There are several methods to remove a white background and make it transparent in Photoshop. A simple method, although perhaps not the most precise, involves using layer adjustments.
Here's a step-by-step guide using one effective approach:
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Open your image in Photoshop.
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Unlock the Layer: Double-click on the background layer in the Layers panel (usually labeled "Background"). A "New Layer" dialog box will appear. Click "OK" to convert it into a regular layer (e.g., name it "tattoo" for organizational purposes as suggested by the reference). This makes it editable.
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Using the Magic Wand Tool:
- Select the Magic Wand Tool (W) from the toolbar.
- In the options bar at the top, adjust the tolerance to a value that selects most of the white background without selecting the parts of the image you want to keep. A lower tolerance selects a smaller range of colors, while a higher tolerance selects a wider range. Experiment to find the right balance.
- Click on the white background. This will select it.
- If the selection isn't perfect (e.g., it missed some areas of white or selected parts you want to keep), you can:
- Add to the selection by holding the Shift key and clicking on the unselected white areas.
- Subtract from the selection by holding the Alt (Option on Mac) key and clicking on the areas you want to deselect.
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Delete the Selected White: Press the Delete key (or Backspace on Mac). This will remove the selected white area, revealing the transparency grid underneath.
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Deselect: Go to Select > Deselect (or press Ctrl+D or Cmd+D).
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Refine the Edges (Optional): If you have jagged edges, you can refine the edges using the Refine Edge feature (Select > Select and Mask). Adjust settings like Smooth, Feather, Contrast, and Shift Edge to improve the appearance.
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Save as a PNG or GIF: To preserve the transparency, you must save your image in a format that supports transparency. PNG is generally recommended for images with transparency, while GIF is suitable for simple graphics. Go to File > Save As, and choose PNG or GIF as the format.
Why this works:
By deleting the selected white pixels, you are essentially removing them from the layer. The remaining pixels will then appear on top of whatever is beneath that layer, which, in the absence of any other layers, is the transparent background indicated by the checkerboard pattern. Saving in a format that supports transparency ensures those transparent pixels are preserved.
