{"id":162521,"date":"2021-01-20T11:08:05","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T10:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=162521"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:15:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:15:01","slug":"photoshop-tips-on-editing-background","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/photoshop-tips-on-editing-background\/","title":{"rendered":"How to change background in Photoshop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By changing the background of specific images in Photoshop<\/a>, you can completely transform that photo. When working with images and photos, sometimes you need to adjust the background as well. In some cases, you may want to remove the background altogether. Or maybe just replace parts of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of what you need to do, with Photoshop, it is easy to make changes and edits to your backgrounds<\/strong>. What is Photoshop? It is a very powerful image and photo editing platform that is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. It is also one of the most popular editing software for both professional photographers and designers and beginners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at how to change the background in Photoshop<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Edit the Background of Images in Photoshop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adobe Photoshop is an extremely powerful editing tool. You can work in layers<\/a>, which makes separating the subject from the background much easier. With it, you can completely transform images and photos. When it comes to backgrounds, you can isolate the subject and change the color of the background, or you can blur it<\/a>, or even make it completely transparent so that only the subject can be added to other images. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at some of the steps you need to take to edit the background in Photoshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Remove the Background in Photoshop?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your photo was taken against a solid background, you can easily remove the background<\/strong> and replace it with any color you want. This is ideal in situations where you want to add a fun pop of color to the subject of your photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step1: Upload Your Image to Photoshop<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To get started, you have to upload your image to Photoshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Select the \u2018Auto Remove Background\u2019 Option<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To remove a simple background from your image, you can click on \u2018Auto Remove Background\u2019 in the \u2018Quick Actions\u2019 section in the panel on the right side of the screen. You can also use Photoshop plugins to help with more complex images. The photoshop plugin, remove.bg, is very effective at automatically removing the background, even with more complex photos such as ones with hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Choose a New Background Color<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Now you can easily change the background color by selecting the background layer and choosing a color from the swatches in the right-hand panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tip: In some cases, if you have a really solid background color, you can also change the color just by using the paint bucket tool and clicking on the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Make the Background Transparent in Photoshop?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you may want to use only the subject of your photo<\/strong> and use it in other photos or images. You cannot just add it as is, or you will be adding it background and all, and it will not blend in. In this case, we need to make the background transparent so that only the subject is visible when added to another image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Upload Your Image<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Upload the photo or image you want to edit to Photoshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Use \u2018Recolor\u2019 to Change a Solid Background to Transparent<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For a simple solid-color background, you can click on \u2018Picture Tools.\u2019 Next, you can select \u2018Recolor\u2019 and \u2018Set Transparent Color\u2019 from the drop-down menus<\/strong>. Now you\u2019ll have to choose the color you want to make transparent, i.e., if your background was green, you choose to turn green transparent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: For Complex Backgrounds Use the \u2018Quick Selection Tool<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If your subject or background is more complex, you will have to work manually. Click on the \u2018Quick Selection\u2019 tool from your toolbox to the left of the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Choose\u2019 Select Subject\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll be prompted to choose between \u2018Select Subject\u2019 or \u2018Select and Mask.\u2019 Choose \u2018Select Subject,\u2019 and the software will automatically try to select the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Refine Your Selection<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The program isn\u2019t foolproof and uses contrast to distinguish between the subject and the background. This means that certain areas may be left out. Using a small brush, click on all the areas that have been missed to include them in your selection. If you need to remove areas from your selection, hold down Alt while clicking on the areas to be removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 6: Choose\u2019 Select and Mask\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Now that the subject has been selected, you can click on \u2018Select and Mask.\u2019 This will remove the background from view so that you can see your selection more clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 7: Use the \u2018Refine Brush\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Now you can use the \u2018Refine Brush\u2019 around harsher sections that should be softened. This is usually areas such as around the hair of a model and similar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 8: Choose \u2018New Layer With Layer Mask\u2019 as Output<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Once you are happy with your image, click on \u2018Output\u2019 and then choose \u2018New Layer with Layer Mask\u2019 and click on \u2018Ok.\u2019 This will save a copy of the image with a transparent background so that it can be used in other images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to Change the Background in Photoshop?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you want to change the background<\/strong> of your image to improve the image and enhance the mood. To do this, you will have to make the background of your image transparent (like we discussed above) or use a subject that already has a transparent background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Open the New Background<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Open your chosen background image in Photoshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Open the Subject With Transparent Background<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Open the subject you want to add to the background by clicking on \u2018File\u2019 in the main menu and choosing \u2018Place Embedded.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Resize the Subject<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You can move the subject to the desired spot and resize the image to fit in with the new background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Match the Colors<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019re happy with the positioning and size<\/strong>, you\u2019re almost done. Choose your foreground image, not just the layer. Once the image is selected, click on \u2018Image\u2019 in the menu, select \u2018Adjustments,\u2019 and then \u2018Match Color.\u2019 A new panel will appear. Go to \u2018Source\u2019 and choose the image you are working with, and under layer, select the layer you want to fix. Depending on what you need, you can match the subject to the background or the other way around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now check the \u2018Neutralize\u2019 box, and use the \u2018Luminance\u2019 and \u2018Intensity sliders to match your foreground and background images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Photoshop Guides<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you need some more guidance in using Photoshop, here are a few extra how-tos and guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n