Once the background is removed in one click, everything hinges on the mask edges. This guide covers removing the subject, refining the mask edge, unifying color and lighting once the new background is in, and sharpening on output. The cutout is only really clean when you've been through the whole chain.
1
Open the image and duplicate the background
- In Photoshop click File > Open and choose the image you want to cut out. A resolution of at least 300 ppi keeps the detail crisp.
- In the Layers panel, select the Background layer and press Ctrl+J to duplicate it. That keeps the original around for comparison or rollback at any time.
2
Remove the background in one click
- With the duplicate selected, open the Properties panel (if you can't find it, bring it up with Window > Properties).
- Click the Remove Background button in the Properties panel. Photoshop uses its recognition engine to build a layer mask automatically and hides the background (shown as a transparent checkerboard).
- If the result isn't good enough, undo with Ctrl+Z, or go straight to the next step and refine it by hand. In most cases one click gives a decent first pass.
3
Refine the mask edges
- Use the Brush tool (shortcut B) to paint straight on the layer mask: a white brush brings back hidden areas, a black brush hides what shouldn't be there. Lower the brush hardness for softer edges.
- For complicated edges like hair or glass, right-click the mask thumbnail and choose Select and Mask. Paint the hair with the Refine Edge Brush on the left and PS separates foreground from background for you.
- On the right, adjust Edge radius (1-5 px), Smooth (3-10), and Feather (0.5-2 px) while watching the live preview. Finally tick Decontaminate Colors and output to “New Layer with Layer Mask”.
4
Add the new background
- Drag the new background image you prepared into the document, or import it via File > Place Embedded. Pick a background with high resolution and a light direction that matches the original.
- In the Layers panel, drag the new background layer below the cut-out layer.
- Press Ctrl+T for Free Transform and size and position the background so it sets off the subject.
5
Unify color and light
- Select the cut-out layer, click Create new fill or adjustment layer at the bottom of the Layers panel, and choose Curves or Hue/Saturation.
- Right-click the adjustment layer and choose Create Clipping Mask so it only affects the cut-out layer. Then raise the contrast with Curves, or nudge the hue so the subject sits into the new background.
- If a white or black fringe shows around the subject, use Layer > Matting > Defringe at 1-2 px. You can also use an inner shadow in Layer Style to fake ambient light.
6
Sharpen and save
- Apply Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen to the cut-out layer at 80-120% amount and 1 px radius to make the subject crisper.
- Check the image as a whole and touch up the mask if needed. Then press Ctrl+Shift+S and save as PNG (to keep the transparent background), or as JPEG for other uses (which needs a solid background behind it).
Cutout tips
- Besides “Remove Background”, you can build a selection quickly with the Magic Wand or Quick Selection tool and then add a mask — good for images with a plain background.
- Use a layer mask rather than deleting the background outright, so you can paint back anything you removed by mistake.
- The online tool at www.zaixianps.cc has smart cutout too, which is handy for anyone without Photoshop installed.
- Saving as PNG keeps the transparent background; for print, TIFF is the better choice.
- Handy shortcuts: Ctrl+J duplicate layer, Ctrl+T Free Transform, Ctrl+D deselect, W Quick Selection, B Brush.
Note: the “Remove Background” step above requires Photoshop CC 2018 or later. On an older version, use Quick Selection plus a mask instead — the result is just as good.
Extra tip: if the cutout has semi-transparent areas (a glass, for instance), try setting the blending mode to “Multiply” or “Screen”, or adjust the mask density.