How to Change a Photo Background in Photoshop

How to Change a Photo Background in Photoshop
How to Change a Photo Background in Photoshop

Changing the background of a photo in Photoshop is actually quite easy to do. With today’s advanced technology, everything is becoming more accessible. You can change the background of a photo using various editing applications, but Photoshop remains a top choice.

Photoshop enables anyone to edit images and photos to make them look stunning and professional. It has long been known as the go-to application for photographers, but over time, it has become widely used by many, even by people without professional photography experience.

However, some users might struggle with how to change a photo’s background in Photoshop. The process is simple if you follow each step correctly. To help you understand better, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to change a photo background in Photoshop, summarized from various sources by VIVA.

Steps to Change a Photo Background in Photoshop

  1. Open Photoshop on your desktop or laptop.
  2. Open the photo you want to edit by pressing Ctrl+O or selecting File > Open.
  3. Right-click on the photo’s layer and select Layer from Background. A pop-up window will appear asking you to create Layer 0.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Press the W key to activate the Magic Wand Tool and begin selecting the background in the photo.
  6. Choose the color you want for the new background.
  7. Once the color is selected, press the G key for the Paint Bucket Tool and click on the selected background area to change its color.
  8. To save the edited image, press Ctrl+S or go to File > Save.
  9. Save the image in either .png or .jpg format for easy viewing on any device.

Adjusting Lighting After Changing the Background

After changing the background, you can further enhance the photo by adjusting its lighting using Photoshop’s Adjustment features. Here’s how:

  1. Once the photo is open, go to Image > Adjustments and choose from the following options:
    • Brightness
    • Exposure
    • Saturation
    • Levels
    • Shadows/Highlights
    • HDR Toning

Adjust these settings according to your preference, but avoid making them too extreme—keeping them moderate will help maintain a professional look.

Alternative Online Methods to Change a Photo Background

In addition to using Photoshop, you can also change photo backgrounds online with various websites that offer easy-to-use tools. Here are a few options:

  1. Photo Scissors
    This tool automatically detects and removes the background from a photo. You can also manually erase the background with various tools. It’s a straightforward way to change backgrounds online.
  2. PicsArt
    PicsArt is one of the most popular apps for photo editing. To change a background, simply select the photo, click the ‘Add’ button at the top right, choose Cutout, and use the erase tool to remove the background. You can refine the result with a brush or eraser tool.
  3. Remove Bg
    Remove Bg is a website that automatically removes the background from a photo once it’s uploaded. Afterward, you can change the background color by clicking the Edit icon. This site is especially helpful for photos with people or single objects.

These online tools provide quick and easy alternatives to Photoshop for changing photo backgrounds.

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