Are unwanted elements or individuals disrupting the composition of your photo? Adobe offers a solution that simplifies their removal. Allow us to guide you through the process.
Imagine capturing a stunning image of a serene beach at sunset or a picturesque snow-covered mountain, only to have the beauty marred by an unsightly backhoe or uninvited individuals. Fret not, for you can effortlessly eliminate undesired objects and people from your photos, courtesy of the powerful tools provided by Adobe Photoshop.
For years, Photoshop has enabled the removal of subjects from background images. However, with the introduction of new AI features and tools, such as the Remove Tool, the process has become more accessible than ever before. This tool erases people or objects from your photos and intelligently generates a plausible background to seamlessly fill the void left behind.
While older tools like Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill and Healing Brush have been effective in removing objects from images for some time, they lack the automatic precision and convenience offered by the AI-powered Remove Tool introduced in the June 2023 update. The Remove Tool is not only easier to use but also more accurate, making it a superior choice.
Step 1: Locate the Remove Tool
The Remove Tool can be found in the Band-Aid section of the left-hand toolbar. Adjust the brush size, located in the options bar near the top of the image (where it reads “93”), to ensure it’s large enough to cover the object you wish to remove without excessive brushing.
Step 2: Brush Over the Object
Once you’ve activated the Remove Tool, begin brushing over the object you want to remove. It is advisable to start by brushing along the object’s edges and then proceed to fill in the central area, all in a single continuous motion. Remember to brush not only inside the object’s boundary but also around its outer edges, including any shadows it may cast. For complex cases, multiple passes may be necessary, as was the case when removing a car from a street scene in our example.
Step 3: Assess the Result and Make Adjustments
It’s important to note that you may not achieve perfect results on your initial attempt, as demonstrated below. In such instances, you can try using the Remove Tool again with slight variations in your brushing technique. Alternatively, you may opt to select the object and utilize “Edit” > “Content-Aware Fill.” However, be aware that the automatic options in this tool may yield less satisfactory results. Nonetheless, it does provide the advantage of allowing you to select the replacement area, potentially leading to better outcomes than the default settings produced.
Adobe’s documentation indicates that the Remove Tool is compatible with complex backgrounds. As demonstrated in the results, it may occasionally struggle to convincingly replace objects in challenging scenarios, such as replacing a car that had obscured double yellow road lines. The results may not always appear entirely realistic, especially when dealing with previously obscured objects. Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that the Remove Tool is a new addition and may improve with future updates. Even in its current state, it outperforms its predecessors in many respects.
METHOD: 2
Using the Content-Aware Fill Tool:
Open Your Image:
Launch Photoshop and open the image from which you want to remove people or objects.
Select the Object:
Use the “Lasso Tool” or the “Marquee Tool” to select the object or person you want to remove.
Access Content-Aware Fill:
Go to “Edit” > “Content-Aware Fill.”
Adjust Settings:
In the Content-Aware Fill dialog box, adjust settings like “Sampling Area” and “Output Settings” to fine-tune the fill.
Apply Content-Aware Fill:
Click “OK,” and Photoshop will attempt to fill the selected area with content that matches the surrounding background.
Refine if Necessary:
Use the “Spot Healing Brush” or “Clone Stamp Tool” to further refine the area if needed.
METHOD: 3
The Clone Stamp Tool Method:
Open Your Image:
Start by opening your image in Photoshop.
Select the Clone Stamp Tool:
Click on the “Clone Stamp Tool” in the tool panel.
Set the Sample Point:
Alt-click on an area of the image that you want to use as a reference or source for cloning.
Clone the Object:
Carefully paint over the object or person you want to remove using the Clone Stamp Tool. Photoshop will replace it with the sampled content.
Adjust Brush Settings:
Adjust the brush size and hardness as needed for precise cloning.
Refine and Blend:
To ensure a seamless blend, continue cloning while sampling different areas nearby.
METHOD: 4
The Pen Tool and Layer Masks Technique:
Open Your Image:
Open your image in Photoshop.
Select the Pen Tool:
Click on the “Pen Tool” in the tool panel.
Create a Path:
Use the Pen Tool to create a path around the object or person you want to remove.
Convert Path to Selection:
Right-click the path and choose “Make Selection.” Set the feather radius to 0 pixels.
Add a Layer Mask:
Click the “Add Layer Mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. This will hide the selected area.
Paint on the Layer Mask:
Select a black brush and paint over the areas you want to remove. The white areas will remain visible.
Refine and Blend:
Adjust the brush opacity and hardness as needed to blend the edges of the removed object or person with the background.
Conclusion
Photoshop offers several techniques to remove people or objects from pictures, allowing you to achieve professional-looking results. Depending on the complexity of the image and your familiarity with Photoshop, you can choose the method that best suits your needs. Remember to save your edited image as a new file to preserve the original, and always practice on a duplicate image if you’re unsure of the outcome. With patience and practice, you can master the art of object and people removal in Photoshop.