How-To

Remove Background from Photos with Adobe Photoshop: Part 1 – Simple Techniques

By Stefan Kudev

Updated October 12, 2020

One of my favorite features in Adobe Photoshop is the ability to remove backgrounds from Images or Photographs. Photoshop is great because it provides you several different tools to remove backgrounds and depending on the image, it’s important you’re familiar with all of them. With this in mind, over the next week, I’ll be releasing the second article in this series looks at even more advanced ways to removing the background of your photos. To kick things off, let’s start with five how-to videos that demonstrate the Simple Techniques you can use to remove backgrounds using Adobe Photoshop. Enjoy!

Adobe Photoshop – Five simple techniques for removing backgrounds from Photographs or Images

1.Magic Eraser

Let’s start off with the magic eraser. It’s probably the easiest tool to use (if you know it exists and where to find it). It’s simple to use and if you’re dealing with a single color background, it normally takes just a few clicks to get rid of your background.

2. Background Eraser Tool

The Background Eraser Tool works like a more point and color specific eraser which is why it isn’t among my favorite tools. It’s still a good technique to keep in your arsenal just in case however.

3. Magic Wand Tool

The Magic Wand Tool is very similar to the Magic Eraser tool however it gives you more flexibility by allowing you to work with selections before removing the background. This can greatly increase your accuracy and quality of the end product.

4. Quick Selection Tool

What do you get if you merge the Background Eraser Tool and the Magic Wand Tool? The Quick Select Tool! It works like a simple brush but instead of painting a color,  it paints over a selection. People using a graphics tablet or touchscreen display with Photoshop will probably find this tool pretty appealing.

5. Selecting a Color Range

Normally, the selection of a Color Range is regarded as a more advanced technique but it’s so quick and easy I consider it a basic technique. It’s incredibly effective for single-colored backgrounds and once you get comfortable with it, you’ll probably start using it more and more and not for just background removal tasks. I really love this tool!