How You Can Remove a Background or Make it Transparent with Photoshop Elements

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of removing a background or making it transparent in Photoshop Elements. This skill is useful for creating images that can seamlessly integrate into various projects, whether for personal use or professional presentations.

Step 1: Open Your Image in Photoshop Elements

• Launch Photoshop Elements on your computer.
• Navigate to File > Open and select the image from which you want to remove the background.

Step 2: Select the Expert Mode

• Switch to Expert Mode by selecting it from the top right corner of the interface. This mode provides advanced editing tools necessary for background removal.

Step 3: Use the Selection Tool

• Select the Magic Wand Tool or the Lasso Tool from the toolbar.
• For the Magic Wand Tool:
  • Click on the area of the background you want to remove. Adjust the Tolerance in the options bar if necessary to capture more or less of the background.
• For the Lasso Tool:
  • Manually draw around the object you want to keep. Close the loop to complete the selection.

Step 4: Refine Your Selection

• After making your initial selection, use the Refine Edge option:
  • Go to Select > Refine Edge.
  • Adjust settings like Smooth, Feather, and Contrast to create a cleaner selection edge.

Step 5: Remove the Background

• Once satisfied with your selection, press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove the background.
• If you want to make the background transparent rather than delete it, ensure you save your image in a format that supports transparency, like PNG.

Step 6: Save Your Transparent Image

• Go to File > Save As.
• Choose PNG from the dropdown menu to save your image with a transparent background.
• Name your file and click Save.

Conclusion

You have successfully removed the background from your image in Photoshop Elements, leaving you with a transparent background. This technique is great for creating custom graphics for presentations, social media, or any other creative projects. For further learning, consider exploring more advanced features in Photoshop Elements or check out online courses for in-depth training.