A skill all designers (and non-designers) should know is how to remove backgrounds from digital photos. The ability to do so is extremely useful in many situations, whether you’re a member of a marketing department or simply editing some of your personal pictures. Removing your image background opens up the possibilities of your photo, whether it’s for advertising, professional development, or simply creative editing to share with friends and family.
If you’re wondering how you can get rid of a picture’s background, you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll go over the most effective way of doing so, which is easy to pick up no matter how much photo editing experience you have. Then, we’ll list five use cases where this skill comes in handy.
So, let’s dive into how to remove backgrounds from photos – and when you should.
How to Remove an Image’s Background
The simplest way to remove a background from a photo is to use a designated background removal tool. All you need to do is upload the image you want to edit, let the software do its job, make any tweaks to get the perfect final edit, and then download the version of your photo without a background.
You can also perform other edits to your photograph after removing its background, including adding a custom background and inserting other elements or animations – if you want to replace the background rather than simply remove the existing one. Whether that’s a plain white screen or a full photo manipulation, the task of removing an image background is now as simple as pressing a button.
Removing an image’s background is so easy even people with zero graphic design experience can do it. Alongside developing your skills with more complex photo editing software, this handy tool can get you quality results in a couple of clicks to kick off your photo editing project.
5 Cases Where You Should Remove Picture Backgrounds
1. Product Listings
When creating product listings for your own eCommerce site or through a third-party vendor, the best option is often to display your goods against a plain background to make sure they’re the star of the show. Moreover, some vendors have strict requirements when uploading product photographs, which sometimes include blank or neutral backgrounds.
Knowing how to remove image backgrounds is especially important if you’re conducting a product shoot on your own, as factors like lighting can be inconsistent. Even professional photography studios don’t always include pictures of your products with plain backgrounds or backgrounds you’ll like, so knowing how to perform important edits independently gives you more creative freedom.
2. Online Advertising
Another common scenario where you’ll need to remove image backgrounds is when you’re making creative shots for online ads. This is especially true if you plan to run shopping ads on Google, or carousel ads on social media. If your goal is to create conversions, you want customers’ focus to be on your product, not a distracting background.
The ability to edit out image backgrounds also comes in handy when designing other kinds of digital content like banner ads and animated video ads, as it gives you the flexibility to combine multiple elements into a single creative. Crafting eye-catching ads through simple photo editing allows you to hook viewers’ attention, boost your social media presence and increase your conversion rate.
3. Headshots & Professional Profile Pictures
Whether you’re setting up a LinkedIn account, adding a headshot to your CV or creating a profile on communication software like Google Meets or Slack, a crisp, clean picture is essential. This signals to coworkers or potential employers that you’re a true professional.
When creating a profile picture, you should forgo messy elements and opt for minimalism. This means that, in most cases, less is more. Use a background remover to remove anything distracting in your picture so that the focus rests solely on you, demonstrating you take your role seriously.
4. Presentations
Most of us have been making PowerPoint presentations since our school days, but crafting a visually compelling slide deck can still be a challenge. After all, it’s easy to include reams of textual content, but without captivating visuals, listeners are likely going to lose interest fast.
If you want to incorporate external images into your slides, simply copying and pasting pictures with varied backgrounds can look messy and inconsistent. Make sure to remove your images’ original backgrounds so that you can incorporate them seamlessly into the presentation.
5. Branded Merchandise
Lastly, you also need to know how to remove backgrounds from photos when designing branded merchandise. Whether you’re creating a logo using an online logo creator or outsourcing the work to a third-party designer, the image files you receive often include a white background. Obviously, this wouldn’t look great on a branded water bottle or notebook.
To make sure your brand looks good on merch, make the background of your image files transparent. This ensures that your visuals are printed seamlessly onto the physical items you want to give away or sell without any distracting elements taking up space.
Elevate your Transparent Background Images Across a Range of Digital Design Projects
Removing an image’s background is among the most useful digital skills you can learn, whether you’re a student picking up essential software skills, or an experienced entrepreneur looking for more streamlined ways to improve your operations. Thankfully, it’s among the easiest as well. All you need is a computer or smartphone and access to a quality photo editing tool, such as Adobe Express.
In this piece, we’ve gone over a simple method of getting rid of the unwanted background of a photograph and five cases where it can be helpful to do so. Start practising today with simple pictures to build your confidence, before transferring your skills to your work or creative development.
