How to Remove a Background in Photoshop: Quick and Effective Methods

Photoshop is a versatile tool for image editing, and one of its most useful features is the ability to remove a background from a photo. This guide will walk you through two easy methods to achieve this: using the Object Selection Tool and the Quick Action

1. Remove a Background in Photoshop with the Object Selection Tool

One of the most remarkable features in Photoshop, especially in the Photoshop 2022 update, is the Object Selection tool. This tool uses Adobe Sensei AI technology to automate the background removal process, making it quick and efficient.

Steps:

Open your photo in Photoshop and select the Object Selection tool from the toolbar on the left. This is located in the same menu as the Quick Selection Tool. Horizontally move your cursor over your subject. If the cursor doesn’t turn blue, move it in tiny circles. In an instant, your subject is ready for selection. To refine the selection, hold down the Shift key while selecting objects to keep in the photo. This will auto-select each object, showing marching ants around each entity. Click on Select > Inverse to invert the selection, which means your background is now selected. If you want a transparent background, unlock the image layer. Click the lock on the right side of your image's layer to unlock it. The layer name will change to “Layer 0” if no other layers are present. Select the Eraser Tool and use a large brush to erase the background. You can always reselect your objects using the Object Selection tool.

2. Remove a Background in Photoshop with Quick Action

The Quick Action is a built-in feature in Photoshop, introduced in the Photoshop 2021 Creative Cloud subscription. It's the quickest method for removing backgrounds, but it provides less accuracy compared to the Object Selection Tool.

Best Use Cases: You need a result fast and not necessarily perfect. The subject and background have high contrast. The subject has simple lines.

Steps:

Open your image in Photoshop and right-click the Background layer. Select Duplicate Layer. In the dialog box, name your layer and click Okay. Turn off the original layer by clicking the eye icon to the left of the original layer. Open the Properties panel by going to Window > Properties. Select your new layer and click the Remove Background button under Quick Action. The quick action will remove the background, leaving a mask around the subject. You can make refinements by adjusting the mask as needed.

For more information on working with masks, you can check out this guide from Adobe.

These two methods offer different advantages and can be used based on your specific needs. Whether you need a quick and dirty background removal or a precise one, Photoshop's tools can help you achieve your desired result.