Remove A White Background with Affinity Designer

In this tutorial I’ll be demonstrating how you can easily remove a white background with Affinity Designer. Considering that Affinity Designer is a vector-based application, you would naturally assume that it wouldn’t be the best tool for removing backgrounds from photos. However, Designer comes equipped with a powerful pixel editor that allows you to make basic edits to photos, one of which would be the Selection Brush Tool, which we’ll be using for this tutorial.
If you want to learn more about logo design, be sure to check out my Logo Design Academy - an interactive 18-part video course where you will learn my entire creative process for coming up with logo ideas and implementing them: logosbynick.com/learn/
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:17 Open your document
00:30 Open the Pixel Persona
00:51 Remove lock from the layer
01:03 Use Selection Brush Tool to outline subject
02:45 Tweak the selection further
04:24 Make refinements
05:31 Delete the selection
05:45 Export your work
06:40 Conclusion
Intro song: "In Da Mood" by Combustibles, used with written permission

Пікірлер: 158

  • @einarwahlstrom5533
    @einarwahlstrom55333 жыл бұрын

    THE SOLUTION: RIGHT CLICK THE IMAGE LAYER AND CLICK RASTERIZE, THEN IT WILL WORK TO DELETE THE BACKGROUND :D

  • @jande5143

    @jande5143

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!!

  • @jlvlogs9187

    @jlvlogs9187

    3 жыл бұрын

    goat

  • @pokemasterx4244

    @pokemasterx4244

    3 жыл бұрын

    Goat

  • @augustya7543

    @augustya7543

    3 жыл бұрын

    Can you please explain how will it work on am iPad ? So I click on the background image and tap Rasterize ? That way ?

  • @Listte

    @Listte

    3 жыл бұрын

    THAAAAANKS

  • @andrewmacklin3204
    @andrewmacklin32042 жыл бұрын

    This is a bang-on video tutorial and helped me a lot. Quick, to the point, but still thorough enough.Well done!

  • @christopher4045
    @christopher40453 жыл бұрын

    When you're in the 'Refine' window (where it looks red), turn 'Matte Edges' off - its much more accurate.. Also, hold ALT when brushing for the Object/Subject and hold CTRL for background removal. Hope this helps!

  • @chrisefc3579

    @chrisefc3579

    Жыл бұрын

    I never even noticed that matt edges option and have have been using this forever. Cheers.

  • @decalpals8496
    @decalpals84963 жыл бұрын

    Hey, Nick, glad to see you doing videos in AD. Never got around to learning GIMP even though I enrolled in your courses for it. I'm working a lot on my iPad so AD was the best choice. Hope to see more videos on AD since you're such a good teacher. Hope all are well in your world.

  • @DesignMadeSimple

    @DesignMadeSimple

    3 жыл бұрын

    Affinity seems to be the best option for iPad and tablet users. At this point I've taught pretty much everything I know about Inkscape and GIMP, so it's on to new challenges. Always great to hear from you!

  • @creators-circle8437
    @creators-circle84372 жыл бұрын

    This was really helpful!!! Thank you :) Very easy explained. Love it!

  • @nadernaysak
    @nadernaysak2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for making this great tutorial!

  • @favourstogo3764
    @favourstogo37642 жыл бұрын

    This is the best video I've seen on this stuff. I have now been able to do stuff I've not been able to do before. Thank you.😃

  • @giorgosdrougas5350
    @giorgosdrougas53503 жыл бұрын

    You are the best!! Excellent lesson!! Thanks again!!

  • @artemorbid
    @artemorbid2 жыл бұрын

    This was very helpful, thank you so much!!!

  • @watkinsme4629
    @watkinsme46293 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Nick this really helped me out

  • @OliverIsenrich
    @OliverIsenrich2 жыл бұрын

    Your tutorials are excellent

  • @acarmyofone
    @acarmyofone3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this video.

  • @leonfranca
    @leonfranca2 жыл бұрын

    Great video. Thank you so much!

  • @haritarao9522
    @haritarao95222 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! I am learning the tools!

  • @99QTZ
    @99QTZ2 жыл бұрын

    Bloody Brilliant! I have many clipart items that this saved time on for me! thank you!

  • @ralfh.5031
    @ralfh.503110 ай бұрын

    very helpful! All the love, all the power

  • @emileogier
    @emileogier2 жыл бұрын

    Amazing video, thanks!

  • @teresacrawford5651
    @teresacrawford56513 жыл бұрын

    Easy-peasy!! Thanks!!

  • @yourstruly9013
    @yourstruly90132 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Very helpful

  • @nickyshaw9516
    @nickyshaw9516Ай бұрын

    thank you for your easy explanation

  • @rustamnizam4428
    @rustamnizam44283 жыл бұрын

    Awesome 👍 More such videos, please

  • @eyefocusTV
    @eyefocusTV Жыл бұрын

    thanks, it was really helping for me.

  • @Illecebrous
    @Illecebrous3 жыл бұрын

    Nick, looking forward to more tutorials in Affinity Designer... I have Affinity Photo but haven't used it, learning AD and A.Publisher...

  • @anonymouse2573
    @anonymouse25733 жыл бұрын

    I get everything selected, refine, then when i press delete nothing happens :x why is deleting a background so hard

  • @splifftastic9530

    @splifftastic9530

    3 жыл бұрын

    hahahahaha same shit.... ARGH

  • @egoponte

    @egoponte

    3 жыл бұрын

    same here

  • @AG-od8kp

    @AG-od8kp

    3 жыл бұрын

    I had the same problem because my document had a white background. File/document setup/color (in the middle of the window)/check the 'transparent background' option and it was ok

  • @viniblendz9425

    @viniblendz9425

    3 жыл бұрын

    same problem anyone find a solution yet???

  • @markbailey7584

    @markbailey7584

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AG-od8kp You are awesome... thank you for sharing this. This worked for me.

  • @IUsedToBeGoodAtGames
    @IUsedToBeGoodAtGames Жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial.

  • @richmorasjnr4200
    @richmorasjnr4200Ай бұрын

    Thank you so much, you helped me. I subscribe to your channel, you make it so easier

  • @staffymcstafferson3863
    @staffymcstafferson38632 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much!

  • @CarnivoreIam
    @CarnivoreIam2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much.

  • @bastianleuchten9537
    @bastianleuchten95372 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I wish I would have seen this video years ago!

  • @AppOdellsMULTIMEDIA
    @AppOdellsMULTIMEDIA Жыл бұрын

    Thank You Sir😊

  • @cerebrumexcrement
    @cerebrumexcrement Жыл бұрын

    hooray. after watching several tutorials and failing, ur video was the one that helped me. thank u so much!

  • @scoobgaming7712
    @scoobgaming77122 жыл бұрын

    thanks for the help i will definitely be back for more tips and or help

  • @FootballCreatio
    @FootballCreatio Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!!

  • @malouin-ca
    @malouin-ca2 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial! How to hide the selection (moving dotted lines) once the background is removed?

  • @souphow-to-soup
    @souphow-to-soup2 жыл бұрын

    Subscribed. Cool. Thanks

  • @CousinFace
    @CousinFace2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you

  • @VickyLatorreArt
    @VickyLatorreArt2 жыл бұрын

    Mine delete the entire thing. What am I missing? Thank you.

  • @misskg03

    @misskg03

    2 жыл бұрын

    That's what's happening to mine!

  • @tabban21
    @tabban213 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video. Subscribed. How Do you do drop shadows on people in affinity photo ?

  • @violetgypsie
    @violetgypsie3 жыл бұрын

    Worked perfect, thank you so much!

  • @FanVidder72
    @FanVidder723 жыл бұрын

    Hi Nick. In my opinion, you can never see enough background removal tutorials. This is a real bugbear for me (along with vectoring/selection to vector path) regarding functionality in graphic design packages. I have both Designer and Photo. My question is ... is it better to edit this in Pixel Persona in Designer or would I get more options in Photo? Thanks for a great tutorial.

  • @C00ltronix

    @C00ltronix

    3 жыл бұрын

    I can't answer your question, but the process is exactly the same in Affinity Photo.

  • @traumwandeln
    @traumwandeln3 жыл бұрын

    I am watching this for learning the features and possibilities with affinity design. is there a reason that makes selecting the background instead of the wanted object to cut out more legit? I have been cutting out several stuff in a.psd before, my method was the other way round: i select what id like to have. Then, when selected i copy it and paste it in a new file or layer. Eventually deleting the layer with background. Thats why i am curious now. 🔥 Thanks a lot!

  • @SteveMagr
    @SteveMagr Жыл бұрын

    2:45 imperfections . Good.

  • @sheriffderek
    @sheriffderek3 жыл бұрын

    That seems pretty "destructive" to erase the data like that. Any leads on how to mask it out? Wand works great, but I can't seem to invert it.

  • @GombinoFitness
    @GombinoFitness3 жыл бұрын

    I followed your steps while watching the video and pausing it. It did not work for me. I need help if you do not mind please.

  • @audra7
    @audra7 Жыл бұрын

    Hello Nick. Thank you for your video it really helped me... the first time. All others I get to the Delete on keyboard and Designer deletes the white background and the outlined/refined image as well. I have followed your steps exactly. Why could this be happening?

  • @bobschroedter
    @bobschroedter Жыл бұрын

    What about Select Sampled Color and then Delete (making sure the background color is selected, of course)?

  • @glenncheney906
    @glenncheney9063 жыл бұрын

    This worked fine (once I found out I had to rasterize it to get the background to delete), but then in the end, the selected image is still on a white backgroun in png.

  • @jamlongsaiyot3323

    @jamlongsaiyot3323

    2 жыл бұрын

    Indeed, we can't really get rid of it, sad.

  • @multirevelator

    @multirevelator

    Жыл бұрын

    hey thanks for making this comment, sorted out my issues too!

  • @aegaln
    @aegaln3 жыл бұрын

    Hi! Thanks for the video, I have followed your steps up until the end and when i press delete to remove the background nothing happens at all?

  • @domsabode3044

    @domsabode3044

    3 жыл бұрын

    Did you figure it out? I did the same thing and it didn't delete at first. Then I clicked on the white background to select it (you'll see the entire image selected with the dashed lines of what you just traced) and then hit delete.

  • @mardanafin
    @mardanafin Жыл бұрын

    Your lesson is very powerful. I want to enroll your online class but don't have idea to pay it with Indonesia Rupiah :(

  • @LanzaroteShowcase
    @LanzaroteShowcase2 жыл бұрын

    Why do those free iphone apps do this effortlessly with one swipe? Surely there can be some kind of content aware assistance or luma keying?

  • @90snative66
    @90snative663 жыл бұрын

    Hey Nick...you probably know me from emails and comments etc etc. Probably the only guy proofreading your website/blog lol. Anyway, you have taught me graphic design. I started with Inkscape and learned it in entirety. I have now purchased Affinity (mainly because of its CMYK workspace capabilities) and will now learn Affinity from you so keep the videos coming. MAIN QUESTION: I am just starting this video and havent even hit start yet so maybe I am asking prematurely, BUT will this method work with any color background? Thanks in advance-Philip/90s Native

  • @DesignMadeSimple

    @DesignMadeSimple

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes, as long as it's a solid fill it will work. The color itself doesn't matter.

  • @90snative66

    @90snative66

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@DesignMadeSimple Thank you

  • @augustya7543
    @augustya75433 жыл бұрын

    One question here normally when I wanna remove a background from an image I select the Subject not the background but in this case you selected the Background and not the subject. How does this reverse order help ? Does that help in getting perfect cutouts of the Subject. which is what I am struggling at.

  • @DesignMadeSimple

    @DesignMadeSimple

    3 жыл бұрын

    It has more to do with how the tool works. The tool creates a selection on whatever is clicked on, then you can delete that selection.

  • @bryan_ferrer
    @bryan_ferrer2 жыл бұрын

    Mine deletes the actual image and not the selected area I wish to remove. How do I change this?

  • @Lida22
    @Lida22 Жыл бұрын

    EXCELLENT video - you go into just enough detail to show even beginners what they need to do, INCLUDING how to export to PNG. After all, getting a PNG with no BG is the main reason for removing backgrounds, right? But, does all this work in AD or AP 2.0? I tried this in AD 2.0 and - because I'm relatively new to AD, I might be doing something wrong - but after making the selection, pressing the DELETE key seems to do nothing. Is this me, or an AD 2.0 thing? However, I can click on "Create Layer Mask" and that does work, enabling me to export the PNG file. Any correction or redirection much appreciated. Thanks again for a good tutorial.

  • @ftmtrading2966

    @ftmtrading2966

    Жыл бұрын

    I ran into this too. New to AD 2 and couldn't get the delete to work after tracing the outside. I then selected all of my layers (over on the right), right-click -> copy -> file -> new from clipboard.

  • @craftaddictstudio1312
    @craftaddictstudio1312 Жыл бұрын

    This is a great video however, I still cannot get mine to do that. I'm trying to remove a background on the business card and it is removing the words instead of the background. I paused the video over and over and did the exact thing you are doing but I'm doing something wrong... Any ideas of what went wrong?

  • @Dr23rippa
    @Dr23rippa2 жыл бұрын

    Guys all you have to do is use the flood select tool, make sure its got all the white background, then click filters colours and Erase white paper!

  • @Spriepie
    @Spriepie Жыл бұрын

    This video worked for me perfectly the first time. Now the second time I'm doing this action I kno I'm doing something wrong. Instead of deleting the background it's deleting the subject. What do I do wrong? :(

  • @whattheanimalssay
    @whattheanimalssay2 жыл бұрын

    When I hit delete the image disappears leaving only the white background. What did I do wrong?

  • @NancyCecco

    @NancyCecco

    2 жыл бұрын

    I am having this same problem and looking through the comments to see if anyone else did. Did you ever find a solution?

  • @Newbport849
    @Newbport8493 жыл бұрын

    I can't find the selection brush tool. Am I missing something?

  • @kinkinTheWild

    @kinkinTheWild

    3 жыл бұрын

    its W, make sure youre in pixel persona

  • @farrielallaputa574
    @farrielallaputa5743 жыл бұрын

    I miss the Magic Wand tool of Fireworks

  • @calebballard4192
    @calebballard41922 жыл бұрын

    on mac pressing the delete key doesn't remove it what do I do?

  • @ruthinmanart4063
    @ruthinmanart4063 Жыл бұрын

    I followed you with every step until you pressed the DEL key to delete the background, and mine did Not delete. It just sat there... still outlined... how do i get it to go?

  • @marisolgranados4278
    @marisolgranados42783 жыл бұрын

    I can’t figure it out lol I have a Mac 🖥 anyone know how to do this ?

  • @DWalker-ij9bd
    @DWalker-ij9bdАй бұрын

    when I click delete to remove the background, the entire layer is deleted. Using current version of Aff Designer

  • @jande5143
    @jande51433 жыл бұрын

    When I hit delete, it deletes my entire picture and leaves a weird outline of what I went around. Why is it doing this or better yet how do I get it to work?

  • @arqonexus

    @arqonexus

    3 жыл бұрын

    Your image need to be in rasterized mode, not curve or vector mode. Change with right click and then "rasterize".

  • @CapnFlags
    @CapnFlags2 ай бұрын

    I’m on iPad. When I get to the deletion, the opposite is happening and the subject of the picture is disappearing 🤦‍♂️

  • @northwestwatercolorsociety2707
    @northwestwatercolorsociety2707 Жыл бұрын

    What am I doing wrong? I get to the masked layer, hit apply, delete...and the image itself disappears.

  • @nickymaiden666
    @nickymaiden6662 жыл бұрын

    Something goes wrong when i do it. I followed every step but when i press delete, the whole image gets deleted, not just the white background.... I tried apllying rasterize to the image, when i do it it works but the image loose a lot of quality . What should i do? Thanks in advance. Great video!

  • @NancyCecco

    @NancyCecco

    2 жыл бұрын

    I am having this same problem and looking through the comments to see if anyone else did. Did you ever find a solution?

  • @FraggingRoach

    @FraggingRoach

    Жыл бұрын

    figure out why? i got the same problem

  • @LLVVCCMM
    @LLVVCCMM Жыл бұрын

    When I put delete this doesn't delete anything :s What possibly could I be doing wrong?

  • @karinmarlettchoi8197
    @karinmarlettchoi8197 Жыл бұрын

    I've done everything, watched over and over and after I hit apply I then hit delete and nothing happens. I redone about 8 times. What am I missing?

  • @semperstitchingllc7801
    @semperstitchingllc78013 жыл бұрын

    Stupid question. When I hit everything disappears. Is there another key that I'm supposed to be pressing?

  • @DesignMadeSimple

    @DesignMadeSimple

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're pressing the right key, but it sounds like there's no selection so it's deleting the whole layer. I would double check to make sure you have that selection enabled around the subject (the dotted lines.)

  • @jande5143

    @jande5143

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@DesignMadeSimple That's exactly what mine is doing. What do you mean have the selection enabled? How or where do I check that?

  • @blakestrother5122
    @blakestrother51222 жыл бұрын

    I am having an issue where every time I do this, it is deleting the foreground (what I tract) instead of the background of the image. Can someone help me?

  • @NancyCecco

    @NancyCecco

    2 жыл бұрын

    I am having this same problem and looking through the comments to see if anyone else did. Did you ever find a solution?

  • @blakestrother5122

    @blakestrother5122

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@NancyCecco no I didn't. What I found is that if you select part of an image and apply it to another project you are working on within Affinity, the selected image you copy over will essentially function like it has a transparent background. I don't know why this tutorial inverted for me but I never got it to work. I just worked on stuff within affinity to achieve my same goals instead.

  • @NancyCecco

    @NancyCecco

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@blakestrother5122 hmmm, that sounds interesting and easier. I'll have to try it. I did see further on in the comments that someone said "Your image need to be in rasterized mode, not curve or vector mode. Change with right click and then "rasterize". " I did try that and it worked, for future reference. Thanks for getting back to me.

  • @knswed

    @knswed

    Жыл бұрын

    @@NancyCecco This worked. I right clicked and selected rasterize. Then went back into refine, apply. Then hit delete.

  • @GregorysMode
    @GregorysMode3 жыл бұрын

    Affinity need to sort saving PNG with transparency asap in all their apps. This is soooo slow.

  • @revotnar1737
    @revotnar17372 жыл бұрын

    everythings fine until i press delete. when i press delete, the image i want to stay disappears. i can still see the dashed outline but everything is white now.

  • @marcokarlein9407
    @marcokarlein94072 жыл бұрын

    I tried everything always cut's out the opposite, basically my pic I want...anybody have a idea ???

  • @True-id5ck
    @True-id5ck Жыл бұрын

    when I hit delete, the whole thing deletes... what am I doing wrong?

  • @mariol6095
    @mariol60952 жыл бұрын

    Why does my image delete when i press the delete button?

  • @anisatoybah3552
    @anisatoybah3552 Жыл бұрын

    I pressed delete but instead the layer is deleted?

  • @brandigottschalk8669
    @brandigottschalk8669 Жыл бұрын

    I followed this to a T and for some reason it deletes the image not the background

  • @JaniKT1
    @JaniKT13 жыл бұрын

    Haha, hitting delete removes the picture all together and and when I Ctrl-Z the change, the layer thumbnail is blank like there is nothing anymore in that layer.

  • @glenncheney906

    @glenncheney906

    3 жыл бұрын

    Same with me. Moishe, below, said this: Your image need to be in rasterized mode, not curve or vector mode. Change with right click and then "rasterize".

  • @glenncheney906

    @glenncheney906

    3 жыл бұрын

    He means right click on the Layer, on the Layer panel.

  • @priscillaflores1845
    @priscillaflores18453 жыл бұрын

    My question is when i hit delete, it erases everything

  • @producersconnect6525

    @producersconnect6525

    3 жыл бұрын

    Same... followed everything to the T, everything gone but the marching ants.

  • @awaywithnina

    @awaywithnina

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi. Have you figured out why the image erases? I don’t know how todo it correctly. Maybe it could the image I am using is a blacked lined animal 🦓 but how??? Please help. Thanks

  • @woodystefeneylee7290

    @woodystefeneylee7290

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'm got the same problem here. After I hit the delete and everything gone ! Only the outline on the screen.

  • @deven05

    @deven05

    3 жыл бұрын

    Use backspace key instead of delete. Also, make sure the main image layer is selected.

  • @katiedc8239

    @katiedc8239

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@PowerUpPanda That still doesn't work? Tried hitting backspace and delete after rasterizing, followed every step exactly, and it's not working? Help!

  • @gerardopozar6465
    @gerardopozar64652 жыл бұрын

    I can’t fine the tool

  • @Tigerlily1950
    @Tigerlily19503 жыл бұрын

    Very awkward way of doing a simple thing. I am struggling as well! Corel does is very simply with a selection click and a colour tolerance.

  • @UseYourBrain7
    @UseYourBrain72 жыл бұрын

    so big resolution, don't see tools :(

  • @calmstormambience1875
    @calmstormambience18752 жыл бұрын

    Ii'm confused . you said that's how you remove the white background from the picture, but its black....

  • @iteeshollow
    @iteeshollow Жыл бұрын

    LOL, i did this yesterday and it worked. Now today, no matter what i do it deletes the dog instead of the background. I hate this software! Its so unstable.

  • @ethanr8862
    @ethanr88622 жыл бұрын

    when I follow these steps, it deletes what I don't want to delete....

  • @Xyphien
    @Xyphien3 жыл бұрын

    Not dissing you at all, this video was great. But this is why I HATE affinity products. Why does there have to be a 7 minute tutorial to explain something that takes TWO (2) clicks in EVERY OTHER PROGRAM. It's crazy to me how dumb the program is... it's by far the worst editing program out there. Good job on the video though, it helped out a TON! I didn't even know there was different things to click on, and why I would even have to go about doing that since as stated every program allows you to do this in 2 clicks :)

  • @greenearthblueskies8556
    @greenearthblueskies85562 жыл бұрын

    i cant see anything

  • @OfficeMystic
    @OfficeMystic2 жыл бұрын

    hmm when I delete, it deletes everything.

  • @OfficeMystic

    @OfficeMystic

    2 жыл бұрын

    Never mind, someone filled in the blank and explained what rasterizing means. ha.

  • @annapalemine6793
    @annapalemine6793 Жыл бұрын

    I tried these simple.steps to remove black background and it didn't work

  • @SaltyRoast
    @SaltyRoast2 жыл бұрын

    followed closely and the stuff i want was deleted with the background. :|

  • @marti3710
    @marti3710 Жыл бұрын

    It just deletes everything...

  • @FirebrandF5
    @FirebrandF53 жыл бұрын

    My photo deleted completely lol

  • @mbrights3158
    @mbrights31582 жыл бұрын

    Didn't work at at like the tutorial shows. would be nice if you either go slower or really show how you're doing what you're doing. Mine only made a huge broken line outline around the image....could not get close to the image.

  • @petarkosovic6455
    @petarkosovic6455 Жыл бұрын

    This is terrible. Photoshop handles this 1000x more simple.