How to Easily Remove a Background in Procreate
Written by  Daisie Team
Published on 7 min read

Contents

1. Know Your Tools

2. Select and Isolate the Subject

3. Remove the Background

4. Fine-tune Your Work

5. Save and Export Your Work

Artists and designers are increasingly turning to digital tools like Procreate to bring their creations to life. One common task you might face when using this app is figuring out how to remove a background in Procreate. This can be a tricky process, especially if you're new to the tool. But don't worry—this guide will walk you through every step of the process, from getting to know your tools to saving and exporting your work. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to easily remove backgrounds in Procreate like a pro.

1. Know Your Tools

Before you start removing backgrounds in Procreate, it helps to familiarize yourself with the tools you'll be using. Procreate has a range of features that can help you isolate and remove backgrounds, but for this guide, we'll be focusing on a few key tools.

Procreate App: A Brief Overview

Procreate is an app designed for sketching, painting and illustrating on iOS devices. It's packed with powerful features that make it popular among professional and amateur artists alike. One of the things you'll love about Procreate is its intuitive user interface. Even if you're a beginner, you'll find it easy to navigate and use.

Essential Tools in Procreate for Background Removal

The tools you'll need to know when learning how to remove a background in Procreate are:

  • Selection Tool: This tool allows you to select specific parts of your artwork. You can then manipulate these parts without affecting the rest of the image.
  • Erase Tool: As the name suggests, the Erase tool lets you remove parts of your image. It's perfect for deleting backgrounds.
  • Layer Mask: This tool is a non-destructive way to hide parts of your artwork. You can use it to conceal the background while keeping it intact, just in case you need it later.

Understanding these tools is the first step to mastering how to remove a background in Procreate. Now, let's move on to the actual process.

2. Select and Isolate the Subject

Once you're familiar with the tools, the next step in learning how to remove a background in Procreate is selecting and isolating the subject of your artwork. This is a key step as it helps to ensure that only the background is removed, and your subject remains intact.

Using the Selection Tool

Here's how you can use the Selection Tool to isolate your subject:

  1. Tap on the "S" icon on the top menu to select the Selection Tool.
  2. Select "Freehand" from the options that appear at the bottom of the screen. This will allow you to manually draw around the subject you want to isolate.
  3. Draw a line around your subject. Don't worry if it's not perfect—you can adjust it later.

With this, your subject should now be selected. But if you want to further refine the selection, read on.

Isolate Your Subject: The Easy Way

For more complex images, you might find it challenging to accurately select your subject with the freehand selection tool. In such scenarios, you can use Procreate's automatic selection feature. Here's how:

  1. Tap on the "S" icon on the top menu to select the Selection Tool.
  2. Select "Automatic" from the options that appear at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap on your subject in the image. Procreate will automatically select it.

Keep in mind that this feature works best with high-contrast images, where the subject and the background have distinctly different colors.

Now that your subject is isolated, you're ready to move on to the next step—removing the background.

3. Remove the Background

With your subject selected and isolated, you're all set to learn how to remove a background in Procreate. There are two main methods you can use to do this: the Erase Tool and the Layer Mask. Each has its advantages, so let's go through them both.

Using the Erase Tool

The Erase Tool is the most straightforward way to remove a background in Procreate. Here's a step-by-step guide:

  1. Ensure your subject is still selected. If not, go back to the Selection Tool and select it.
  2. Select the Erase Tool from the top menu. It's the icon that looks like an eraser.
  3. Start erasing the background. You'll notice that the eraser won't affect your selected subject, so don't worry about going over the lines.

Remember to zoom in for more detailed areas and take your time. Rushing could lead to a less-than-perfect result.

Using Layer Mask: An Alternative Approach

If you find the Erase Tool a bit too permanent, you might prefer to use a Layer Mask. This is a more flexible method as it allows you to hide parts of an image without permanently erasing them. Here's how you can use a Layer Mask to remove a background in Procreate:

  1. With your subject selected, tap on the Layers icon (it looks like two squares) in the top menu.
  2. Tap on the selected layer and then tap on "Mask" from the options that appear.
  3. This will create a Layer Mask. Anything you paint on this layer in black will be hidden, and anything you paint in white will be visible.
  4. Select the Paint Tool and choose black as your color. Start painting over the background to hide it.

Now, the background should be hidden, and only your subject should be visible. If you make a mistake, simply paint over it in white to make it visible again.

Having removed the background, you're now ready to polish your work and make it look seamless.

4. Fine-tune Your Work

Removing the background is just the first step in the process of creating a stunning image. Now, it's time to fine-tune your work. This involves smoothing the edges of your subject and using the Smudge Tool to blend the edges for a more natural look. Let's get started.

Smoothing the Edges

When you remove a background in Procreate, you might notice that the edges of your subject are a bit rough or jagged. But don't worry, smoothing the edges is a simple task:

  1. First, select the Smudge Tool from the top menu. It looks like a finger dragging across a surface.
  2. Next, adjust the size and opacity of the smudge tool using the sliders at the top of the screen. A smaller size and lower opacity will give you more precise control.
  3. Finally, gently drag the Smudge Tool along the edges of your subject. This will blur the edges slightly, giving them a smoother appearance.

Remember, less is more when it comes to smoothing. You don't want to blur your subject so much that it loses its shape.

Using the Smudge Tool for a Natural Look

The Smudge Tool isn't just for smoothing—it can also be used to blend the edges of your subject with its new background. This can create a more natural, cohesive look. Here's how:

  1. With the Smudge Tool selected, choose a brush from the Brush Library. The Soft Brush is a good choice for blending.
  2. Adjust the size and opacity of your brush. Again, a smaller size and lower opacity will give you more control.
  3. Gently brush along the edges of your subject where it meets the new background. This will mix the colors of your subject and the background, creating a soft transition between the two.

Remember to frequently zoom out to check your work. Sometimes, what looks good close-up might not look as good from a distance.

With your subject smoothed and blended, you're nearly finished. The final step is to save and export your work.

5. Save and Export Your Work

Now that you've successfully removed a background in Procreate and fine-tuned your work, it's time to save and export your masterpiece. This step is just as important as the rest—after all, you wouldn't want all that hard work to go to waste, would you?

Saving Your Work in Procreate

Procreate auto-saves your work as you draw, but it's always a good idea to manually save your work too. Here's how to do it:

  1. Tap on the wrench icon in the top left corner of the screen to open the Actions menu.
  2. Select the 'Share' option.
  3. Choose 'Procreate' from the menu. This will save your work as a .procreate file, preserving all your layers and effects.

With your work saved in Procreate, you can now export it in a format that's suitable for your needs.

Export Options: What to Choose

Procreate offers several export options, each with its own advantages. Here are a few options and when you might want to use them:

  • JPEG: Good for sharing on social media or email. It keeps the file size small, but some quality may be lost due to compression.
  • PNG: Great for preserving transparency. If you want to keep the background removed in Procreate and use your image in another project, PNG is the way to go.
  • PSD: Perfect if you want to continue working on your project in Adobe Photoshop. It keeps all your layers intact.

To export your work, just go back to the 'Share' menu, select your preferred format, and your image will be saved to your device's photo library.

And there you have it! You now know how to remove a background in Procreate, fine-tune your work, and save it for sharing or further editing. So go on, take your newly acquired skills for a spin and create some amazing artwork!

If you enjoyed learning how to easily remove a background in Procreate and want to further enhance your skills, don't miss out on Vicky Catalan's workshop, 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate'. This workshop will teach you step-by-step techniques to create stunning fruit illustrations using the Procreate app, expanding your digital art capabilities. Give it a try!