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Background erasers

Use a background eraser to erase unwanted objects from photos, so you have a perfect picture every time.
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What is a background eraser?

A background eraser is a photo-editing feature that allows you to remove distracting or unappealing backgrounds. Some background erasers, such as Microsoft Designer, use AI to automatically detect and remove the background in seconds. Traditional background erasers often require manual editing tools to get the same look.

Background eraser features

Precision erasing

To get the most accurate background removal, use a precision erasing tool. It can closely follow the edges of your main subject, so the background is removed without cutting into the part that you want to keep. This feature is particularly helpful when working with complex shapes or fine details, such as hair and fur. But because it’s a manual tool that can take a lot of time to use, consider first using an AI background eraser with automatic detection to remove most of the background and then perfecting the rest with a precision eraser.

Automatic detection

Many background erasers come with an automatic detection feature that uses AI to instantly identify the background and remove it with just a few clicks. Automatic detection analyzes the image to distinguish between the subject and the background, making the process faster and easier. For people who aren’t experienced in photo editing, it’s a game changer.

Edge refinement

Clean up the edges of your subject after the background has been removed with edge refinement tools. Alongside a precision eraser, manual tools like feathering and smoothing can make the edges look more natural and less jagged. This helps the final image appear professional and seamlessly connected to any new background you add.

Other manual adjustments

Automatic detection is extremely helpful, but sometimes you need finer control to get the best results. Beyond precision erasing and edge refinement, other manual adjustment options allow you to continue polishing the background removal by adjusting certain settings. For example, changing the brush size or hardness or restoring parts of the subject that were accidentally removed.

Compatibility with different formats

A good background eraser supports multiple image formats—such as JPEGs, PNGs, and PDFs. This compatibility lets you work with different types of images without worrying about format issues. It also allows you to save your edited images in the format that best suits your needs, whether you need an image for web use, printing, or further editing.

Benefits of background erasers

Put the focus on your subject

Removing the background from an image helps draw attention to the main subject. Without distractions from the background, people naturally focus on the point of your picture—which is key for product photography and portraits, for example.

Simplify the editing process

A background eraser simplifies the design process by making it easier to create a polished picture. With the background removed, your subject may fit in a more cohesive way into different designs, such as presentations, marketing materials, and social media posts. This saves time and effort, allowing you to get the photo you want without the need for complex editing skills.

Create professional-looking pictures

Using a background eraser helps you achieve professional-looking results with minimal effort. The tool's features, such as automatic detection and edge refinement, make the background removal process smooth and precise. Even if you're not a professional designer, you can still produce high-quality images that look like they were edited by an expert. This is ideal for small businesses, content creators, and anyone looking to improve the visual appeal of their images.

When to use background erasers

Quick edits to personal photos

Sometimes a photo will almost be perfect—except for some unwanted element that found its way into the frame. Background erasers are great in these instances for quickly erasing a person from a photo or erasing objects from a photo.

Product photography

In product photography, removing the background from images can make the shots look cleaner and more professional. E-commerce websites often use this style of image so the products stand out. By erasing the background and presenting products against a plain or custom backdrop, they visually pop and have stronger appeal to potential buyers.

Marketing materials

Removing backgrounds allows you to combine multiple images in marketing materials, creating eye-catching flyers, posters, and advertisements. This helps deliver a clear and focused message to your audience.

Social media content

A background eraser can improve social posts by removing cluttered or distracting backgrounds. Because the goal with social content is often to grab attention and increase engagement, background erasers help put your subject more directly front and center.

Digital art and collages

Artists can use background erasers to create collages or composite images by removing and combining elements from different images. Having a tool like a background eraser allows for greater flexibility and creativity in digital projects.

Educational materials

In educational content creation, background erasers help make presentations, infographics, and instructional materials more engaging. With the backgrounds of some images removed, educators can highlight the part of the photo they want their audience to focus on and make their visuals more effective and easier to understand.
A collage of a child jumping on a skateboard
Quickly erase objects from photos, like in this example of a skateboarder, to get rid of distracting background visuals that make it harder to see your main subject.

Best practices for erasing a background

Do

  • Use high-quality images. Start with a clear, high-resolution image so the background eraser can distinguish between your subject and the background. 
  • Save as you go. It’s always a good idea to save your work from time to time to avoid losing progress if something goes wrong.
  • Consider the format you save in. PNG is the best format for transparent images, and JPEG is the best format for photos.

If you’re manually erasing a background, you’ll also want to:

  • Zoom in for precision. Seeing the edges of your subject up close helps avoid accidentally erasing parts of it.
  • Adjust the brush size. Use a larger brush for broad areas and a smaller brush for detailed edges. Most background eraser tools allow you to change the brush size.
  • Work in layers. If the app you’re editing in supports layers, use them. This lets you make tweaks without permanently changing the original image.
  • Turn on edge detection. Many background erasers have an edge detection feature that helps keep the edges of your subject intact as you remove the background.
  • Refine edges. After erasing the background, use tools like the "Refine edge" or "Smooth" to clean up any rough edges around your subject.
  • Practice. The more you work with a manual background eraser, the better you'll get at knowing which settings and techniques work best for different types of photos.

Don’t

  • Ignore app updates. Not updating your photo-editing app might mean missing out on new features and improvements that make background removal easier and more accurate.
  • Forget to color match. If you’re also replacing the background, failing to match the new background color with the subject can make the edit look obviously altered.
  • Overlook lighting and shadows. Not paying attention to the lighting and shadows on the subject can give you an unnatural look once the background is removed.

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Frequently asked questions about background erasers

  • The background eraser feature in Designer removes the background from a photo in seconds. This is helpful if there’s distracting visuals in your image that take away from what you want to be the focus.
  • Designer uses AI to automatically detect where the background is and remove it.
  • Erase backgrounds for free with Designer.
  • Yes, many background erasers use AI. Others rely on more traditional manual photo-editing tools, such as precision erasers, edge refinement, and feathering tools.

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