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How to Remove the Background
If you need to remove the background from an image, Zoner Studio provides the necessary tools for this.
- Saving to PNG
- Background removal that requires further editing
- Editing the mask with Drawing Tools
- Editing the mask with Selection Tools
Batch Background Removal Using Artificial Intelligence
Using Artificial Intelligence
Find the function:
Manager and Editor modules | Top menu | Edit section
Editor module | Edit menu in the right panel | Edit section
Select the image you want to edit and choose the AI Remove Background function. This will automatically analyze the image, and you simply choose whether you want to replace the background with transparency or a solid color. If you choose transparency, remember to save the result as a PNG file; otherwise, the transparency will not be preserved and will be replaced by a color. Other formats, such as JPG, do not support transparency.
Saving to PNG
If the original file is not in PNG format and you choose to replace the background with transparency, the program will warn you that the file cannot be saved in its original format due to potential image quality loss. In the dialog with this message, click Select New Format and confirm by clicking OK.
The Convert File dialog will appear. In the Format field, choose PNG. Then make sure that the Keep Transparency option below is checked. You can leave the remaining settings as they are or adjust them as needed.
Background removal that requires further editing
If the artificial intelligence does not fully recognize which parts of the image belong to the background and the removal is imperfect, you can fine-tune the result. However, this option is only available in the Editor, where you can choose Set Background as Layer Mask.
After selecting this option, a mask will be added to the layer. You will see the preview of the layer and the mask in the lower part of the right panel. The mask is black and white, where black represents the parts removed from the image, and white represents the parts kept.
The mask can be edited in two ways – using Drawing Tools or Selection Tools.
Editing the mask with Drawing Tools
First, click the mask preview in the right panel, then select the Drawing Tools. The Brush and Fill tools are adapted for mask editing, and the Color option will show black and white swatches. If you choose black, you will remove more parts from the image. If you choose white, you can restore parts that were removed.
If you don’t see the black and white swatches, you probably have the layer selected in the right panel instead of the mask.
After selecting the tool and color, simply move your mouse cursor into the image and start painting over the areas you want to remove from or add to the mask.
Editing the mask with Selection Tools
Choose a selection tool, such as the Magnetic Lasso, and make a selection in the image. Once the selection is done, right-click the mask preview in the right panel.
If you want the contents of your selection to become transparent, choose Remove Selection from Mask. If you want the selection contents to become visible, choose Add Selection to Mask.
In the Preview Options menu, you can choose how transparency will be displayed in the Editor – whether transparent parts of the image will show the Zoner Studio background color or the characteristic checkerboard pattern.
Batch background removal using Artificial Intelligence
In situations where you have many photos that need background removal or replacement with white (e.g., product photography for an online shop), batch background editing is useful. For this purpose, work in the Manager module.
Select all the photos you want to edit.
Keyboard shortcuts:
Ctrl+A – selects all files in the folder.
Hold Ctrl + click – allows you to select multiple individual files in the folder.
Shift + click – allows you to select all files between the currently selected file and the one you click on.
After selecting the photos, open the AI Remove Background function. All selected photos will be displayed in the left part of the dialog as thumbnails. In the right part of the dialog, choose whether you want to replace the background with transparency or a color, and then click the Apply to All button at the bottom.
Manually
Manual background removal is only possible in the Editor module. After opening the image in the Editor, choose the Selection Tools, select a suitable tool, and make your selection. For complex shapes, the Magnetic Lasso is typically the best choice, but tools can be combined, and multiple different tools can be used for the best results.
Once you have the entire subject selected, click Invert Selection in the right panel. This will include the entire background in the selection and exclude the subject.
Then, right-click the layer in the right panel and choose Mask | Remove Selection from Mask. This creates a mask that can still be further adjusted using the Drawing Tools or Selection Tools.
