Alright, let's dive into the world of background removal on your iPad using Adobe Photoshop! It's a fantastic skill to have, whether you're creating stunning visuals for social media, crafting product mockups, or just having fun with your photos.
Ready to get started? Let's jump right in!
Step 1: Getting Your Image Ready
First things first, you need to have your image open in Photoshop on your iPad.
1.1: Importing Your Image
- Open Photoshop: Launch the Adobe Photoshop app on your iPad.
- Create New or Open: You can either start a new project or open an existing image. To open an image, tap on the "Import" button on the home screen or go to "File" > "Open" within a project.
- Select Your Photo: Navigate through your iPad's files or Adobe Creative Cloud to find the image you want to work with and tap on it to open it in your workspace.
1.2: Initial Assessment
Take a good look at your image. Consider:
- The complexity of the background: Is it a simple, solid color or a busy, detailed scene? This will influence the tools and techniques you might use.
- The detail of the foreground object: Does it have intricate edges like hair or fur? These areas often require more precise selection methods.
Step 2: Choosing Your Selection Tool
Photoshop on the iPad offers several tools for making selections, and the best choice depends on your image.
2.1: The Select Subject Tool (Often the Quickest)
- Location: You'll usually find this tool in the toolbar on the left-hand side of your screen. It often looks like an outline of a person or object.
- How it Works: Tap on the "Select Subject" tool. Photoshop's AI will automatically analyze your image and attempt to identify and select the main subject.
- When to Use: This is excellent for images where the subject is clearly defined against the background. It's a great starting point for many images.
2.2: The Lasso Tools (For More Control)
There are a few variations of the Lasso Tool:
- Lasso Tool (Freehand): Allows you to draw a freehand selection around the area you want to select. Tap the "Lasso Tool" icon (it looks like a lasso) and then drag your finger or Apple Pencil around the subject.
- Polygonal Lasso Tool (Straight Edges): Ideal for selecting objects with straight edges. Tap and release to set anchor points, creating a series of connected straight lines.
- Magnetic Lasso Tool (Snapping Edges): This tool tries to "snap" to the edges of objects as you trace around them. It can be helpful for slightly complex edges.
2.3: The Quick Selection Tool (Painting a Selection)
- Location: Often grouped with the Magic Wand Tool. It looks like a paintbrush with a selection icon.
- How it Works: Select the "Quick Selection Tool" and then "paint" over the areas you want to include in your selection. The tool intelligently expands the selection based on color and texture similarities. You can adjust the brush size and hardness in the tool options.
- When to Use: Good for selecting areas that have relatively clear boundaries but might not be perfectly defined.
2.4: The Object Selection Tool (Drawing a Rectangle or Lasso)
- Location: Often found with the Quick Selection and Magic Wand Tools.
- How it Works: Select the "Object Selection Tool". You can then either draw a rectangle or a lasso around the object you want to select. Photoshop will then try to intelligently identify and select the object within your drawn area.
- When to Use: Useful when you have a distinct object you want to isolate.
Step 3: Refining Your Selection
No matter which selection tool you initially use, you'll often need to refine the edges for a clean result.
3.1: Using Select and Mask
- Accessing Select and Mask: Once you have a selection, look for the "Select and Mask..." option in the bottom toolbar. Tapping this will take you to a dedicated workspace for refining selections.
- Global Refinements: In the Select and Mask workspace, you'll find options to adjust:
- Opacity: To see the underlying image.
- Radius: To control the edge detection.
- Smooth, Feather, Contrast, Shift Edge: These sliders help to soften, sharpen, expand, or contract your selection edges. Experiment with these to get the best results.
- Refine Edge Brush Tool: This brush, often found on the left side in the Select and Mask workspace, is invaluable for tackling tricky areas like hair or fur. Paint along the edges, and the tool will intelligently try to select the fine details.
- Brush Tool (Add/Subtract): Use the regular brush tool (with the "+" to add or "-" to subtract from the selection) to manually adjust the selection.
- Lasso Tool (Add/Subtract): You can also use the Lasso tools within the Select and Mask workspace for more precise additions or subtractions.
3.2: Inverting Your Selection
If you've selected the subject and want to remove the background, you'll need to invert the selection so that the background is selected instead.
- How to Invert: Look for an option like "Select Inverse" in the selection menu (often accessed via the three dots "..." icon in the bottom toolbar when a selection is active).
Step 4: Removing the Background
Once you have the background selected (or the subject selected and then inverted the selection), you have a few ways to remove it.
4.1: Using Delete or Clear
- Simple Removal: With the background selected, simply tap the "Delete" or "Clear" option (often found in the "..." menu at the bottom). This will replace the selected area with transparency. You'll see a checkerboard pattern indicating transparency.
4.2: Creating a Layer Mask (Non-Destructive)
This is a highly recommended method as it's non-destructive, meaning you can always bring the background back if needed.
- Select the Subject: Make sure your subject is selected.
- Create a Layer Mask: In the Layers panel (usually on the right side), tap the "Add Layer Mask" icon. It looks like a rectangle with a white circle inside. This will create a mask linked to your layer. The selected area will remain visible, and the unselected area will become transparent (effectively hiding the background).
- Editing the Mask: You can edit the mask using black and white paintbrushes. Painting with black will hide more of the layer (making it transparent), and painting with white will reveal more. This allows for very precise adjustments to the background removal.
4.3: Duplicating the Subject onto a New Layer
- Select the Subject: Ensure your subject is selected.
- Duplicate Layer: In the Layers panel, tap the three dots "..." next to your layer and choose "Duplicate Layer".
- Hide the Original Layer: Tap the eye icon next to the original layer to make it invisible. The duplicated layer will now show your subject with a transparent background.
Step 5: Saving Your Work
Once you're happy with the background removal, it's time to save your masterpiece!
5.1: Saving as a Photoshop Document (.PSD)
- Go to File > Save: This will save your work as a PSD file, preserving all layers and masks, allowing you to edit it further later.
5.2: Exporting for Web or Other Uses
- Go to File > Export > Quick Export as PNG: PNG is the preferred format for images with transparency, as it supports an alpha channel.
- Go to File > Export > Save to Photos: This will save a flattened version of your image (usually as a JPEG or PNG, depending on your settings) to your iPad's Photos app. Check your export settings to ensure you're saving with transparency if needed.
How to... Frequently Asked Questions
How to make the background transparent in Photoshop iPad?
Once you've removed the background using the Delete/Clear method or by creating a layer mask, the area will be transparent, indicated by a checkerboard pattern. When exporting, choose a format that supports transparency like PNG.
How to select hair in Photoshop iPad to remove the background?
Use the "Select Subject" tool as a starting point, then refine the selection in the "Select and Mask" workspace, paying close attention to the "Refine Edge Brush Tool".
How to remove a white background in Photoshop iPad?
The "Magic Wand Tool" can be effective for selecting a solid white background. Adjust the tolerance to control how much similar color is selected. Then, you can delete or mask the selected area.
How to precisely remove a background in Photoshop iPad?
Combine different selection tools. Start with "Select Subject" or the "Object Selection Tool", then refine the edges using the "Lasso Tools" or the "Brush Tool" in the "Select and Mask" workspace. Layer masks offer the most precise and non-destructive control.
How to remove a background around an object with curves in Photoshop iPad?
The regular "Lasso Tool" or the "Magnetic Lasso Tool" can be useful for tracing curves. You can also use the "Quick Selection Tool" and then refine the edges in "Select and Mask" using the smoothing and feathering options.
How to undo a mistake while removing a background in Photoshop iPad?
Use the "Undo" gesture (usually a two-finger tap) or find the undo/redo arrows at the top of the screen.
How to add a new background after removing the original in Photoshop iPad?
Once the original background is removed (and the layer with the subject has transparency), import your new background image as a new layer below the layer with your subject.
How to save an image with a transparent background from Photoshop iPad?
Go to "File" > "Export" > "Quick Export as PNG" or adjust your export settings to ensure you are saving as a PNG, which preserves transparency.
How to adjust the feathering of a selection in Photoshop iPad?
After making a selection, go to "Select and Mask..." and use the "Feather" slider to soften the edges of your selection.
How to use a layer mask to remove a background in Photoshop iPad?
Select your subject, then tap the "Add Layer Mask" icon in the Layers panel. The selected area will be visible, and the rest will be hidden (transparent). You can then paint on the mask with black to hide more or white to reveal more.
There you have it! A comprehensive guide to removing backgrounds in Photoshop on your iPad. With practice and experimentation, you'll become a pro at isolating subjects and creating seamless compositions. Happy editing!