How to Remove Backgrounds in Affinity Photo

Edited 3 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Affinity PhotoImage EditingPhoto RetouchingLayer MaskingBackground RemovalCreative DesignGraphic DesignDigital ArtMac SoftwarePhotography

Removing backgrounds from images is a basic skill for any graphic designer or photo enthusiast. Affinity Photo, a powerful image editing software, offers various tools and techniques to help users achieve professional-looking background removal. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various ways to separate subjects from their backgrounds in Affinity Photo, discussing each step in detail so you can master this skill.

Introducing Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo is an affordable and highly respected alternative to Adobe Photoshop that offers a wide range of tools for editing and retouching photos. It works for both professional photographers and amateurs with an intuitive interface and support for a variety of image formats. When it comes to background removal, Affinity Photo shines with its selection refinement tools, quick masks, and layer operations.

Understanding Image Layers and Selections

Before we get into background removal, it's important to understand the concepts of image layers and selections in Affinity Photo. Layers are like sheets placed on top of each other, where each layer can hold different parts of your image or even different images altogether. Selections, on the other hand, define the parts of the image you want to manipulate without affecting the rest.

Using the Selection Brush Tool

The Selection Brush tool is one of the easiest ways to remove backgrounds. It allows you to create a selection by painting over parts of your image. Here's how you can use it:

1. Open your image: Start by opening your image in Affinity Photo by clicking File > Open and then selecting your file.
2. Select the Selection Brush Tool: Choose the Selection Brush Tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
3. Adjust brush size: Use the Brush Width slider in the context toolbar to change the size of your selection brush. A larger brush is faster for broad areas while a smaller brush is better for detailed work.
4. Start a selection: Click on the subject of your image and select it. If you need to adjust mistakes, hold down the Alt key (or Option key on a Mac) to subtract from the selection.
5. Refine your selection: Click the Refine button in the context toolbar to open the Refine Selection dialog. This allows you to fine-tune the edges using various options such as feathering and smoothing.

Refining Edge Technology

The Refining Edge technology in Affinity Photo helps achieve smooth and precise selections, especially around tricky areas like hair or fur. Refining Edges prevents images from looking cut-out and ensures a natural blend with the new background.

1. Refine the selection: After you create the initial selection, click the Refine button.
2. Adjust edge detection: Use the slider to adjust the radius for edge detection to refine the boundary of your selection. This is useful for complex areas.
3. Feather and Smooth: Use the feather and smooth features to soften the transition between the subject and background, which often helps present a more blended look.

Using the Pen Tool for Precision

The Pen Tool is ideal for precise selections, especially when dealing with hard, clean edges. The following steps show you how to use the Pen Tool to remove a background:

1. Select the Pen Tool: Select the Pen Tool from the toolbar, or press P on your keyboard.
2. Create a path: Click to create nodes around the edges of the subject. Click and drag to create a curve. Use as many nodes as needed to define the edge.
3. Convert the path to a selection: When your path is complete, right-click and choose Make Selection from the context menu.
4. Refine as needed: If necessary, refine the selection edges similar to using the Selection Brush tool.

Quick Mask Tool for Complex Backgrounds

The Quick Mask tool allows for detailed masking by painting directly onto the image. This is useful for complex subjects or areas:

1. Activate Quick Mask: Press Q to switch to Quick Mask mode.
2. Paint your mask: Use the Brush tool to paint over the areas you want to include or exclude from your selection. Painted areas will appear in red by default.
3. Exit Quick Mask: Press Q again to exit Quick Mask mode. The painted area turns into a selection.
4. Refine and adjust: Refine the edges if necessary to ensure accuracy and smoothness.

Layer masks for non-destructive editing

Using a layer mask allows you to remove the background while leaving the original image intact, which is useful for making reversible edits:

1. Apply a layer mask: With an active selection, click the Mask Layer button at the bottom of the Layers panel to apply a mask based on your selection.
2. Edit the mask: Set the Brush tool to black to paint on a mask to hide parts of the image, and set it to white to reveal parts if you make a mistake.
3. Fine-tune the mask: Adjust the edge of the mask by painting with different brush sizes or using the smudge tool for more precise editing.

Combination of selection methods

Sometimes, a single selection method may not be enough, especially with challenging backgrounds. In such cases, combining methods may yield better results:

• Initial selection: Start with a simple selection method, such as the Selection Brush tool, for broad subjects.
• Refinement and detail: Use the Pen Tool or Quick Mask for detailed areas that require precision.
• Finalize with masks: Apply layer masks for flexibility in editing and further refinement without altering the original image.

Smoothing and blending

Once you remove the background, it's important to make sure your subject blends well with the new backdrop. Use feathering and softening tools to smooth out hard edges. If a new background is introduced, adjust its properties to match the light and shadows of the subject for a consistent look.

Saving and exporting your work

After successfully removing the background, don't forget to save your work. In Affinity Photo, save your project in .afphoto format to retain all layers and adjustments. When you're ready to use the image, you can export it in several formats:

1. Go to File > Export. This opens the Export dialog.
2. Choose Format: Choose the desired format such as JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. PNG is preferred if you need to maintain transparency.
3. Adjust export settings: Modify the quality settings and resolution based on your needs.
4. Export your image: Click Export and choose a destination for your file.

Conclusion

Removing backgrounds in Affinity Photo may seem daunting at first, but with practice and an understanding of the tools at your disposal, it becomes a fascinating process. Whether you want to create composites, separate products for ecommerce or enhance portraits, mastering these techniques will greatly expand your image editing capabilities. Experiment with different methods, hone your skills and you'll be able to tackle any background removal challenge with confidence.

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