Whether you are using the photo creatively or just want to remove an ugly background, removing the background in a digital photo requires some patience and skill. However, with a little practice, you can learn to make fun, artistic and creative digital artwork.
Instructions
1. Open the digital photo in your photo-editing software. Zoom in to the subject you wish to keep in the photo so that it fills the screen. Select the Lasso Tool (in Photoshop) or the Free Selection Tool (in Gimp).
2. Using the Lasso or Free Selection Tool, trace around the subject carefully. Since your subject is rarely a straight line, click your mouse to anchor points around a curve or a angle.
3. Once you have traced completely around the subject, return to the starting point and click your starting point. This will "connect" the lasso around your subject. You will see a dashed line that will march around your subject. This means that you have selected the subject correctly.
4. Press CTRL+SHIFT+I in Photoshop or CTRL+I in Gimp to invert your selection. This will select the background that you wish to delete.
5. Press the DELETE key on your keyboard in either program. The background of your photo will disappear and will be replaced with a white background. You have now successfully removed the background from a digital image.
