All the possible ways to remove an image background in Adobe Photoshop

[Guest]

Hi Community,

I'm writing an article with ALL the possible ways to remove an image background in Adobe Photoshop. 

Currently, I have these methods: 

Quick Actions Panel
Magic Wand Tool
Quick Selection Tool
Magnetic Lasso Tool
Pen Tool
Object Selection Tool
Background Eraser Tool

Magic Eraser Tool

Channels 

Color range 

Are there any additional ways to remove an image background in Photoshop? Please share them. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

You don’t seem to mention Layer Masks at all – or do you subsume those under the Selection-related items? 

[Guest]

Hi Community,

Please share all the possible ways to remove the solid color background from an image in Photoshop. I want to try all of them to decide which one would be the most convenient for me.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please provide a sample image to clarify what scenario you are referring to. 

[Guest]

this 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

It seems the image has already been clipped and merged with a new background so it contains unnecessary damage – which is not uncommon with stock images. (see screenshot)

Select > Subject seems to provide a fairly decent starting point; the resulting Layer Mask needs manual correction and the edges need to be decontaminated. 

One general tip: To evaluate whether a photograph has been clipped well I would recommend evaluating it at least at View > 100% against at least 3 backgrounds – white, black, a »middle« color. 

Ideally against even more (light gray, …), though. 

If one passes of a clipped image it may be impossible to know against which background it will get used. 

[Zesty_wanderlust15A7]

If it's for an article 😉 , the classic out of print book Channel Chops might have been the first to have shared a technique (or more) to do with blue screen, using Calculations. I haven't read it, so not 100% sure. It seems some of those tips are still in that book only — others shared elsewhere too. Scott Kelby much later released a channels book too.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

»solid color background« could refer to a truly flat backgrund in an illustration or a background in a photograph … 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @Deleted User please stop posting multiple entries for the same question. I have combined these both into one.

[Guest]

Sure. Sorry for that.

[Guest]

What is the difference between Magic Eraser Tool and Magic Wand Tool when it comes to solid-color background removal in Photoshop?

[Monika Gause]

You might want to study the documentation. 

And then ask specific questions.

[Guest]

Hi Community,

Please share all the possible ways to accurately remove the background from hair in Adobe Photoshop. I want to try all of them to decide which one would be the most convenient for me.

[Zesty_wanderlust15A7]

In a way, every case is different and may even need different techniques.

There is no "official list." If you research the subject, you will keep discovering old and new useful techniques from different people for the rest of your life, so to speak. Many have a unique gem of info to share.

Some of the best opportunities are of course where some form of contrast is obvious, or where you can enhance it.

As it will never be accurate, what is often done is to fix/add hair in places with hair brushes, etc. This is much faster than sweating to get some impossible patch "accurate."

PixImperfect alone has done many tuts on this. It might be a good place to start.
https://www.youtube.com/@PiXimperfect/search?query=hair

Sef McCullough has an advanced course that is probably great:

https://proedu.com/products/how-to-retouch-hair-in-photoshop-with-sef-mccullough-advanced-commercial...

Good luck 🙂

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please provide sample images. 

As @Zesty_wanderlust15A7 already mentioned: plenty of techniques … painting among them. 

As for the contrast – one may have to check the three channels separately and stitch together various regions. 

[Guest]

Hi Community,

Please share all the possible ways to remove the background from line drawing in Adobe Photoshop. I want to try all of them to decide which one would be the most convenient for me.

[Zesty_wanderlust15A7]

Depends on what you really want.

If you just want the white background to not be visible for the type you are showing, go through the blend modes.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I recommend 

• Smart Object

• Blend If (edit: with split handle!)

• Group

• Color Overlay 

Edit: That way one can easily colorize the lines. 

[jane-e]

I'm writing an article with ALL the possible ways to remove an image background in Adobe Photoshop. 

By @Deleted User

Please share all the possible ways to remove the background from line drawing in Adobe Photoshop. I want to try all of them to decide which one would be the most convenient for me.

By @Deleted User

Hi @Deleted User 

Is this research for your article? Will you be giving attribution to those who provide helpful content?

Jane

[Zesty_wanderlust15A7]

If 30 people contribute, there is no room left for the article...

Besides, she's only asking for the few keywords you could still add, not handholding.