Background removal is a necessary task to make your images look reliable and authentic while editing. Luckily, Canva has the option to do so. Here’s how you can remove the background of an image on Canva:
- Upload your image or choose from the Canva library.
- Click on the ‘Edit Image’ button on the top toolbar.
- Select ‘Background Remover.’
- After a few seconds, the background will be removed.
- Check if Canva removed the background correctly.
- Use ‘Erase’ and ‘Restore’ buttons for the final touch.
Please note that background remover is only available to Canva Pro users.
It is as easy as it seems to remove an image background on Canva.
In this article, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide about how you can remove image background on Canva, the alternative methods, and what to do if the Canva background remover doesn’t work.
Keep reading!
Why Do You Need to Remove Background on Canva?
The background removal option on Canva is used to drive the attention of the reader to the actual image by removing the busy background. It’s a commonly used tool by affiliate marketers, graphic designers, digital marketers, photographers, and eCommerce specialists.
There may be many instances during the production of your design on Canva, where you will need to layer an image over another image or shape.
Layering photos with backgrounds still intact will result in unprofessional images, whether you are placing a logo over your design or making thumbnails that stand out.
In some circumstances, you may find yourself utterly unable to layer an image.
Thankfully, Canva makes removing the background of an image with a single click a breeze.
How to Remove Background on Canva — 6 Easy Steps
Step 1: Upload the Image on Canva
Hover on to the left pane and select ‘Uploads’ and click on ‘Upload Media’ to upload the image from your computer.
You may also upload your image from other online platforms such as:
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Google Photos
If you want to remove the background of an image already existing in the Canva library, click on ‘Photos’ and select the image you want to remove the backdrop from.
Step 2: Select the ‘Image’
After that, choose the photo element. A blue outline will appear around the photo once it has been selected.
Make sure to select the right image that you want to remove the background from.
Step 3: Click on the ‘Edit Image’ Button
When the image is selected, go to the toolbar at the top of the design page and select the ‘Edit Image‘ option from the top toolbar.
Important: If the photo is part of a group, you won’t be able to remove the background. If the ‘Edit Image‘ option does not appear, look to the right for an ‘Ungroup’ option. Remove the items from the group and re-select the photo.
Step 4:
After clicking on the ‘Edit Image’, At the top, click the ‘Background Remover’ button.
It will just take a few seconds (depending on the speed of your internet connection) for Canva to analyze which one is the background and which is the portion in the foreground.
It will then proceed to remove the background. Although Canva performs a wonderful job at removing the backdrop, personal changes are also possible and might be required in some instances.
In the left panel, you will see two brushes: Erase and Restore.
Step 5: Use ‘Restore’ Brush to Bring Back Removed Parts
If you find there are some necessary parts that Canva removed from your required picture, you can use the ‘Restore’ brush to bring back those parts in your image.
Start restoring the portions of the image in Canva, first, by using the matching slider to adjust the brush size and then going over the affected areas.
When finished, click the ‘Done’ button before choosing the ‘Apply’ changes option to save your changes.
Step 6: Use ‘Erase’ to Remove Background Sections
Apart from using the restore function, after removing the background in Canva, you can also avail the ‘Erase’ brush function.
Use this to remove sections of the background that Canva may have overlooked.
And, similar to the restore brush, you can adjust the ‘Erase’ brush’s size by dragging the slider that corresponds to it.
How to Change Background of an Image on Canva — 4 Easy Steps
By layering your images on top of other photos, backgrounds, or shapes (or both), you may create stunning visual effects on Canva.
Here’s how to change the background of an Image on Canva:
Step 1: Upload the New Background
After you have removed the background, upload the image you want to layer it over. You may also select an image or background from a number of options on Canva.
Resize the image because it will be difficult to change its scale afterward.
Step 2: Send the Background to the Back
Then, right-click over it and choose ‘Send to Back’ to ensure that the image with the background removed is on top. You can also press ‘Ctrl+Alt+[‘ from your keyboard alternatively.
Sending pieces to the rear, based on where they should be in the design, allows you to layer them (stack them or pile them).
The two photos will blend to form a natural whole.
Step 3: Resize the Background
Resize your background to the desired shape and size so that it perfectly matches the image.
That’s it! You have successfully changed the background of your image.
Step 4: Group ‘Elements’
If you wish to combine your image and background into one, group all of your canvas elements together. And you’re done!
Friendly Tip: NO NEED to get overwhelmed by the heavy picture-editing language used here. It’s ok! When you read this article while removing the background in Canva, all of this is going to make sense and won’t get too nerve-wracking!
How to Blurr a Background on Canva — 5 Simple Steps
Another method of removing background in Canva can be by blurring the background of any shot with Canva’s background remover.
Blurring a background on Canva is a fairly cool technique that only takes a few minutes to perform. Here are steps to do so:
Step 1: Open the ‘Image’
Resize and place the image you wish to blur the background for in your design.
Then, while the image is selected, click the ‘Duplicate’ button in the right corner of the element-specific toolbar.
You should be able to drag the duplicate away from the original image and back to your design.
If you already have a copy of the image, say from your uploads, you can add another copy later instead of copying it. However, if you resized the first image, duplicating it saves you the trouble of resizing the copy.
Step 2: Blur the ‘First Image’
Select the first image and, in the toolbar at the top, click the ‘Edit Image‘ option.
On the left, the adjustment panel will open. Select the ‘Blur’ option and move the slider to the desired value for adjusting the brush size.
Step 3: Align Both Images
Return to the duplicate image, place it separately, and drag it back onto the original, making sure they are exactly aligned.
Step 4: Remove Background of the Duplicate Image
Again ‘Edit Image’ panel and click the ‘Background Remover’ button while this duplicate is chosen.
And there you have it! You’ve got a picture with a hazy background.
Step 5: Group Both Images
Simply select both photographs and then click the ‘Group’ option to move them together.
Adding A Fading Gradient to Remove Background
Adding a gradient effect to your background is another interesting hack that involves using Canva’s background remover. Gradients are popular because they may give an object a subtle spark of brilliance.
Some little tweaking with a gradient effect and the background remover can help boost your photographs. Here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Adjust the Image Size
Adjust the position and size of your image on an empty design page.
Step 2: Search for Gradient Element
From the left-hand toolbar, select ‘Elements’ and look for ‘Gradients.’ You are searching for a gradient that transitions from opaque to transparent.
Search for ‘transparent gradient’ if you can’t locate it. Add this gradient to your canvas.
You will need to flip the element now if you want to add the gradient effect to the right side of the image.
Select it and, from the toolbar at the top, click the ‘Flip‘ option, then choose ‘Flip horizontal‘ from the alternatives that are displayed.
If you want to fade the photo from right to left, there’s no need to flip it. You’re going to add a fading effect from left to right in this tutorial.
You can also alter the shade of purple to a different one. Select the new color from the color panel by clicking the ‘Purple square’ from the toolbar.
The color white has been chosen for this guide. You need the second square to be transparent, so leave that alone.
Step 3: Resize the Gradient Element
Make the gradient element the same height as your image by resizing it. Then, to the right of the image, position it so that some of the gradient element overlaps with the photo but not all of it.
You may change the color of the gradient according to your desire.
Step 4: Duplicate Your ‘Gradient’
To duplicate your gradient, select the ‘duplicate’ option and drag the duplicate slightly to the left of the preceding element.
Duplicate the gradient element a couple more times, shifting the copy to the left each time. You’ll see that a fading effect is taking shape. Duplicate the gradient until the fading effect is to your liking.
The fading effect will now gradually take over the entire photo, rather than just the background. It’s nothing to be concerned about. Click the ‘duplicate’ icon after selecting your original photo.
Step 5: Remove Background of the Image
Place the duplicate directly on top of the original. Then, under the ‘Edit Image‘ tab, select the ‘Background Remover‘ option. And the backdrop of your shot now has a fading gradient effect while the main subject remains in focus.
Step 6: Group All Elements
Finally, select all of your design’s elements (pictures and gradient elements) and group them.
Canva Background Removal Not Working — Here’s What to Do
If the Canva background remover isn’t working, try to change your browser from Chrome to Firefox. Canva works much better on Firefox than any other browser. You may also want to check your internet bandwidth as background remover works slow on low internet speed.
In most cases, Canva background remover takes less than 10 seconds to remove a background.
It may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed, It also depends on image complexity as the Canva learns which part of the image needs to be removed in real-time.
However, if Canva is taking more than 5 minutes, there’s probably an underlying issue that’s causing Canva to delay removing the background.
You may also try using Canva app instead of the Canva website to remove the image background.
To summarize, here are the possible solutions to fix Canva Background Remover:
- Use Firefox browser
- Use high-speed internet
- Clear browser cookies and cache
- Try using images with less resolution
Canva Background Remover Alternatives
If none of the above-mentioned tips work, try using an alternative background remover tool such as Snapseed, or Remove.bg.
The editing world doesn’t end on Canva — There are tons of other options for removing the background out of your image.
Conclusion
Canva has a lot of useful tools and functions for editing photographs. Among them, the background removal feature on the platform is extremely useful.
With this tool, learning how to remove the background in Canva is like a piece of cake eaten with your hands behind your back!
With the touch of a button, you can erase any background image. Canva has a large library of pictures that you can use to replace your old background and give your photo a whole new look.
So fret not, and start editing!
