How to Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop

How to Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop – A product image with a transparent background is essential for using online and offline advertisements of that product. Along with that, a transparent background image is necessary for many circumstances. You can attach the transparent-backgrounded image in front of any background. Therefore, there is a large area of using a transparent-background image. The medium of creating a transparent background of any image subject is Adobe Photoshop. It has necessary tools and methods for making a transparent background. But, before I start doing it, learning about how to create a transparent background is mandatory. However, the process is not challenging if you follow the correct path and gather proper knowledge about the tools.

What is a Transparent Background and the Benefits of a Transparent Background?

Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop – A transparent background is mainly an image without any background. It becomes a PNG file right after the elimination of the actual background from the raw image. When the background is transparent, the pixels in the background of that particular image become blank. As a result, it allows everyone to see through the background and what’s behind the subject. This blank and colorless situation of any image background is known as the transparent background. In this situation, all other parts of the image except the subject are eliminated. There are a bunch of benefits of a transparent-background image, and those are: It helps to get rid of the dull and lifeless image background An image with transparent background opens up a window of opportunities with multi-functional usage The transparent background helps to shift all the focus on the subject and highlight it When the background is transparent, it becomes easier to edit the subject of that image It is better for the eCommerce websites to use images with transparent backgrounds Customers will be able to entirely focus on the main product because of the transparent background of the product image

How to Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop – The Step-by-Step Processes

It is essential to follow the proper method and use the correct tools for creating a transparent background. There are three different ways of creating a transparent background based on the subject complexity, and those are:

Method-1: Using the Magic Wand Tool

Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop -This method will work effectively when the background of the image is relatively simple or single-colored. Now let’s look at the steps of doing so:

Step-1: Import the Image

First, you need to open Photoshop software on your laptop or desktop. Then import the desired image from the file’s section of your computer.

Step-2: Unlock the Layer

After importing the image in the Photoshop window, you will see the “Layers Panel” at the bottom-right part. On the panel, the image will be as “Background” layer and “Locked.” Therefore, you need to click on the “Lock” icon to unlock the layer, and as you do it, the name of the image layer will be “Layer 0”.

Step-3: Access to the Magic Wand Tool and Remove the Background

There will be the “Toolbar” on the left side of the Photoshop window. From there, select the “Magic Wand Tool,” which will be at the top portion of the bar. After selecting, click on the single-colored background, and you will see the ant-marching selection lines. The selection lines will be on the whole frame and subject differently.

Then, you should just simply click on the “Delete” button from your computer’s keyboard. As you will do so, the background will be eliminated, and it will become transparent within no time.

Method-2: Using the Quick Selection Tool

Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop -The “Quick Selection Tool” is mainly for the backgrounds, which are a bit complex. It is applicable when the subject is comparatively simple and the background has several colors and shapes. The steps for creating the transparent background by using this tool are

Step-1: Import the Image to Photoshop

First thing first, you need to import your desired image to Photoshop from your computer.

Step-2: Access the Quick Selection Tool and Make Selection

After importing the image, you need to find the desired tool to work. From the “Toolbar,” locate the “Quick Selection Tool” and select it. Before doing it, make sure you have unlocked the image layer unless you won’t be able to make any selection. Then drag your cursor all over the subject you want to keep while the “Quick Selection Tool” is selected. Make sure you have correctly selected the subject without selecting any part of the background.

Step-3: Inverse the Selection and Make the Background Transparent When you select the subject, you will see an ant-marching line all around the subject. You need to inverse it and press “Shift + Ctrl + I” (for Mac, press Shift + Command + I). This action will bring the selection all around the frame, and at the same time, the subject will also remain selected differently.

Then, you will have to press the “Delete” button, and the image background will become transparent. After doing so, select the “Eraser Tool” to smoothen the edges of the subject.

Method-3: Using the Pen Tool

Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop – This method is the most used tool for creating a transparent background. Because, most subjects and backgrounds will be pretty complex. The processes of creating the transparent background by using the “Pen Tool” are:

Step-1: Import the Image and Select Pen Tool

Importing your desired image to Photoshop is a must if you are willing to make its background transparent. Then you need to locate the “Pen Tool” from the “Toolbar” situated at the left side of the screen. After locating, click on the “Pen Tool” icon to select it to start the proceedings.

Step-2: Make the Selection with the Pen Tool

Don’t forget to unlock the image layer and convert it into a normal layer to eliminate the background. After doing so, you will have to use the “Pen Tool” to make a selection all around the subject of the image. Stay careful about not selecting any part of the background.

Step-3: Creating Transparent Background

When the selection is completed, press “Enter” from your keyboard and the selection will be visible. Then press “CTRL + J” to copy the selection, and that copied part will become a new layer. After copying the selected part, click on the “Layer Eye” icon to make it off. As a result, you will see the selected subject in front of the transparent background.

To smoother the edges of the complex subject, you need to select the “Eraser Tool,” and use it.

Step 04: Saving the File

You can use any of those three methods above to make the image background transparent. But, after eliminating the background, saving the file is also essential. After completing the eliminating task, press “File” from the window bar. A new tab will appear; select “Export” and then click on “Export As.” A new window will appear where you will get an overview of the transparent image. Select the image type as “PNG” and keep the resolution high to maintain the image quality. Then press “Save” for saving the file.

FAQs

Which tools on Photoshop do I need to use for creating a transparent background?

There are several tools and Photoshop that you can use for making a transparent background. You can use various methods as well. The tools that you can use for the process are “Magic Wand Tool,” “Quick Selection Tool,” and “Pen Tool.” These tools are very effective and will make your background transparent, making the task easier.

What is the image format to choose for saving the transparent-backgrounded image?

At first, you need to eliminate the background from the raw image to make it blank aka transparent. But if you don’t save it, all your work will go in vain, which is disappointing. So, saving the image after creating a transparent background is very essential. Always keep the image format as “PNG” after making its background transparent.

Final Thoughts

Create a Transparent Background in Photoshop – Making the background transparent of any image opens up the window for adding new backgrounds. It helps the image to get rid of the dull and lifeless backgrounds. The transparent background is also essential to use for various commercial and advertisement purposes. Learning how to create a transparent background will be very beneficial for you. At the same time of learning the process, you will also get proper knowledge about the necessary tools of Photoshop. Creating a transparent background is not that challenging if you follow the proper method with correct steps.