Let's face it, sometimes the background of your image just doesn't fit. Maybe it's a white background, and the file is for a client that wants to edit their images. Or you want to create an image with a transparent background to be used in HTML or CSS. Whatever the reason, there are times when you may have to learn how to remove white background in Photoshop.
It may seem like it's going to be complicated, but this tutorial will show you exactly how to get that job done quickly and easily!
Adobe Photoshop was the most popular graphics and photo editing software product in 2021, according to Statista. Around a third of customers using photo editing software choose to use Photoshop.
I'll show you how to do it all! So, read on to learn how to remove that white background in Photoshop with my step-by-step tutorial.
Table of Contents
- Steps on how to remove white background in Photoshop
- Step 1: Upload your photo
- Step 2: Use the selection tool
- Step 3: Unlock Layer
- Step 4: Select the white background you want to remove
- Step 5: Adjust Selected Area
- Step 6: Delete Background
- Step 7: Save your image
- Why take images with a white background?
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Steps on how to remove white background in Photoshop
Without further ado, let's get down to removing that white background with Photoshop!
Step 1: Upload your photo
First, you need to upload your photo with a white background to Photoshop.
You need to click on File -> Open -> click on the folder or photo of your choosing.
Step 2: Use the selection tool
Once the image is uploaded, click on the Quick Selection Tool (fourth icon down on the left-hand toolbar) as shown in the picture.
Or you can simply click the W on your keyboard, which is a shortcut for the same tool.
Step 3: Unlock Layer
Make sure your image layer is selected in your Layers Panel and that it is unlocked.
It is easy -- Just click on the lock icon to unlock the background layer.
Step 4: Select the white background you want to remove
Using the quick selection tool to select the white background you want to remove
Step 5: Adjust Selected Area
You can adjust the accuracy of this tool by changing the Tolerance as shown in the picture, or you can also make manual adjustments as needed.
Step 6: Delete Background
Once all of the photo's white background is selected, you simply have to press delete, and the background will be deleted.
Now you know how to remove white background in Photoshop!
Step 7: Save your image
All there's left to do now is for you to save the image!
For that, you have to click on File->Save as and save the design in PNG format for the transparent background.
Why take images with a white background?
Shooting on a white background is especially common in product photography. Clothing companies, for example, tend to use white backgrounds because it's easier to make sure their designs fit correctly against a bright backdrop.
Since an evenly-lit white background is hard to find in nature (that's why photographers shoot at sunrise or sunset), these companies often use special filters and lighting rigs that give them consistent results.
While shooting on white is a great starting point, it can be difficult to remove white backgrounds in Photoshop or Lightroom.
A white background makes your product images stand out.
Today, many people use white backgrounds for their photos because they can be used year-round and for different occasions.
For example, if you are taking photos for your website's social media campaign, you can use a white background as a general theme.
Then, you can quickly and easily make adjustments as you switch up your campaign's theme from season to season.
Shooting images with a white background will save time on editing.
This means that you can quickly learn how to remove the white background in Photoshop as it can easily be erased or edited if needed.
White background photography is also practical when you want to focus attention on your subject matter instead of the background itself.
You can reuse the same pictures all year long.
People use white backgrounds when shooting pictures because it helps them reuse the same picture all year long.
Without getting into technical details, when you shoot on a white background, it's straightforward to change everything else in the image except for what's on the white background.
The only thing that you need to worry about is lighting and exposure.
Conclusion
Shooting on a white background is an easy to achieve extraordinary product images without spending too much time in post-production. Over, it is a great way to focus attention on your product and make it the star of the image.
By following these simple steps, you now know how to remove background in photoshop!
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Topics: adobe photoshop, Adobe, photo editing, Photoshop