So you took a brilliant photo, but the background... well, it could be better, couldn't it? Don't worry, we've got just the thing for you! In today's blog post, we'll show you how to crop or remove the background in Photoshop with just three clicks to achieve the perfect result. Yes, you heard right - just three clicks! Whether you want to get rid of the background completely or simply highlight a part of the image, we'll show you how to do it quickly and efficiently. So, let's get started and turn your good photos into absolute eye-catchers!
Table of contents
It's important to know that this approach not only works in the latest version of Photoshop, but also with older versions or even in Adobe Photoshop Elements.
Step 1: Use the selection tool when cropping
Open your image in Photoshop. The first thing you need to do is select the object or area you want to crop. To do this, click on the "Quick selection" tool in the toolbar or simply press the "W" key. Now click on the area you want to select and drag the mouse to expand the selection. Photoshop works like magic and recognizes the edges of the object to create a precise selection. But there is an even easier way: Click on the menu and then on Selection -> Subject.
Step 2: Activate the "Select and mask" function
As soon as your object is selected, the "Select and mask" option appears at the top of the options bar. Click on it and a new work window will open, offering a wealth of tools to refine your selection. This is our second click.
Step 3: Perfect the selection when cropping
Now that we're in the "Select and Mask" workspace, it's time to perfect our selection. Use the various tools, such as the "Refine Edges Brush", to smooth and adjust the edges of your selection. You can also use the 'Smooth', 'Move Edge' and 'Contrast' sliders to refine the selection. Once you're happy, make sure "New layer with layer mask" is selected in the output settings and click "OK". (Most of the time Photoshop does the job so well that you don't need to change any settings).
By the way, I like to select the Hair option if I want to crop a person with a lot of hair. Then the result is usually even better! You will also find the option "Decontaminate color" at the bottom right, which is very good if, for example, the hair still contains color from the background (however, new colored pixels are then added). You can also click the small triangle under Select subject to select that Photoshop should do the clipping via the cloud, which usually produces an even better result.
Voilà, your image is now perfectly cropped - with just three clicks!
Enjoy the result: Remove background should now look like this
Now you can insert the cropped object into any background or use it as it is. The "Select and Mask" feature is a powerful tool in your Photoshop arsenal that allows you to achieve professional and clean results without spending hours on the finer details.
With this technique, you can draw attention to your desired object, remove distracting elements or create creative compositions. Photoshop makes it possible, and now you have the ability to use it with just three clicks. Have fun experimenting and creating stunning images! By the way, I often just select the background and then blur it a little to make it look as if the photo was taken with a professional camera. It's important, however, that you always work with layer masks or SmartObjects so that everything is nice and non-destructive (so that you always have the original pixels). Always save the file as a PSD file so that the layers and settings are not lost. Of course, you can then export the result as a JPG and share it with your friends or use it on social media, for example.
Watch the video tutorial on how to crop images in Photoshop now
This video is from the training course: Crop with Photoshop and AI - Cut out motifs quickly and precisely, which I highly recommend so that you can crop even faster and better. I'll show you the best approaches for all the situations you'll encounter when cropping.
Incidentally, Photoshop Elements can crop images almost as well. I explain how to do this in the video training: Crop with Photoshop Elements (Tutorial). So, have fun cropping and see you in my next blog post.