6 Easy Steps on How to Remove Backgrounds in Gimp
Looking for a complete guide on how to remove backgrounds in Gimp? You are on the right page. It only needs simple steps to get into. Moreover, the Gimp software is free to use and easy to install on almost every computer. In the following post, I am going to show how you can erase background in Gimp in a few minutes. You have several methods to follow. Check out which one works best for you.
The importance of Gimp is going high day by day. It’s free and works faster. Removing the background in Gimp might seem complicated, but in reality, it isn’t. The best part is it has several ways to remove background. If you didn’t grasp one technique, another one would work just fine.
Here are the techniques to use to remove the background using GIMP
Using Fuzzy Selection Tool
One of the easier processes of removing background is to use the fuzzy selection tool. If you have a solid colour background behind your subject, the following method is good to go. It works like a magic wand tool, as seen in Photoshop. Let’s start the process.
Step 1: Open your image on GIMP by going into the File > Open. Now, select the right image on your computer.
Step 2: After Opening the image, select the “Fuzzy Select“ Tool, which has an icon with a stick and star on it. Or you can press U on your keyboard.
Step 3: Once you have the icon as a cursor, click and hold on to your image’s background. And then move your mouse rightwards to increase the selection. Similarly, you can decrease the selection by moving your mouse to the left.
Note: To add a new selection area, press Shift and click on the area. And press control and click on the area.
Step 4: Once you got the proper selection, click on the Delete button on your keyboard.
In the end, don’t panic if you can’t select the whole background of your image. Once you delete the first portion, start working on another portion of your background. Don’t rush to delete the entire background on the first try. And everything would be fine.
Sometimes you have to delete the background area in two or three phases. The fuzzy select tool doesn’t select the whole background at once. So be patient. If you need a faster process you could change background color in Photoshop.
Using Foreground Select Tool
If you have any foreground object with a feather or fine detail, the following method would be the perfect one for you. It’s fast but needs a little bit of patience to complete.
Step 1: First, open your prefered image on Gimp with File > Open.
Step 2: Then select the foreground select tool. It’s located in the “Free Selection” tool menu. Just click and hold on to the Free Selection menu, and you would get the option.
Step 3: After it, draw a rough outline around your subject or so-called foreground. Make sure you connect the lines where you started.
Step 4: Press Enter.
Step 5: Once you press Enter, you would see a dark blue shading on your background and light blue in the foreground.
Step 6: Now, again, you get a brush on your mouse. Just brush it over your subject. Make sure you don’t brush off the edges of your subject. But also don’t think about being too precise. You can also increase and decrease the size of the brush by opening and closing third brackets.
Step 7: Press Enter.
Step 8: After it, your brushed area would become a selection. Now, go to Select > Invert menu option.
Step 9: Finally, press the Press Delete button on your keyboard.
The mentioned process of GIMP is not hard to learn as it’s much essential to remove the background of objects with feather or complexities.
Once you remove background using the foreground select tool, it would create a feather effect around your subject.
Using Select By Color Tool
The following method is one of the easiest ways to remove background from your image. It works best if you have the same colour background. So, without any further ado, let’s dive into it.
Step 1: First, open your image with File > Open.
Step 2: After opening the image, select the “Select by Color” tool. Alternative to it, you can also press Shift + O.
Step 3: Once you have the tool, click on the background and hold the mouse in place. Now move your mouse to the right to increase the selection and move left to decrease it.
Note: According to GIMP Documentation, You can press Shift and click to add an area to the selection. And also, press control and click on the area to eliminate the selection.
Step 4: Once you select your background, press the Delete button on your keyboard.
No doubt, it’s one of the easiest Gimp background removal techniques. So, make sure to use it if you have any photo with a plain colour background.
It works best with images which have a solid background. And even you may have to delete the background in two phases.
Using Paths Tool
If you are a fan of Photoshop, it’s the best way to erase the background in Gimp. Moreover, it’s suitable to work on all sorts of images, whether complex or straightforward. So, let’s get in.
Step 1: As usual, open your image on Gimp with File > Open.
Step 2: Once you open the image, click on the “Path’s Tool”. Or press E on your keyboard.
Step 3: Now, start creating a path along the border of your subject.
Step 4: End the Path tracing the point where you started it.
Note: Press the Z key on your keyboard to zoom into the image.
Step 5: Then, right-click on the Path you have traced. After it goes to Select > From Path, it would convert the Path into selection.
Step 6: Now, it’s time to invert the selection to the background.
Step 7: Finally, hit delete on your keyboard.
So, with the following method, you would get the perfect background removing process. The best thing is it works great both on simple and complex subjects.
Using Quick Mask
The quick mask is a great option to cut background in GIMP. And it’s super fast and easy to follow. If you want a faster background removing process, you can try out the following technique. Here’s where I start.
Step 1: At first, open your prefered image on GIMP. Go to File > Open. And select your prefered image.
Step 2: Once you open the image on Gimp, go to Select > Toggle Quick Mask.
Step 3: Now, your image would turn red. Then click on the “Eraser Tool” or press Shift + E.
Step 4: Now brush on your subject and make sure you don’t cross the borderline. But also don’t worry about being too precise.
Step 5: Once you complete the brushing on the subject, press the Shift + Q button on your keyboard. It would make your brushing area into a selection.
Step 6: Now go into the Select > Invert option from the menu section. As a result, your selection would jump from your subject to background.
Step 7: Once you select the background, press the delete button on your keyboard. That’s it.
So, your background would get deleted except your background. So, that’s how you delete your background using the masking tool. And it also creates feather effects around the edge of your subjects.
You need to brush the subject with a little bit of accuracy. If you can’t brush properly it won’t give the expected result.
Using Layer Mask
For a more precise background removing process, you can use the following technique. It’s simple and provides you with a faster solution to erase background in Gimp. So, let’s start.
Step 1: At first, Open your image by opting to File > Open.
Step 2: Now go to the image layer and right-click on it. After clicking on it, you would get a complete menu. Click on the “Add Layer Mask” option.
Step 3: Afterwords, select the “Paint Brush” tool or press F.
Step 4: Once you select the brush tool, brush out the background of your image. Be careful to not brush over your subject.
Step 5: At the end, press the Delete button.
So, that’s how GIMP deletes the background to transparent. You can utilize the method to remove the background.
Conclusion
So, it’s that easy to cut background in Gimp. With the ultimate guide on how to remove backgrounds in Gimp, you get the precise direction. No doubt, Gimp provides you with perfect alternatives to Photoshop. But, in case you want a professional background removal service, go for professional freelancers and agencies. It would give you an ideal output superfast. So, first, try out yourself. If you need a professional output, relying on someone expert is the best way to go. Start your background removing journey now.
Navaho Mizsey
Author
“Navaho Mizsey is a Content Writer Executive with 5+ years of experience. He is a hardworking and talented writer. He writes what the audience wants to read. He completed his degree in journalism and started his career in content writing. He loves to write about photography, camera, and photographer”
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