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Participant
Jul 6, 2026 11:03 PM UTC
Answered

Trying to remove grey background

How can I remove the grey background so can print on a black shirt

Conrad_C
Conrad_CCorrect answer
Community Expert
Jul 7, 2026 4:19 PM UTC

If it will be printed with white ink, one method is to use the Blend If option in layer Blending Options to hide the darkest tones in the image, as shown in the demo below. The example shows a blue background so that the change is easier to see.

 

First increase the black point of the Current Layer. When you find the right level that hides the darkest tones but leaves the image still visible, then you can feather the break (soften it) by holding down the Option/Alt key as you drag either side of the black point slider.

 

 

7 replies

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
Jul 7, 2026 4:19 PM UTC

If it will be printed with white ink, one method is to use the Blend If option in layer Blending Options to hide the darkest tones in the image, as shown in the demo below. The example shows a blue background so that the change is easier to see.

 

First increase the black point of the Current Layer. When you find the right level that hides the darkest tones but leaves the image still visible, then you can feather the break (soften it) by holding down the Option/Alt key as you drag either side of the black point slider.

 

 

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c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
Jul 8, 2026 3:19 PM UTC

The printers might ultimately need a color separation in which black represents the printing color. 

But what they need exactly (pdf with a spot color, halftone bitmap, …) is naturally up to them. 

 

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c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
Jul 7, 2026 7:06 AM UTC

Is this going to be screen printed with a white (or light grey) color? 

Did the printers already let you know what kind of file they need (spot color, pdf, …)? 

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Participant
Jul 7, 2026 1:29 AM UTC

Thank you!!! 😊

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Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Community Expert
Jul 7, 2026 12:05 AM UTC

You obviously posted this to Adobe Stock in error. 

Which Adobe product are you using-- Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, etc?  

 

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Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
Participant
Jul 7, 2026 12:54 AM UTC

Opps. I am a new user and thought this was a community app. I am using Photoshop.

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Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Community Expert
Jul 7, 2026 1:19 AM UTC

I’ll ask an employee to move this to Photoshop for you.

 

In the meantime, open your image, unlock the background layer in the Layers panel, and make sure the Contextual Taskbar is visible on your screen. Click the Remove Background button. Photoshop's AI will automatically isolate your subject and create a non-destructive layer mask.

 

Manual Cleanup for when the tool misses any edges or details:
  1. Select the Brush tool (shortcut: B).
  2. Press D to set your colors to default black and white.
  3. Paint with black to conceal & white to reveal background areas. 

Hope that helps.

 

 

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Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert