How to Change the Background in Photo: A Step-by-Step Guide

Being a photographer, I've worked on editing photos on all sorts of projects, personal portraits and marketing materials, for instance, and the most common thing I've ever done is replace the background of a photo. It used to be a slow, high-tech operation that needed a lot of patience. Now, thanks to online software and AI-based editing, it's possible to get a perfect background removal in seconds. I'm going to take you through how to change the background in photo with four tools that I've personally used.

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Best Tools to Change the Background in a Photo

When I wanted to figure out how can I change the background of a picture, I wanted tools that were easy to use, worked well, and didn't require me to download any programs or pay for a subscription just to do a simple task. I needed something that would work quickly, handle different kinds of images, and still give me results that looked clean and professional. I tried out a lot of different platforms and found a few that were faster, more accurate, and easier to use than the rest. In this part, I'll show you four tools that I've used myself. Each one has its own strengths, depending on the type of imageyou're working with.

Toolsmart Background Remover

I have used Toolsmart Background Remover dozens of times, particularly when I need quick, clean cutouts for client presentations or social media graphics. The best thing is that It's entirely free, no sign-up is needed, and it provides instant results with no watermark. I have used different types of images, and its AI works flawlessly even with jumbled up backgrounds

Features:

• One-click automatic background removal powered by AI

• Option to add a solid color background after removing the original

• Supports static image formats like JPG and PNG

Pros:

• No login or account needed

• High-quality, precise background removal

• No watermarks or hidden fees

Cons:

• Only supports static images, no video backgrounds yet

How to use Toolsmart Background Remover:

Here’s how to use Toolsmart Background Remover to figure out how to change the background in photo:

Step 1: Head over to Toolsmart’s Background Remover. You’ll see a big upload button right on the homepage.

Step 2: Click on “Upload Image” and choose your image. Once the image is uploaded, the AI will automatically separate the subject from the background itself.

Step 3 : If you want to, you can use the simple editing options to tweak the background color or edge smoothing.

Step 4: Click “Download” to save the image with a transparent background, and your image will be downloaded and ready to use.

I use this tool regularly when I need a quick solution that looks good and doesn't slow me down with unnecessary steps.

Canva Background Changer

Canvahas been part of my design process as far back as I can recall, and its background changer function is a handy one, especially when I want something quick. I have used it to enhance my profile photos and design social media graphicsthat look perfect. The downside is that only Canva Pro offers the background removing function, which can be a bit of a drawback to frequent users initially.

Features:

• Drag-and-drop interface

• Large selection of background templates

• Seamless integration into design projects

Pros:

• Great if you’re already designing in Canva

• Offers visual templates for easy replacement

• Smooth user experience

Cons:

• Requires a Canva Pro subscription for background removal

• Free users have to remove backgrounds manually

How to use Canva Background Remover:

Here’s a step by step process on how to use Canva Background Changer to change the background of a picture:

Step 1: Click the “Upload Image”button and choose your image. JPEG and PNG files work best.

Step 2: Click on the image and select “Background Remover”

Step 3: Download your image once you’re done by clicking on the “Download” button on the top right hand side of your screen

I’ve found Canva helpful for removing the background from some of my images when working with clients, and it has been really helpful. The only drawback is that you need to have Canva Pro for it, which may be a problem to some users, but that’s about the only hurdle in using it.

Adobe Express

I first came across Adobe Express when I wanted to edit pictures without opening the Photoshop App because I had a really slow computer earlier. I’ve used it to clean up headshots and remove backgrounds from some pictures, and let me tell you, the results always look surprisingly professional. You do need to log in, but it’s definitely worth it.

Features:

• AI-powered cutout for background removal

• Part of Adobe’s web-based tool suite

• Supports PNG export with transparent background

Pros:

• High-quality results with fine edge detection

• Trusted Adobe performance

• Good compatibility with image formats

Cons:

• Requires Adobe sign-in

• Processing can be slower on weaker internet

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How to use Adobe Express

Here’s how to use Adobe Express Background Changer to find out how to change the background of a photo:

Step 1: Visit Adobe Express and upload your image.

Step 2: Let the tool automatically remove the background, it will then show you the picture with the background removed,

Step 3: Download your PNG image by clicking the“Download” button at the top right of the webpage.

It’s really good for quick editing without overworking your computer, and the results always come out really good. There are also endless editing options, which make it seem like I'm working on Photoshop and not some online tool.

Picsart Background Changer

I began with Picsart as a mobile editor before trying the web app when I wanted greater control over the look of my pictures. It's an amazing choice for social media updates such as Instagram Stories or YouTubethumbnails. One thing that i dont like about it is that the free edition places watermarks, and it constantly nudges you to buy the premium version.

Features:

• Background changer works on both web and mobile

• Option to insert creative or themed backgrounds

• Part of a larger image editing suite

Pros:

• Mobile-friendly and easy to use

• Good for adding fun effects

• Allows background swaps with visual flair

Cons:

• Watermark on free downloads

• Frequent upsells for premium

It's usually best for creators making content for social platforms.

How to use Picsart Background Changer:

It can be a little confusing at first look, so here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use PicsArt to remove backgrounds from pictures.

Step 1: Go to Picsart Background Changer and upload your image

Step 2: Once the tool loads the image, edit or apply filters as needed.

Step 3: Download the image by clicking the“Download” button

Picsart is a great creative tool, but because of the watermarks on the free version, I don't really use it that much because a watermark never looks good on pictures, especially those that you need to upload somewhere or use on social media. If they didn’t have the watermark, it would be an amazing tool.

Comparison of the Four Tools

After seeing all of these tools, it may be difficult for you to figure out which one actually works and which one is going to be useful for you. So, to save you the time of trying each of these on your own, I've created a comparison table highlighting the key features of each tool so you can see which tool fits your needs best.

All of these tools work really well when I need quick, professional results, but Toolsmart has started to become more of my top choice, especially when I need qualitywithout the hassle of sign-ups or buying subscriptions. The no watermark feature is also really amazing, so it just gives you a clean and polished image that is ready to use anywhere.

Why Toolsmart Background Remover Is the Best Choice

I have used all of these tools on professional and personal projects, and Toolsmart's Background Remover has been the quickest and easiest for removing noisy or jumbled up backgrounds. It's ideal for quick edits without compromising on quality. Toolsmart's edge detection is very accurate, it actually picked up curly hair and complicated shadows on one of my images, which made it catch my eye, because that is really hard to do manually.

 

Combined with no subscriptions, ads or watermarks, it’s easily my top recommendation. If you’re someone who values speed, ease, and clean results, Toolsmart Background Remover is the easiest way to convertthe background in photo without complications.

FAQs

Q1: Can Toolsmart handle detailed backgrounds like hair or trees?

Yes, its AI detects and removes fine details very accurately, even with messy edges.

Q2: Is Canva’s background changer free?

Partially. You can add new backgrounds in the free version, but you’ll need Canva Pro to remove the existing one cleanly.

Q3: Does Adobe Express work well for fast edits?

Yes, though you’ll need to log in, and it may take a little longer to process on slow networks.

Q4: Will Picsart leave a watermark?

Yes, unless you’re using the paid version. The free version includes a watermark on saved images.

The Best Way to Change the Background in a Photo

Figuring out how to change the background in photo doesn’t need to be complicated. I’ve tried all four of these tools, and while each has its strengths, Toolsmart Background Remover delivers the cleanest, fastest experience with zero cost or setup. It’s very easy to use, lightweight and gives you a clean image without any watermarks. It also does not ask you to buy a subscription or give you ads, which make it excellent for working quickly and without any distractions.