How to make a transparent PNG from a photo

A transparent PNG is a picture without its background, so it can sit on any colour, photo or design. Here is how to make one in a minute, free, without uploading your photo anywhere.

Why PNG, not JPG

JPG cannot store transparency, every pixel is a solid colour. PNG has an alpha channel, so the area around your subject can be fully or partly see-through. That is why logos, stickers, product shots and collage pieces are saved as PNG.

Step by step

1. Open the Background Remover and drop in a JPG, PNG or WebP. It stays on your device.
2. Pick the quality. Fast is a small download and is tuned for portraits. Detailed works for any subject, such as products, pets and objects, and downloads a larger model once.
3. Check the edge. Hold the "Hold to see original" button to compare. Use Edge position to shrink the cut-out and remove a light halo, or grow it to bring back lost detail. Use Softness for a feathered edge.
4. Choose the background. Keep it transparent, or preview on white or any colour you pick.
5. Download the PNG. Free is up to 600px with a small watermark on the subject. Pro (one-time €9) exports full resolution without a watermark.

Tips for a cleaner cut-out

• Start with contrast. A subject that differs from its background in colour and brightness cuts out best.
• Fix a light fringe. If you see a thin bright outline, move Edge position a little towards negative so the edge pulls in.
• Hair and fur. Try Detailed, then add a little softness so the edge does not look cut with scissors.
• Shadows. The shadow under a subject is part of the background and is removed. Add a new soft shadow in a design tool if you need one.
• Start sharp. Use the sharpest, highest quality photo you have. A crisp source gives a crisper edge.

What to do with it next

Send the cut-out to The Studio with one click and stack effects on it: a halftone print on the subject, a risograph poster, or a dither sticker. Place a second photo behind it, and use the "Effect on this image only" option to style just one of them. You can also use the Cutout layer directly inside The Studio, on your main photo or on any image you add.

Is it really private?

Yes. The cut-out model is downloaded once and then runs in your browser, on your own device. Your photo is never sent to a server. Compare the approach with a cloud service in STUDIO·ITY vs remove.bg.