In the world of graphic design, and digital marketing, Adobe Photoshop stands out as a powerful tool for changes related to images, or graphics. One of the most fundamental and frequently used techniques is changing the background colour of an image. Whether you are an aspiring graphic designer, or else, a seasoned professional, understanding “how to change background color in Photoshop” is an essential skill. In this blog post, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of changing background colour in Photoshop providing you with the knowledge and confidence to transform your images and unleash your creativity.
Table of Contents
How to change background color in photoshop: Complete Process
1. Understanding the Basics
Before diving into the process of changing colours in Photoshop, it is essential to have a basic understanding of the software’s interface. Photoshop offers a wide range of tools and features, but for accomplishing this particular task, we will focus on the following components effectively.
- Layers: Layers are the building blocks of Photoshop, allowing you to work with different elements of an image independently. Understanding how layers work is crucial for changing the background colours in an image.
- Selection tools: Photoshop provides various selection tools such as Marquee, Lasso, and magic wand tools to make precise selections. These tools are essential when isolating the background for colour replacement.
- Colour Picker: The colour picker allows you to choose the desired colour by adjusting the hue, saturation, and brightness. This tool will be instrumental in selecting and applying the new background colour.
2. Preparing your Image
To ensure a smooth background colour image, it is crucial to prepare your image smoothly. It will help you understand how to change the background colour in Photoshop. For this purpose, follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Open the image: Launch Photoshop and open the image you want to modify by selecting the file, and then open it.
- Duplicate the Layer: Right-click on the background layer in the layers panel and select “Duplicate layer.” This step creates a backup layer allowing you to revert to the original image if needed.
- Select the object: Use the appropriate selection tool to isolate the object from the background. Depending on the complexity of the image, you may use multiple selection tools, or employ advanced techniques such as pen tools for precise selection.
3. Changing the background colour
Now that your image is prepared or the object is selected, it is time to change the background colour. Follow these steps.
- Create a New Layer: In the layers panel, click on the new layer button to create a new layer above the background layer. This layer will serve as the new background.
- Choose the colour: Select the new layer and use the colour picker tool to choose the desired colour for your background. You can either manually enter the RGB, or else, hexadecimal values, or use the picker to select a colour from an existing image, or else, colour swatch.
- Fill the layer: With the new layer selected, and the desired colour chosen, go to the edit menu, and then select fill and then choose the colour option. This action will fill the new layer with the selected colour, effectively changing the background.
- Adjust Opacity and Blending Modes: Depending on the desired effect, you can adjust the opacity, and blending modes of the new layer. Lowering the opacity can create a more subtle background effect while experimenting with blending modes can produce interesting overlays and colour interactions.
Changing the background colour is the most important step to follow if you want to execute the steps related to “How to Change Background Color in Photoshop.”
4. Refining the edges
To ensure a seamless and professional look, refining the edges of your selected objects is crucial. Here are some techniques to achieve clean edges.
- Feathering: After making the selection, go to the select menu, choose to modify, and then feather. Apply a small feather radius to soften the edges, and avoid harsh transitions. Feathering creates a gradual transition between the object and the background resulting in a more natural appearance.
- Refine Edges: For more complex selections, the refined edge feature is particularly useful. Access it by right-clicking on the selection, and selecting refine edge. This opens a dialogue box with several options such as edge detection to fine-tune your selection.
- Layer Masks: Layer masks are a powerful tool for refining the edges of your selection. After applying the refined selection, add a layer mask to the layer containing the object. Use a brush with black colour to paint over any remaining unwanted background areas, or use a white brush to reveal any parts that were missed during the selection process. This fine-tuning process helps achieve seamless integration between the object and the new background.
Conclusion
By incorporating the techniques of feathering, refining edges using the refine edge tool, and utilising layer masks, you can achieve professional-looking and refined edges when changing background colours in Photoshop. These methods allow for precise control and seamless integration between the object and the new background ensuring a visually appealing result. Remember to practise on various images with different settings to become proficient in refining edges. With these skills in your arsenal, you will be able to elevate your graphic designing projects, and learn perfectly “How to Change Background Color in Photoshop.”