Photoshop Tutorial: How to Turn Your Photo's Background Transparent

Have you ever tried editing an image only to realize the background was ruining the whole effect? Or are you still wondering how to cut out the background and keep your portrait seamlessly? Learning how to create a transparent background in Photoshop can make all the difference, turning a cluttered photo into a clean, professional image. In this guide, we'll show you just how easy it is to achieve that polished look.

How to make the background transparent in Photoshop

Have you ever wondered how to make the background transparent in Photoshop? It's one of the most useful tricks for anyone working on product photos, logos or simply looking to remove distractions from an image. Photoshop is a powerful tool that's loved by designers and photographers worldwide—it offers them powerful editing tools to help make their work easy.



Steps to make the background transparent in Photoshop

Step
1. Upload your image
2. To get started, open Photoshop on your computer and enter the canvas. Click on "File," then "Open," and select the photo you want to edit. You can also drag and drop it on Photoshop's canvas.
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Step
4. Use the Quick Selection tool
5. Pick the "Quick Selection" tool from your toolbar, then choose the one with the "+" sign. Next, go to the top menu bar and click on "Select Subject." Photoshop will automatically highlight your subject. You can zoom in to check if the edges are selected correctly. If you need to adjust, drag the highlighted line to refine the selection. To deselect areas, click the "Quick Selection" tool with the "-" sign.
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Step
7. Fine-tune the selection
8. Click "Select and Mask" to grey out the background. If the edges still appear rough—especially around detailed areas like hair—go to the panel on the right, change the view mode to "Overlay," and set the color to red for better visibility. Ensure the opacity is at 100%.
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10. Next, use the "Refine Edge Brush Tool" (set to "+") and select "Refine Hair" to further clean up the edges (if any). Finally, scroll to "Output To:" and choose "New Layer with Layer Mask," then click "OK."
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Step
12. Save in PNG
13. To save your transparent image, uncheck the background layer if it's still selected. Go to "File," choose "Save a Copy," then select PNG, and hit "Save."
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In-depth review of creating a transparent background in Photoshop

While Photoshop offers powerful tools to create transparent backgrounds, it may not be the ideal choice for these drawbacks. Its complex features, high subscription cost, and resource demands may feel overwhelming, especially for users with limited time or computer capacity. 

Don't worry; our article continues. Considering the massive needs for an instant, free editing tool, we here introduce an alternative: Dreamina's AI-driven editor. It offers a solution with its one-click background removal tool, allowing users to create transparent images instantly. Let's dive in and explore this option.

Quick alternative: Dreamina AI-driven image editor

Designed as an AI-powered image editor, Dreamina simplifies complex tasks into just a few taps, delivering perfect results as people wish. Leveraging advanced AI algorithms, Dreamina effortlessly detects and isolates subjects from their backgrounds with a single click. Whether you’re creating professional product photos, branding materials, or working on personal projects like collages or social media posts, Dreamina makes the process longer a hassle but a smooth experience.



Steps to make a transparent background with Dreamina

Ready to start creating transparent backgrounds with AI? With Dreamina, you can do it in less than 7 clicks. To get started, click the link below:

Step
1. Upload your image
2. After logging in, click on the "Canvas" button to enter Dreamina's canvas editor. From there, click "Upload image" and select the photo you'd like to convert into a transparent PNG. This will place your image on the canvas, ready for editing.
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Step
4. Make the background transparent
5. Once your image has been uploaded and on the canvas, you can start editing it. To remove the background, click on "Remove background." Dreamina's AI will immediately analyze your photo and identify the subject. Hit "Remove" to take off the background (it does all that in a few seconds).
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Step
7. Download
8. After finalizing your edits, save your transparent image by clicking the "Export" button. Choose PNG as your file type, adjust the size as needed, and hit "Download" to save the image to your device.
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More AI magic

1. AI blender
2. Dreamina's Blend feature allows you to seamlessly blend two images together, creating a unified look for composites. It can also enable users to enter prompts to define the blending effect themselves. This is perfect for projects where you want to merge different elements without visible edges or mismatched lighting.
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4. Smart inpainting
5. With Inpaint, Dreamina helps you partially redraw or modify parts of an image. This feature intelligently adds new elements or changes existing elements in your image, making it easy to customize images and leaving a clean and natural result.
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7. Element remover
8. The "Remove" tool is ideal for erasing unwanted objects or distractions from your photos. Just highlight the element you want removed, hit "Generate," and Dreamina's AI will seamlessly erase it and blend the area with its surroundings to give it a natural look.
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10. HD image upscaler
11. Dreamina's HD Upscale feature enhances the resolution of your images, making them look sharp and detailed even when enlarged. This is especially useful for improving low-resolution images or preparing photos for printing.
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13. Image expander
14. The Expand tool allows you to extend your image or bring it into a new ratio. Whether you want to add more background or create consistent content for design, this tool expands your image while maintaining its original style and quality.
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Conclusion

In this guide, we explored how to create a transparent background in Photoshop—a great option, though it can be challenging for beginners because of its steep learning curve. For those seeking a simpler solution, Dreamina provides the same professional results with just a few clicks. With Dreamina's AI-powered background remover, you can skip the hassle and get a transparent background instantly, plus enjoy extra tools like inpainting and image upscaling for a polished finish. Try Dreamina today to see how easy creating stunning, transparent background images can be.

FAQs

1. How to make a clear background in Photoshop?
2. To make a clear or transparent background in Photoshop, you'll need to use the Quick Selection tool to outline your subject, then fine-tune the edges with the Select and Mask options. Once the background is removed, save your image as a PNG to keep it transparent. While Photoshop does a great job, it requires several steps. Dreamina simplifies this process into less than 7 clicks. All you need to do is upload your image in Dreamina's Canvas, hit "Remove background," and download the clear background. Simple, right? Let's head over to Dreamina and enjoy the fast removal with one click.
3. How long does it take to make a background transparent in Photoshop?
4. The time it takes depends on the image's complexity and your familiarity with Photoshop. For beginners, the process can take several minutes, especially when refining detailed areas like hair. Dreamina, however, provides a faster solution, allowing you to get transparent backgrounds in 10-20 seconds. So, what are you waiting for? Get started with Dreamina today and save time on background removal.
5. How to make an area transparent in Photoshop?
6. To make only a specific area transparent in Photoshop, use the selection tools (such as Quick Selection or Lasso) to outline the area. Then, delete it or use a layer mask to make that part transparent. Although effective, this can be time-consuming. Dreamina's AI editor allows you to remove selected areas or elements (using the "Remove" tool) easily. When you head over to Dreamina, simply click Canvas, hit Remove among the toolbar, highlight the unwanted spots to remove, and preview the result to download. No more hours-long editing and searching for a guide; enjoy this convenience in Dreamina!
7. Does Photoshop output all transparent backgrounds in PNG?
8. Yes, Photoshop can output transparent backgrounds as a PNG, but that does not mean that by default, it's set to PNG when you want to save it. You'll have to choose it from the other file types available in Photoshop. It's important to ensure that PNG is selected when you are saving your file because other formats, like JPEG, do not support transparency. If you're looking for an easier way to create and save transparent backgrounds, Dreamina offers a direct option to download your edits in PNG format, keeping the background clear with one click. Try Dreamina now for easy PNG downloads with transparent backgrounds.