📸 How to Remove a Background in 5 Different Photo Editors (2026), by HTG Photo on YouTube. 9 min 7 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 7 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick your editor first. Use Canva for quick graphics, Pixlr for a free browser edit, Photoshop Elements or Affinity for a precise cutout, and ChatGPT for a rough AI result.
In Canva, upload your photo, click Edit photo, then choose BG Remover. Wait for the cutout, then download the image as a PNG file so the transparency is kept.
On a free Canva plan, open Apps, search for Background Remover, and run it on your image. If it is locked, place a solid colour shape behind the subject instead.
In Pixlr, open the photo in the editor and use the AI cutout tool, or pick the Magic Wand and click the background. Press Delete to clear it, then export as PNG.
In Photoshop Elements, switch to Expert mode, choose the Quick Selection brush and drag over your subject. Invert the selection, press Delete, then save the file as a PNG.
In Affinity Photo, pick the Selection Brush, paint over the subject, then click Refine to tidy the edges. Add a mask to hide the background and export as PNG.
In ChatGPT, upload the photo and ask it to remove the background and return a transparent PNG. Download the result and check the edges before you use it.
Zoom to 100 percent and look for halos, stray pixels or missing hair. Clean these with an eraser or mask, then save again as a PNG rather than a JPG.
Tips and common mistakes
A JPG cannot store transparency, so always export your finished cutout as a PNG.
Canva's built-in BG Remover needs a Canva Pro plan, while Pixlr offers a limited number of free saves.
AI cutouts often struggle with hair, glass and fine edges, so plan a few minutes for manual cleanup.
Keep the original photo untouched so you can redo the cutout with a different tool later.
Questions
Can I remove a background in Canva for free?
Only with a paid Canva Pro plan for the built-in BG Remover. Free users can try a background remover app from the Canva Apps store, but many of these need a subscription too.
How do I make the background transparent instead of white?
Delete or mask the background so no pixels remain, then save or download the file as a PNG. Saving as a JPG fills the empty area with white.
Which of these editors is easiest for a beginner?
Canva and Pixlr are the simplest because the removal is mostly one click. Photoshop Elements and Affinity give cleaner edges but take longer to learn.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
