove.bg | Free (low-res), $9/month | ★★★★☆ | 2-5 secs | API access, batch processing |
| Adobe Express | Free (with watermark) | ★★★☆☆ | 10 secs | Built-in design tools |
| Fiverr (Humans) | $5-$15/image | ★★★★★ | Hours | Perfect for tricky images |
| Clipping Magic | $3.99/image or subscriptions | ★★★☆☆ | 15 secs | Manual touch-up tools |
| Canva Pro | $12.99/month | ★★★☆☆ | 8 secs | All-in-one design suite |
"Used Remove.bg for my jewelry store - saved 20 hours/week. But fur items still need manual fixes." - Sarah K., Etsy seller
Mobile App Solutions
Needed to edit product photos during a trade show last month. Top performers:
- Background Eraser (Android): Free with ads. Brush control surprisingly good.
- PhotoRoom (iOS/Android): $9.99/month. Creates studio-like shadows automatically.
- Adobe Lightroom Mobile: Included in Creative Cloud. Best for subtle refinements.
PhotoRoom's auto-shadow feature blew me away. Made cheap product shots look pro.
Step-by-Step: Removing Backgrounds Properly
Whether you're wondering "how do I take the background out of this picture" of your dog or your latest product, follow this framework:
Pre-Editing Checklist
- Lighting: Avoid harsh shadows on edges (my biggest early mistake)
- Contrast: Subject should contrast with background
- Resolution: Minimum 1000px width for clean edges
- File Type: Use PNG for transparency support
The Actual Removal Process
Using Remove.bg as example (my current favorite):
- Upload image or paste URL
- AI processes automatically (watch the progress bar)
- Download PNG with transparent background
- Use "Edit" button for manual touch-ups if needed
Warning: Free tools often downsize images. Paid plans required for print-quality resolutions.
Post-Removal Refinements
AI isn't perfect. Common fixes I always do:
- Edge smoothing (especially on hair/fur)
- Color correction (background removal affects tones)
- Shadow addition (makes subjects look natural)
- Noise reduction around edges
When Things Go Wrong: Troubleshooting
Ran into all these problems myself:
| Problem | Solution | Tool Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Halo effect | Adjust edge contrast in Photoshop | Adobe Express refine edge tool |
| Hair looks chopped | Use refine hair brush in Clipping Magic | Luminar Neo ($14.95/month) |
| Transparency lost | Re-save as PNG-24 | FileOptimizer (free desktop app) |
| Color shifts | Adjust white balance post-removal | Lightroom Color Grading panel |
Cost vs Quality Analysis
Budget matters. Here's what you realistically get:
| Price Point | What to Expect | Best Options |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Watermarks, low-res files, limited edits | Remove.bg free, Adobe Express free |
| $5-15/month | HD exports, batch processing | Canva Pro, Remove.bg Pro |
| $20-50/month | Professional features, precision tools | Photoshop, Luminar Neo |
| Per-project | Pixel-perfect manual edits | Fiverr professionals ($5-50/image) |
Insider Advice: Start with free trials. Most pro tools offer 7-14 days full access. Tested 6 services this way before committing.
Advanced Techniques for Professionals
After removing backgrounds for three years, here's what separates amateurs from pros:
Creating Realistic Shadows
Flat images look fake. Two methods I use:
- Drop shadows: Photoshop Layer Effects > Drop Shadow (distance 5-15px)
- Perspective shadows: Create gradient layer, skew transform (takes practice)
Complex Objects
Got hired to remove background from a lace tablecloth. Nightmare. Solutions:
- Shoot with solid backdrop (seems obvious but many skip this)
- Use channel masking in Photoshop (red channel usually best)
- Combine AI with manual brushing (Clipping Magic handles this best)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you take the background out of a picture without Photoshop?
Use web tools like Remove.bg or Canva. Upload, AI removes background automatically. Download PNG. Free options exist but pay for high-res files.
What's the most accurate way to take the background out of a picture with hair?
Manual refinement in Photoshop. Use Select Subject > Select and Mask > Refine Hair Brush. AI-only tools still struggle with flyaway hairs.
How do I remove background from white clothes on white background?
Brutally hard. Add temporary background color during shooting. If already shot, adjust levels to create contrast before removal.
Can you take backgrounds out of pictures on phone?
Yes. PhotoRoom (iOS/Android) works shockingly well. Free version has watermark. Paid is $9.99/month.
How much does professional background removal cost?
DIY tools: $0-$50/month. Outsourcing: $1-$50/image depending on complexity. My recommendation: Learn basic tools, outsource only complex jobs.
Why does my background removal look fake?
Missing realistic shadows, edge artifacts, color mismatches. Add subtle drop shadows. Refine edges. Match color temperature to new background.
How do you take the background out of old scanned photos?
Scan at high resolution. Use Photoshop's pen tool for precision. AI struggles with low-quality scans.
What file format preserves transparency?
PNG. Avoid JPG - it fills transparency with white. TIFF works but files are huge.
Personal Recommendations
After testing dozens of methods:
- Best overall: Remove.bg Pro ($9/month) - 90% of my work
- Budget pick: Canva Pro (includes removal in $12.99 subscription)
- High-end precision: Photoshop ($20.99/month)
- Mobile solution: PhotoRoom ($9.99/month)
- Outsourcing: Fiverr "advanced photo editing" ($10-25/image)
Warning About Free Tools: Many sell your images. Read terms carefully. Stick with reputable companies.
Future of Background Removal
AI's improving rapidly. Last year's tools couldn't handle translucent objects. Now:
- Glass removal improving (but still imperfect)
- Real-time video background removal emerging
- 3D object extraction becoming possible
Still think manual editors will survive for high-end work. AI creates rough cuts faster though.
Final thought? Learning how do you take the background out of a picture saves hours. Started as frustration, became my secret weapon. You'll find your workflow - just start simple.