top of page

What Are the Easiest Methods for Image Background Removal Using Photoshop?

Background removal services

With technological innovations in photography, image background removal service is one of the most sought after services due to the need of clients to present their products as perfectly as possible to promote their brand or grow their business. To remove the background, you need to isolate the subject, but before that, there are a couple of questions that can help you determine the best way. 

 

  • Does the subject stand out from the background? For example, suppose the subject is wearing clothing similar to the background color. In that case, it is difficult for the color selection tool to figure out the difference.

 

  • Are there any imperfections at the edge? Stray hairs on the subject can pose complications and require skilled photo background removal services. Some backgrounds can also create unclear borders.

 

With many updates and added features, removing the image background in Photoshop has never been easier or quicker. Let’s look at two of the easiest ways you can use Photoshop for effective background removal.

 

  • Photoshop Quick Action

 

It provides a quick way to remove backgrounds when you are hard-pressed for time, and you are doing it for yourself because this doesn’t guarantee perfection. It’s less accurate, but Quick Action will do most of the work for you.  

 

Step 1: Open your image and right-click the Background layer, and click the Duplicate option. Click the eye on the left of the original layer to turn it off. 

 

Step 2: Go to Windows> Properties and keep your properties panel open by clicking on it if it isn’t checked.

 

Step 3: Select your new layer and click the Remove Background button under Quick Action in the Properties panel. Quick Action will leave a mask around the subject after removing the background.

 

You can further refine the process and make adjustments as required since the results might not be accurate. Photo editing agencies may use this method and other methods or tools for better precision for quick editing.

 

  • Background Eraser Tool:

 

It is an excellent tool if you want some control over the process, while Photoshop does most of the heavy lifting. You may have to sacrifice some time to get a good result, but using it can still be a time saver and highly effective.

 

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop and right click your Background layer and select the Duplicate Layer option. Click the eye icon on the left of the original layer to turn it off.

 

Step 2: Select the Background Eraser Tool from the toolbox on the left. If you can’t find it, click and hold the Eraser Tool to reveal more options and select Background Eraser Tool.

 

Step 3: Click the brush icon from the tool options bar at the top of the screen. Adjust hardness to near or complete 100%. Set the Sampling to be Continuous in the tool options bar, set the Limits to Find Edges and Tolerance between 20-25%. The lower the tolerance, the fewer colors the tool will pick up. 

 

  • Start erasing the background around the subject by clicking and holding as you move the brush. 

  • Zoom in to avoid the subject from getting erased. You can adjust your brush size for more complex areas and use short strokes to avoid mistakes. 

  • If resizing doesn’t work, adjust Sampling to Once, set Limits to Discontiguous and Tolerance to around 10%. This tells the brush to only use the colors under the crosshair and not to resample as you go. 

 

Background removal services aren’t just for white backgrounds for e-commerce needs, and they can also accommodate single colors that match your brand’s aesthetic. Depending on your image, the process can be quick, and it provides better results since you are in control. 


While these methods are not perfect, you can use them combined with other tools like pen tool, magnetic lasso tool and quick selection tool for the best results. If you require professional photo editing services, you can upload your images directly to our website or get in touch with us to learn more about our services.

bottom of page