Adobe Background Remover: 3 Easy Ways to Erase Image BG
If you’ve ever tried to edit a photo for a school project, social media post, or even a personal design, you know the struggle: that messy background just won’t go away. Enter the Adobe Background Remover (sometimes called Adobe BG Remover). It’s a tool built into Adobe’s apps, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express, that helps you remove unwanted backgrounds in just a few clicks. I’ve used it for everything from cleaning up profile pictures to making posters for class presentations. In this article, I’ll walk you through what they are and how to use them for quick, simple tasks.
- GUIDE LIST
- Part 1. What is Adobe Background Remover
- Part 2: How to Use Adobe Background Remover
- Part 3: Best Adobe Background Remover Alternative
- Part 4: FAQs
Part 1. What is Adobe Background Remover
Adobe Background Remover is a feature across Adobe’s creative apps that lets you erase or replace backgrounds without needing advanced editing skills. Instead of manually tracing around objects (which is super time-consuming), Adobe uses AI to do the heavy lifting for you, automatically identifying your subject and lifting it right off the background.
Features of Adobe Background Remover
• AI-powered detection: Automatically identifies the main subject in your photo.
• Works across apps: Available in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express.
• Flexible editing: You can refine edges, feather selections, or add new backgrounds.
• Quick results: Saves hours compared to manual background removal.
• Cross-platform: Works on desktop and mobile versions of Adobe Express.
Pricing
Here’s the catch: Adobe doesn’t offer a completely Adobe-free background remover. You’ll need a subscription.
• Photoshop & Illustrator: Available with Adobe Creative Cloud (starting around $20.99/month per app).
• Adobe Express Background Remover: Free version available online, but premium features require a subscription.
Warm tip: If you’re a student, Adobe often gives discounts on Creative Cloud. Always check their student pricing before paying full price, and it can save you a lot!
Part 2: How to Use Adobe Background Remover
Now, let’s break down how to actually use the Adobe image background remover in different apps.
1. Erase Background in Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is the king of image manipulation. If you need flawless, professional results, this is the tool.
Open Your Image
Drag and drop your image into Photoshop.
Tip: Always duplicate your background layer (Cmd/Ctrl + J) so you’re working on a copy. Safety first!
Use Select Subject
In the Properties panel or the Select menu, click Subject. Photoshop uses its AI to automatically select the main object.
Refine the Selection
This is the most important part! Go to Select > Select and Mask (or click the button in the Options bar). This opens the Refine Edge workspace.
Use the Refine Edge Brush
Gently brush over tricky areas, such as hair or fine details. The tool will intelligently detect edges and clean up your selection.
Output to Layer Mask
In the Output Settings, choose Layer Mask and click OK. The background will vanish!
The black areas on the Layer Mask hide the image, while the white areas reveal it. This is why the Adobe Photoshop background remover is so powerful, and you can always go back and paint black or white onto the mask to fix mistakes.
Very easy, right? After that, you can add or change your image background in Photoshop by adding a new background.
2. Remove Background in Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator is for vector graphics (logos, illustrations) that can be resized infinitely without losing quality. It doesn't have a direct remove background button like Photoshop, but it uses powerful techniques to easily erase the image background in Illustrator.
Place Your Image
Import your raster image into an Illustrator document.
Draw the Outline
Use the Pen Tool (P) to carefully draw a closed shape (called a path) around the exact object you want to keep. This path is called your Clipping Path.
Tip: Take your time with the Pen Tool. It's tough at first, but practice makes perfect for smooth curves!
Arrange Layers
Make sure the Clipping Path (the shape you just drew) is directly above the image you are masking.
Create the Mask
Select both the image and your Clipping Path. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Ctrl/Cmd + 7).
Only the parts of the image inside your path will now be visible.
3. Remove Background in Adobe Express
For social media, blog thumbnails, or personal projects where speed matters more than pixel-perfect precision, the Adobe Express background remover is a dream. It’s an easy, one-click online tool.
Go to the Website
Navigate to the Adobe Express background remover on the web.
Upload and Wait
Upload your image. The AI starts the Adobe Remove Background process immediately.
Download
Once the background is gone, you can download the image as a transparent PNG.
If the AI missed something, Express lets you download its app to edit it further. Or upgrade to its premium version to add your content, a background, or an Adobe Stock image.
The Limitations of the Adobe Tools
While fantastic, these tools aren't perfect.
• Complexity vs. speed: Photoshop offers amazing control, but the learning curve is steep. Express is fast, but if your subject is too complex (e.g., a person standing in front of a busy fence), the AI might struggle, and the quick refinement tools aren't always enough to save the day.
• Cost: If you’re a hobbyist, paying for a full Creative Cloud subscription just for the ability to remove a background can feel excessive. You need a truly Adobe-free background remover solution.
Part 3: Best Adobe Background Remover Alternative
If Adobe feels too heavy or expensive, I recommend ArkThinker Free Background Remover Online.
Because of the complexity and cost of the full Adobe suite, sometimes you just need a simple, powerful, and Adobe-free background remover solution that runs in your web browser. This is where tools like ArkThinker Free Background Remover Online really shine.
ArkThinker is built from the ground up to do one thing: remove backgrounds, and it does it incredibly well using cutting-edge AI.
ArkThinker Free Background Remover Online is a web tool designed for lightning-fast, high-quality background removal. It’s perfect for e-commerce sellers, content creators, and anyone who processes high volumes of images without wanting to open bulky desktop software. No selection tools, no masks, just upload and go.
Open your web browser on a computer or mobile phone and go to ArkThinker Free Background Remover Online.
Click the Add File to Start button or drag and drop your photo into the drop zone.
Wait about 5-10 seconds. The AI processes the image, detects the foreground, and removes the background. Your new image with a transparent background is ready to download as a PNG.
Tip: If you are not satisfied with the result, use the manual tool to adjust the background, either keeping or erasing it with the brushing tool.
Additionally, the Edit tab lets you change the background to another picture or a solid color.
If you’re working on a school project and don’t want to pay for Adobe, ArkThinker is a lifesaver. It’s fast, free, and surprisingly accurate.
Part 4: FAQs
Q: Is Adobe Background Remover free?
A: Adobe Express offers a free online background remover, but Photoshop and Illustrator require a subscription.
Q: Which Adobe app is best for background removal?
A: Photoshop is the most powerful for photos, while Illustrator is better for vector graphics.
Q: Can I use Adobe Background Remover on mobile?
A: Yes, Adobe Express has a mobile app with background removal features.
Q: What’s the easiest way to remove a background in Adobe Illustrator?
A: Use the Image Trace tool, then expand and delete background shapes.
Conclusion
The Adobe Background Remover is a solid tool for anyone who needs professional-quality edits. Whether you’re using the Adobe Photoshop Background Remover, trying to figure out how to remove background in Adobe Illustrator, or just relying on the Adobe Express Background Remover, Adobe gives you multiple ways to clean up your images.
That said, Adobe isn’t perfect. It costs money, and sometimes the AI misses details. For quick, free edits, alternatives like ArkThinker Free Background Remover Online are worth checking out.
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