How to Remove White Background in Photoshop (5 Fast Ways)

We need to remove white backgrounds from photos to use them on other backgrounds for different purposes. However, cutting an image and separating it from the white background is challenging when you don’t know the proper techniques.

Fortunately, there are 05 methods you can follow for removing the white backgrounds quicker than the methods you approach. But, first, you must learn how to remove white background in Photoshop. So, let’s not talk further and straight jump into the methods.

Remove White Background in Photoshop

A white background is not always pleasing. To make a picture of the next-level creation, we sometimes need to remove white backgrounds. Later we can add another environment that suits the image subject the most.

But if you fail to remove the background like image editing experts, you will rather ruin the beauty of the image. Generally, professional-level editing takes pretty long to provide you with the best output.

These five different methods to remove white background in Photoshop will help you eliminate any white background. All the methods are easy, but you can follow the steps of the process that you find the easiest.

(Method 01)

Remove White Background Using “Remove Background” 

You can approach this particular method only if you have the Photoshop CC 2020 or the newer versions. So, if you have a previous version of Photoshop, you better skip to the following technique. The “remove background” is a button that you will find in the “Properties Panel.”

It can create a selection on its own and apply it to a layer mask. This option will cut a photo and provide you with a transparent background by eliminating the white one in just a click. It doesn’t require manual selections.

Step 1. Choosing the Image Layer 

The first thing to do is choose and unlock your photo layer from the Layers Panel.

Step 2. Opening Properties Panel

Now go and open the Properties Panel. If you can’t find this option, click on Window > Properties, and the panel will open.

Step 3. Clicking on “Remove Background”

Scroll down to the Properties Panel to find the “Quick Actions” option. After clicking, two buttons will arrive. One is “Remove Background,” and the other is “Select Subject.”

If you only click over the “Remove Background,” it will make a selection of your image subject and apply it on a layer mask. After clicking once, you will get a cut-out picture with no background.

But if you made a mistake and want to refine the mess, using “Select Subject,” you can fix the mistake because this option can automatically select the photo’s subject but doesn’t apply any mask on it.

Step 4. Refining the Newly Made Layer Mask (If Required)

Sometimes Photoshop also makes mistakes, and when removing the background, it may eliminate some portion of the image. Fortunately, you are allowed to adjust it with the layer mask. But how will you do it?

It’s simple; at first, click upon the layer mask to select it.

Second, pick the brush tool and choose white as the foreground color. On the contrary, to remove some areas set the black instead as the foreground color.

To properly refine the image fast, paint over the missing parts. Then, Photoshop will add back all the removed portions of the picture.

Step 5. Get The Result 

You will get the output now that will have a transparent background.

(Method 02)

Remove White Background Utilizing “Magic Wand Tool” 

The magic wand tool can give you a professional-level white background. In addition, the device can make selections depending on the similar color of the photo. However, you need to use it the way expert image editors use it because it works great with only some particular settings.

Step 1. Selecting the Tool 

You can access it in two different ways. One way is by pressing the “W” on your computer keyboard, and the second way is finding the option in the toolbar and then selecting it.

Sometimes you will not find the option directly in a few older or newer versions of Photoshop. In such cases, choose the Quick Selection tool because it hides the Magic Wand tool.

Step 2. Choosing Sample Size 

After selecting the tool, you are required to set the size of the sample. Set it to “T by 5 Average” or “Point Sample.” These options are used to choose the amount of sample color you want to consider.

The “point sample” option works best when the photo has a solid white color background under a graphic. On the other hand, if the white background has various shades, the “05 by 05 average” option will be better.

Step 3. Setting Tolerance

The following job is to set the tolerance. Please set it to 25 since this value is considered outstanding output. However, if your image contains white color with different shades, it’s better to put your tolerance to 50 or 60, depending on the image requirements.

Step 4. Checking the Anti-alias 

You will find the Anti-alias option on the right side of the tolerance. Make sure to tick on the option.

Step 5. Creating a Selection 

By clicking upon the white background, make a selection. Photoshop will collect the color samples from wherever you click and pick a similar color on its own.

Step 6. Apply the Selection

Since the selection is left active, you need to apply it on a layer mask to transparent white background.

Go to the Layers panel located at the bottom and click over the layer mask.

Now press Control + I (on Windows? Or Command (on Mac). It will make the subject visible again by inverting the layer mask.

This way, you will have the image with a removed background.

(Method 03)

Remove White Background Appling “Color Range”

The Color Range Tool is very effective in eliminating all of one color. The color can be white or any other. These steps mentioned below will help you quickly get a transparent background out of the white background.

Step 1. Clicking on Select > Color Range

First, make sure to select the layer of your image and then Click on Select > Color Range.

Step 2. Collecting Sample

A dialogue box will appear where you will see the eyedropper tool is already selected. Now, you have to sample the white color to make a selection.

Step 3. Refining It

Generally, people get an accurate selection with one sample only. However, sometimes the selection does not look pretty fitting, meaning it’s not entirely white. In such a case, you better refine it.

The sample will automatically be reset by default when you click over a new region on the picture. Once you get the excellent white background sample, to refine it, you can subtract some portions of the image or add using a few simple keyboard shortcuts.

To subtract a portion, press Alt (on Windows) or Option (on Mac) and keep clicking over the colors you want to remove from the sample. To add to the sample, click on the parts you want to fill with white paint while pressing the Shift key.

Step 4. Adjusting Fuzziness Slider

This option helps you control the sample’s shade tolerance. For example, if your background has multiple white shades, you can increase the fuzziness slider to add all those shades to the selection. To preview your changes, click on the Selection Preview and choose Grayscale.

Step 5. Inverting the Area Selected 

If you are OK with the sample settings, then click on the option “Invert.”

Step 6. Press OK

Now press the button, OK, to make a selection.

Step 7. Add Layer Mask 

While the selection is active, click over the picture to apply a layer mask. It will use your choice of the layer mask, and the white background will be removed.

(Method 04)

Remove White Background Operating the “Magic Eraser Tool” 

The Magic Eraser tool and the Magic Wand tool work almost the same in removing a white background except for one difference. The only difference is while the Magic Wand tool works non-destructively, the Magic Eraser tool works destructively.

It’s capable of deleting the background permanently. So if you are looking for a straightforward way of removing the white background, this will help you.

Step 1. Choosing the Tool

By pressing over the “E” on your computer keyboard, you can access the Magic Eraser tool. If this way, you fail to get access, click the Eraser tool and hold it for a while. The Magic Eraser tool will be revealed.

Step 2. Setting the Tolerance

Find the Tolerance option at the top setting bar and change the tolerance there. For example, please set it to 25. However, the more white shades on the image require higher tolerance.

Step 3. Checking Anti-alias

To keep the remaining settings the same, tick on the Anti-alias option.

Step 4. Setting Opacity

If the opacity is not set to 100% already, fix it to at most by yourself, or else the white background will not be eradicated.

Step 5. Removing the Background

Select the layer of your image and click over the white on the background. This way, Photoshop will first sample it and then delete it.

Sometimes you might unexpectedly delete something you didn’t want to remove in the background. Don’t worry because by pressing Ctrl + Z (on Windows) or Command + Z (on Mac), you can go back to the previous state of the image.

 

(Method 05)

Remove White Background Using of The “Channels”

This is the last method you might like for removing the white background. You can follow the procedure for getting your expected output of any photo. However, it will work the best for images containing complex subjects.

Some pictures with a graphic and several texts or images containing portrait and flyaway hairs use this technique to get the top-notch selections around compliment edges.

Step 1. Accessing the “Channels Panel” 

First, you need to access the Channels Panel. You can generally find it beside the layers. If it’s not visible there, click over Window > Channels.

Step 2. Duplicating the Channel

There are three various colors found in the Channels Panel. One is red, and the other two are blue and green. To view all the contrasts, click on each of them differently.

After viewing, you will understand which has the most contrast; select that channel. After doing this, add it to the new layer to duplicate by clicking over it and dragging it on the icon.

Step 3. Adding A Levels Adjustment

Select the duplicate channel layer and press the Ctrl + L buttons (on PC) or Command + L keys (on Mac). A level adjustment will be applied. A dialogue box will pop up on the screen, drag its shadows to the right side and the highlights to the left.

The focus is on adding more contrast until the image background gets white. The subject, however, will look completely black. After finishing the adjustment, click on “OK.”

Step 4. Making a Selection of the Duplicate Channel

Hold the Ctrl or Command button and click over the thumbnail of the channel layer to make a selection of the same channel.

Step 5. Applying the Selection Over a Layer Mask

While the selection is active, go to the “Layers Panel” and click over the photo layer. Now again, click on the layer mask, and the selection will be applied to the mask.

Now, on your Windows PC, press Ctrl + I or your Mac Book, and press Command + I to select and invert the mask. It will eliminate the picture’s white background.

FAQs

Closing Remarks

Fortunately, with our shared five ways, “How to remove white background in Photoshop“, you can remove backgrounds quicker and better. So, try any suggested methods to reduce your editing time and effort and get the best background removed images.

You may read:

• What is Photoshop Masking? A Complete Guide to Mask an Image
• Photoshop Masking
• Ultimate Guide To White Background Product Photography
• Photoshop Clipping Mask Services