Remove Background for Icons Tutorial
As requested by Anonymous, this post will explain how to remove the background for your icons, so you can add a solid, gradient, etc background.
You will learn how to remove the background in three ways and which method works best for the photo you want as your icon:
[NEW] Remove Background
[NEW] Subject (link only)
[A CLASSIC] Pen + Brush Tool
↓ TUTORIAL UNDER THE CUT ↓
Each method will be explained first so pick whichever is most appropriate to your photo and then you will find what to do after removing the background at the last part of this post.
[1] Remove Background
If this feature isn't available in your version of Photoshop, just skip to the ones that you can do :)
TIP: For this method, it's best to use photos with clean, solid backgrounds and "clean" or sharp-edged subjects, such as this:
NOTE: This first method is the quickest way to remove a background but it doesn't work for every photo.
1.1 Open your photo in Photoshop.
1.2 Unlock the layer (if it's locked) by clicking the lock icon.
1.3 Click Remove Background which you will find under the Quick Actions tab in the Properties panel (Window > ✓Properties). That's it!
[2] Subject
If this feature isn't available in your version of Photoshop, just skip to the ones that you can do :)
If your photo has a background that's not too busy and a subject with:
Hair that is either curly, messy, or has visible stray hairs
Clothes that are fluffy or fuzzy
This is the step for you.
These are examples of photos you can use:
For this method, I have decided to just link this video tutorial [Patrick_Star_BOO.gif] because it will take me too long to explain it (and there would be more text for you guys to read and nobody wants that).
[3] Pen + Brush Tool
For this method, you can use any type of photo, like one with a busy background. But I'll be using this photo as an example to keep the explanations simple:
3.1 Open your photo in Photoshop.
3.2 Unlock the layer (if it's locked) by clicking the lock icon.
3.3 Select the Pen tool (shortcut: P)
NOTE: Make sure it's set Path, not Shape, which you can find at the top menu.
3.4 Trace around your subject.
To do this:
3.4.1 Create a starting point by simply clicking anywhere on the edges your subject.
TIP: Turn on caps lock to change your cursor from the pen to a point (like what you see in the gif example below).
3.4.2 Make another point not too close to the first point.
NOTE: To create a curve line, click and drag to arc the line and follow the curve like this:
NOTE:
If you'd like to stop the curves and start drawing straight lines again, hold down option (Mac) / Alt (Windows) + click the on the point you created:
If you'd like to change the curve direction, hold down option (Mac) / Alt (Windows) + click and drag the white point (which now turned blue) as shown below:
3.4.3 Continue this process until you reach the first point you made. Click on it to close the path. It should now look like this:
3.5 Mask the Pen tool path. You will find the Mask button at the top menu, it's between Selection... and Shape.
If it's not there, another way to do this is to:
Right click on your photo (with Pen tool still selected)
Click Make Selection...
Make Feather Radius: 0.1 pixels then click OK.
Add layer mask to your photo's layer. This can be found at the bottom of the Layers window, at the right side of the "fx" button.
3.6 Brush tool (optional)
If there are any parts you accidentally left out, you can just brush them back in and vice versa.
NOTE: Click the layer mask once to select it since we’ll be brushing over the layer mask, not the layer.
TIPS:
You can also brush parts in [1] and [2], just make sure you're brushing over the layer mask.
To switch between adding back and removing the parts you’ve brushed over, press the keyboard shortcut X to swap the foreground and background colors (should be black & white).
Black foreground color: erases
White foreground color: brings back what’s been erased
Making the icon
4.1 Create a New Document by going to File > New... > then make both width and height 128 px, the standard Tumblr icon size.
4.2 Transfer your photo to your new document by using the Move tool (V) to drag the photo onto the new document.
You can also save your photo as a png file then place that file onto the new document.
4.3 Transform and position your photo in the new document (let's call it icon document from now on).
TIP: I personally think it best to convert your photo into a Smart Object (right click the photo layer > Convert to Smart Object) before transforming the photo. This way, if you want to make the photo bigger after making it smaller, it won't become pixelated.
4.4 Color grade your photo.
TIP: If you don't want your coloring to affect your new background, create a clipping mask on your coloring layers to the photo layer. To do this, right click on the coloring layer (i.e. Brightness/Contrast) > Create Clipping Mask. It should all have an arrow pointing down to the photo look like this:
4.5 Change your Background
4.5.1 Unlock the Background layer first (if it's locked) by clicking the lock icon.
4.5.2 Click the "fx" button at the bottom of the Layers window
4.5.3 Select Color Overlay if you want a solid background color or Gradient Overlay if you want a gradient background. Change the colors to whatever you want :)
Once you're okay with your icon, save it as jpeg. If your background is transparent, save it as png.
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Please like/reblog if this has helped you and feel free to send a message for any questions and concerns! ♥︎
