Pictius Free image editor in your browserRemove the background from an image
Select the subject, turn the selection into a layer mask and export a PNG: the background becomes transparent and the original pixels stay intact, so you can fix any edge later. For portraits there is also a one-click option. Everything runs in your browser.
- Free
- No install, no account
- Images stay on your device
- Layers, masks and AI
Remove a background with a layer mask
This method works with people, products, pets and objects, and nothing is deleted: the mask only hides the background.
- Open the photo with File ▸ Open… (Ctrl+O).
- Choose Select ▸ Subject. Pictius detects the main subject and selects it. The first time, it downloads its detection model, so you need a connection once.
- If the selection missed something, press W until Quick Selection is active, hold Shift and paint over the missing part. Hold Alt instead to remove areas that should not be selected.
- For hair or soft edges, open Select ▸ Select and Mask… (Ctrl+Alt+R), paint the edge with the Refine Edge Brush and set Output To to Layer Mask.
- Otherwise, choose Layer ▸ Add Layer Mask from Selection and then Select ▸ Deselect (Ctrl+D). The background disappears and you see the transparency checkerboard.
- Export with File ▸ Export as PNG, or use File ▸ Export As… to pick PNG or WebP, both of which keep transparency.
One click for portraits
IA ▸ Remove Background erases the background of the active layer in one step. Its model is trained on people, so it works well with portraits and selfies but not with products or animals. It deletes the pixels rather than masking them, so if you want to keep a way back, duplicate the layer first with Layer ▸ Duplicate Layer. With an active selection, only the selected area is processed.
Fix the edges of the mask
A layer mask is a grayscale image attached to the layer: white shows, black hides and gray is partly transparent.
- Click the mask thumbnail in the Layers panel to edit the mask instead of the photo, and the photo thumbnail to go back.
- Press B for the Brush and paint with black to hide more, or with white to bring back what the selection cut off. X swaps the two colors.
- Alt+click the mask thumbnail to see the mask on its own, and again to go back.
- Shift+click the thumbnail to switch the mask off and compare with the original.
Plain and studio backgrounds
A white or single-color backdrop is often faster to select directly. Press W for the Magic Wand, click the background (Shift+click adds more areas), then use Select ▸ Inverse (Ctrl+Shift+I) to select the subject and add the mask. The Magic Eraser and the Background Eraser, both under E, delete similar colors straight away if you do not need a mask.
Put a new background behind the subject
Use File ▸ Open as Layer… (Ctrl+Shift+O) to add another image, or Layer ▸ New Fill Layer ▸ Solid Color… for a flat color, then drag the new layer below the subject in the Layers panel. To get a single image again, use Layer ▸ Flatten Image or simply export.
Frequently asked questions
Does background removal work on products and animals?
Yes, with Select ▸ Subject and a layer mask. When there is no person in the picture, Select Subject picks the area that stands out from the colors along the border. IA ▸ Remove Background is the one meant only for people.
Why do I see a checkerboard after removing the background?
The checkerboard is how the editor shows transparent pixels. It is not part of the image: a PNG or WebP export keeps those areas transparent.
Can I save a transparent background as JPG?
No. JPG has no transparency, so Export As fills the empty areas with the Background color you choose. Use PNG or WebP when you need transparency.
Is my photo sent anywhere to detect the subject?
No. The detection model is downloaded to your browser and runs on your computer. Your photo is processed locally and never leaves your device.
How do I give the subject a white background?
Add Layer ▸ New Fill Layer ▸ Solid Color… with white, drag it under the subject and export as JPG or PNG.
Image editing guides
- Remove objects from a photoErase unwanted objects, people or text from a photo: select them and use Content-Aware Fill, AI Fill, Spot Healing or Patch. Everything runs in your browser.
- Cut out hair and objects preciselyCut out people, hair, pets and products: start with Quick Selection or Select Subject, refine the edge in Select and Mask and output a layer mask or a new layer.
- Blur the background of a photoBlur the background of a photo to make the subject stand out: use Portrait Mode, or select the subject and apply Gaussian Blur to the rest. Free, in your browser.
- Resize an imageResize an image to exact pixels or a percentage with Image Size, choose the resampling method, and add or trim space around it with Resize Canvas. Free and private.
- Crop and straighten a photoCrop a photo to a ratio such as 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9, straighten a tilted horizon, fix perspective with Perspective Crop and trim empty borders. Free, in your browser.
- Upscale an imageEnlarge a small image with Super Resolution 2x, which doubles its size with smooth interpolation and sharpening, or pick an exact size and method in Image Size.
- Convert an image to another formatConvert images in your browser: open PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, GIF or PSD files and export PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, SVG, PDF or TIFF with the quality and scale you choose.
- Images at the right size for social mediaMake images at the right size for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and more: crop to a preset ratio or use Export for Social Media to resize and save in one step.
- Open and edit PSD files onlineOpen PSD files in your browser with their layers, groups, masks, adjustment layers and effects, see what is kept or approximated, and export PSD, PNG or JPG.
- Add text to an imageAdd text to a photo with editable text layers: set font, size, color and spacing in the Character and Paragraph panels, then add a shadow or stroke with Layer Style.
- Add a watermark to your photosAdd a text or logo watermark to a photo, set its opacity and blend mode, then record it as an Action and apply it to many images at once with Batch.
- Adjust color and exposureFix dark, flat or off-color photos with Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation and Shadows/Highlights, and keep every edit reversible with adjustment layers.
- Remove blemishes and red eyeRetouch portraits in your browser: remove spots and blemishes with Spot Healing and Healing, clone away distractions with Clone Stamp and fix red eye with one click.
- Layers and masks explainedLearn layers in Pictius: groups, blend modes, layer masks and clipping masks, adjustment layers, and .pictius project files that keep every layer editable.
- Batch edit images with ActionsRecord your edits once as an Action and play it on many images with Batch: resize, adjust, watermark and export them all in one go, right in your browser.