How to Remove Background in Gimp Fast and Smooth

Living Image
26 Sept 202206:10

TLDRThis tutorial video demonstrates how to quickly and smoothly remove the background of an image using GIMP. The presenter explains the use of selection tools, such as the rectangle, ellipse, and free select tools, to select the desired area and remove the background by inverting and clearing the selection. The focus is on the 'Select by Color' tool, which is highlighted as a fast and efficient method for selecting the subject. The video also addresses common issues like hair selection and shows how to use a layer mask and paintbrush tool to refine the edges for a more natural look. The presenter emphasizes the importance of adjusting the brush hardness and force for optimal results and concludes by encouraging viewers to invest time for better outcomes.

Takeaways

  • 🖼️ To remove the background from an image in GIMP, use selection tools such as the rectangle, ellipse, or free select tool to select the area you want to keep.
  • 🔄 After selecting the desired area, invert the selection and clear it to remove the background.
  • 🔍 The 'Select by Color Tool' and 'Foreground Select Tool' can also be used for background removal, but they may require more time for better results.
  • ✂️ The 'Smart Select Tool' is recommended for quickly selecting the subject and removing the background, as it intelligently selects the area with less manual adjustment needed.
  • 🖌️ If you want a color background, you can change the color in the layers panel. For a transparent background, add an Alpha Channel to the layer.
  • 🖥️ Zoom out to get a better view while using the Smart Select Tool to select the subject accurately.
  • ⏎️ Press Enter or Return to finalize the selection after using the Smart Select Tool.
  • 🎨 Use the paintbrush tool with a low hardness and force setting to refine the edges around complex areas like hair.
  • 🖱️ Add a layer mask with white full opacity to fix issues around the edges, such as stray hairs.
  • 📉 Adjust the brush's hardness and force according to your preference for the best results in refining edges.
  • 🕒 Spending more time on refining the edges can significantly improve the final result of the background removal.
  • 👋 The presenter expresses hope that the tutorial helps and bids farewell, indicating the end of the demonstration.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video tutorial?

    -The main topic of the video tutorial is demonstrating how to remove the background of an image quickly and smoothly using GIMP.

  • Which selection tools are mentioned in the video for removing the background?

    -The selection tools mentioned are the rectangle select tool, ellipse select tool, free select tool, and the 'Select by Color' tool.

  • What is the process of removing the background using the selection tools?

    -The process involves using a selection tool to select the area you want to keep, inverting the selection, and then clearing the background to remove it.

  • Why might the selection tools not always produce the best results?

    -The selection tools might not always produce the best results because they may not accurately select complex areas like hair without additional manual adjustments.

  • What is the 'Select by Color' tool used for?

    -The 'Select by Color' tool is used to select areas of a specific color, which can be useful for removing backgrounds when the subject and background have distinct color differences.

  • How can you fix issues around the hair after removing the background?

    -You can fix issues around the hair by adding a layer mask to the layer, selecting a white full opacity mask, and then using a low-hardness paintbrush to recover the natural look around the hair edges.

  • What is the role of the 'Select by Color' tool in the process?

    -The 'Select by Color' tool helps to select the subject faster than other tools by identifying and selecting areas of a specific color, which is useful for a quick background removal.

  • What is the Smart Select Tool mentioned in the video?

    -The Smart Select Tool is a feature within GIMP that intelligently selects areas of an image based on edges and color differences, making it easier to isolate the subject from the background.

  • How can you change the background color after removing the original background?

    -After removing the original background, you can change the background color by selecting the color you want in the color picker and applying it to the new layer.

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  • How do you create a transparent background instead of a colored one?

    -To create a transparent background, you need to go to the layer, right-click on it, and select 'Add Alpha Channel' from the context menu.

  • What are the steps to refine the selection after using the Smart Select Tool?

    -If you are not satisfied with the selection, you can use the backspace key to undo parts of it and make adjustments. Once you're done with the selection, press enter or return to finalize it.

  • What is the significance of adjusting the brush hardness and force when fixing hair edges?

    -Adjusting the brush hardness and force allows for more precise and natural-looking edits around the hair edges, providing a smoother transition between the subject and the background.

Outlines

00:00

🖼️ Removing Image Background with Selection Tools

This paragraph introduces the video's purpose, which is to demonstrate how to quickly remove the background from an image. The speaker has already imported an image and explains that selection tools and the parts tool are typically used for this task. The process involves selecting the area to keep, inverting the selection, and clearing it to remove the background. The paragraph also mentions that while these tools may not always yield the best results, they can be effective with more time and effort. The presenter plans to use the 'Select Subject' tool for its efficiency and intelligence in selecting areas, and briefly mentions other tools like the 'Foreground Selection Tool', 'Select Tool', and 'Select by Color Tool'. The paragraph concludes with a demonstration of using the 'Select Subject' tool to remove the image background and a mention of addressing issues like hair selection using a layer mask and paintbrush tool.

05:03

🎨 Refining Edges and Finalizing the Background Removal

The second paragraph focuses on refining the edges of the image, particularly around the hair, to recover a natural look. The speaker demonstrates how to use a layer mask with a white full opacity and a paintbrush tool to adjust the hardness and force for better control over the selection. The importance of spending time on this step to achieve better results is emphasized. The paragraph concludes with a summary of the process for quickly removing an image's background using the 'Select Subject' tool and a note of thanks to the viewers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Background Removal

Background removal is the process of taking an image and separating the subject from the background. In the video, the main theme is to demonstrate how to quickly and effectively remove the background of an image using GIMP, which is a free and open-source raster graphics editor.

💡Selection Tools

Selection tools in GIMP are used to define a particular area of an image that the user wants to manipulate or isolate. The video discusses using various selection tools such as the rectangle, ellipse, and free select tools to choose the area to keep and remove the background.

💡Invert Selection

Invert selection is a feature in GIMP that reverses the current selection, allowing users to switch between the selected and unselected parts of an image. In the context of the video, inverting the selection is a step used after identifying the area to keep, so that the background can be cleared.

💡Clear

Clear is an editing function in GIMP that deletes the selected area of an image. After using selection tools and inverting the selection, the 'clear' function is used to remove the background, leaving only the subject of the image.

💡Fuzzy Select Tool

The Fuzzy Select Tool in GIMP is an intelligent selection tool that uses color proximity to select areas of an image. It is mentioned in the video as a useful tool for quickly selecting the subject of an image for background removal without needing to manually adjust the selection.

💡Layer Mask

A layer mask in GIMP is a feature that allows for non-destructive editing by hiding parts of a layer. The video demonstrates adding a white layer mask to refine the selection around complex areas like hair, which can be difficult to select precisely.

💡Paint Brush Tool

The Paint Brush Tool in GIMP is used for painting and drawing on the image. In the video, it is used with a layer mask to carefully paint over areas like hair to achieve a natural look and fix any imperfections in the selection.

💡Hardness

Hardness in the context of GIMP's paintbrush tool refers to the sharpness of the brush's edges. A lower hardness value creates softer edges, which is useful when refining selections around areas with intricate details like hair, as shown in the video.

💡Alpha Channel

An Alpha Channel in GIMP is an additional color channel that carries information about the opacity of the image. By adding an Alpha Channel, as shown in the video, users can create a transparent background instead of a solid color.

💡Foreground Selection Tool

The Foreground Selection Tool in GIMP is used to select the parts of an image that are closer to the foreground. It is one of the selection tools mentioned in the video as an alternative method for selecting the subject of the image for background removal.

💡Select by Color Tool

The Select by Color Tool in GIMP allows users to select areas of an image based on a specific color. It is briefly mentioned in the video as another option for making selections when removing the background.

Highlights

Demonstrates how to remove the background of an image quickly using GIMP.

Selection tools and the parts tool are used to select the area to keep and remove the background.

The process involves inverting the selection and clearing it to remove the background.

Different selection tools such as rectangle, ellipse, and free select are available for various shapes.

The smart select tool is highlighted as particularly useful for fast background removal.

Other tools like the foreground selection tool, select tool, and select by color tool can also be used.

The smart select tool is favored for its intelligence in selecting areas without much manual adjustment.

Backspace can be used to undo and adjust selections if needed.

Pressing enter or return finalizes the selection.

Changing the background color or making it transparent by adding an Alpha Channel is possible.

Issues around hair can be fixed by adding a layer mask and using a paint brush tool.

Adjusting the hardness and force of the paint brush is crucial for natural-looking results.

The tutorial emphasizes the importance of spending time for better results around complex areas like hair.

The final result is a fast background removal using the smart select tool in GIMP.

The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide for users to follow along.

The video is aimed at helping users understand and improve their GIMP background removal skills.

The presenter thanks the viewers and signs off, indicating the end of the tutorial.