With background images - things work a little differently. When a photo is locked into an article or block of text or shown as part of an advertisement - the dimensions are fixed - meaning that selecting a suitable photo really just comes down to aesthetics. For starters - background pictures won’t fit into a fixed frame they way other photographs would. When selecting a background image - there are specialized criteria to keep in mind. Practice this method as much as you can - you’ll find it useful, especially on social media.What makes background pictures different?īackground photographs are used very differently that regular images for a number of reasons. Once you isolate the subject, selecting the background color is as easy as clicking on the color picker. You can try a realistic background as well.Ĭhanging background color in Photoshop is a simple process once you get used to it. Of course, you don’t need to limit yourself to solid colors. Now how do I change the background color to white in Photoshop? Simply pick the color picker, choose white, and you’re good to go! Select ‘Solid Color’ from the top and choose the color you want your new background to be. In the Layers Panel, click on the ‘Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer’. Step 7: Make a Solid Fill for Your New Background I chose to crop the image square because it looks best on Instagram. Or, if you’re going to make a composite with other images on the same background. This step is helpful if you want to add some text with your photo. In this step, you can also resize your canvas if you wish. Hide other layers, so you only see your isolated subject and not the background.

Now duplicate the selection to a new layer using Ctrl or Cmd + J. Press Ctrl or Cmd and click on the layer mask to select the subject. Doing so helps blurred or fuzzy areas of the edges look more natural. Using the brush at 50% or lower opacity gives you more precise control. Set it to 50% white, and paint over the background, which is still visible, to erase it. Set it to 50% black, and paint on your subject to erase and parts you do not wish to see. If you want to refine the fuzzy edges further, use the brush tool. If there are no further changes to make in the ‘Output To Box’, select ‘Layer Mask’ and click OK. Without the distraction of color, you can better see how your edges look. Once you are happy with your selection, switch the ‘View’ to ‘Black and White’. They will have a varied effect depending on the detail of your photo. You’ll find the best balance for the different areas of the image. These are on the panel at the right of your photo.Įxperiment with these controls. You can also control the effect better by using the ‘Radius’, ‘Smooth’, ‘Feather’, and ‘Contrast’ sliders. You can control the size of this brush by using the keys. Work your way around the edge in a clockwise direction to make sure you cover the whole outline. Here is an example showing the ‘Overlay’ option from the view panel at 50% opacity. You can adjust the opacity to a point where you can see the effect of the brush as you use it. These options are in the ‘View’ panel on the right side of your screen. To help you see the effect of this brush, select either ‘Overlay’ or ‘On White’. Use the ‘ Refine Edge‘ brush to include edges that blend too much with the background. Doing this opens a new window where you can begin to refine your selection.

And click on the ‘Select and Mask’ option box above your photo. Keep the ‘Quick Selection’ tool selected. Unless your subject is super sharp, the resulting selection will not be perfect. If you see this, try other tools such as the ‘ Magic Wand‘ or ‘Object Selection’ tool. If the edges of your selection aren’t sharp, Photoshop will let you know that it cannot find a prominent subject. Then click on the option ‘Select Subject’. Step 3: Select the SubjectĬlick on the ‘ Quick Selection‘ tool in the ‘Tools Panel’. Pick a color close to the background you will use, or choose white. Make a solid layer by clicking the ‘Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer’ icon in the ‘Layers Panel’. Open your photo in Photoshop and make a duplicate layer (Ctrl or Cmd +J). A background that blends with the subject.Hair that’s loose, frizzy, spiked or not smooth.Here are some things to avoid when you are new to isolating a subject to change the background color: This will be easier to work with than a more complex composition. If it’s your first time to change background color in Photoshop, choose an image with sharp edges and a clean background. The quality of your finished image depends on the amount of time you spend on the process.

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