How to Remove Background from Picture in Canva
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Removing the background from an image is one of those game-changing skills. Whether you're creating eye-catching graphics, polished product shots, or personalizing a holiday card, having a clean background can make your visuals pop.
Canva has a background remover built-in, but here's the catch: the BG Remover is only available on Canva Pro. If you're not on Pro plan yet, you can unlock it with Canva's 30-day free trial.
Problems using Canva Background Remover
1. It struggles to deal with semi-transparent subjects in the image.
For instance, the bridal headpiece made of lace tulle should be semi-transparent, but Canva cannot discriminate it from the original solid beige background color.
2. It processes compressed, smaller-resolution images.
Although the paid plan allows you to upscale images upon exporting, removing background in lower resolutions can result in jagged edges and loss of details.
3. It doesn't support batch processing, which is a must for E-commerce and marketing.
To avoid these problems and achieve flexible, clear, and natural background removal, you can use Aiarty Image Matting.
Part 1. How to Remove Image Background in Canva
The BG Remover option is only available for Canva Pro users. If you don't want to subscribe to Canva, you can jump to Part 3 for an easier method with AI-driven matting.
Step 1. Create a new project and upload your image.
Create a blank project or use Canva templates. Drag and drop your file in the left-hand panel.
Step 2. Use the Background Remover Tool in Canva.
In the Uploads panel, click your image to add it to the canvas.
Click the image to make sure it is selected, then hit the BG Remover option on the toolbar.
Step 3. Refine Using Brush Tools.
If you prefer to make some detailed adjustments, hit the BG Remover button again to open the brush tools:
- Erase to remove areas you don't want.
- Restore to bring back parts that were accidentally erased.
Adjust the brush size for precision work on smaller or larger areas.
Tips for Better Workflow
- Quick Preview: Press the Spacebar to toggle the original image and see your edits in real-time.
- Navigation: Scroll your mouse up and down to move around the image.
- Zoom In/Out: Hold Ctrl and scroll your mouse to zoom in and out for finer control.
Step 4. Export the transparent background.
Click the Share button, choose PNG file type, and make sure the Transparent background option is ticked.
Otherwise, the exported image will have a white background, instead of a transparent background, even if you have already used the BG Remove option.
Part 2. How to Add a New Background in Canva
While some of you prefer transparent cutouts, others may want to remove and replace backgrounds in Canva. Here's how:
Step 1. Upload or Choose a Background Image.
You can upload your own background image or browse Canva's library of stock images.
Step 2. Add the Background Image to Your Design.
Click the background image to add it to your canvas.
Step 3. Adjust Layers.
To move the new background behind your subject, right-click the image and select Layer > Send to Back, or use the Position button in the toolbar to drag the image into place.
Shortcut Keys for Layering:
- Bring forward: Ctrl+]
- Bring to front: Ctrl+Alt+]
- Send backward: Ctrl+[
- Send to back: Ctrl+Alt+[
Part 3. How to Remove Background in Aiarty with Clear Edges
Aiarty Image Matting is the tool for faster and higher quality results, especially when working with complex images like hair, fur, or semi-transparent objects. Aiarty uses state-of-the-art (SOTA) AI models and alpha matting to deliver precision, even in the trickiest scenarios.
Before getting started, install and launch Aiarty Image Matting.
Step 1. Drag and drop your images into the working panel.
Step 2. Hit the Start button in Image Matting to remove the image background.
Aiarty's AI models will automatically matte the image, providing a clean, transparent background with natural edges.
Shortcut:
- You can use mouse scroll to zoom in on a specific part.
- Press Space and drag your mouse to move the image.
- Hold down Control or command plus mouse scroll to adjust the brush size.
Step 3. Export the image with a transparent background.
Aiarty also supports batch processing, so you can export up to 3000 images at once for efficiency.
Optional Step. Add a new background before exporting.
You can add a new background within Aiarty before exporting, making it a one-stop solution for both matting and blending.
Refine using edit tools:
Aiarty Image Matting has 4 edit tools built-in, you can use the eraser to remove unwanted parts, the brush to bring back pixels, and the dodge and the burn tools for a natural image blend with new backgrounds.
For instance, Canva fails to refine the semi-transparency tulle of the bridal's headpiece lace, resulting in the original beige background being a remnant on the new background, which feels unnatural.
See comparison below:
In Aiarty, the AI models can better detect semi-transparency subjects, and keep those subtle transparency variations. Plus, you can adjust the alpha value of the brushes to refine the matting.
Watch video tutorial to remove background using Aiarty Image Matting:
FAQs
1. Where is the background remover in Canva?
The background removal feature is called BG Remover in Canva. It is located on the toolbar just above your image, but the background remover is only applicable in Canva Pro paid plans.
2. How do you export the transparent background in Canva?
Make sure to tick the option "Transparent Background" upon the exporting panel (share > download). Otherwise, the exported image will have a pure white background.
3. How to refine the subject and background edges in Canva?
4. Why there are background remnants on isolated subjects in Canva?
Canva doesn't support fine-tuning the transparency levels when isolating subjects from the backgrounds. To solve the problem, you can turn to Aiarty Image Matting, a standalone AI matting software with alpha matte estimation. It can properly tackle semi-transparent items, lace, hair, fuzzy fabric, and other tricky scenarios.
Brenda Peng is a seasoned editor at Digiarty Software who loves turning ordinary photos into extraordinary works of art. With years of experience behind the lens and in front of the computer, Brenda shares her passion for photography, image enhancement, and editing through easy-to-follow tutorials.
