For those who have grown up with the Windows OS, MS Paint is pure nostalgia! Remember how this tool used to be the only source of unleashing our artistic creativity? From learning cursor strokes, drawing shapes, exploring color palettes, and whatnot?

Today, we may be spoiled for choice with countless image creation and editing tools. Yet, there are times we prefer going to the good old Paint. We always prefer working on tools we are skilled at rather than exploring and learning a new one quickly.

An interesting and essential feature in the world of image editing is the removal of background in an image. Most popular image editors, like Photoshop, Canva, Illustrator, etc., provide a direct option of making a background transparent in their menu.

Does MS Paint withstand the tide of time in supporting background removal? Well, it does! In fact, background removal has been possible with MS Paint since many years ago! Surprising?

Let us learn how to remove a background from an image using MS Paint.

 

How to Make a Background Transparent in MS Paint

A transparent background involves removing the colors behind the focus object(s) in an image. In other words, you cut out the focus object from the background and save it as a separate image with a transparent background.

Let us see how to perform this selection and transparency using MS Paint.

1. Open MS Paint and open the target image for which you require background removal.
2. Once the image is loaded, click on Select → Transparent Selection.
3. Further, click on the Free-Form Selection icon.
4. Use the free-form selection cursor to draw boundaries around the area you want to keep. The remaining area will vanish upon releasing the cursor.
5. Copy the selected image and paste it into a new Paint file.
6. Save this new image in PNG format. Once you open the image, the background will be transparent.

 

 

How to Make a Background Transparent using Paint 3D

Paint 3D is an updated tool offering some additional features to the regular MS Paint application. However, this tool does not replace the original MS Paint.

Note - Paint 3D is no longer available for downloads or updates from November 4, 2024. If you have an existing version of Paint 3D, you can continue using it until you receive further information from Microsoft. Skip this section, if you feel it is irrelevant for your purpose.

Paint 3D offers a relatively easier method for removing the background from an image and making it transparent. Follow these steps to remove the background in Paint 3D.

1. Open Paint 3D and open the target image by browsing through your file folders.
2. Click on the Magic Select option on the top bar.
3. Drag the boundaries close and fine towards the focus object(s). Click on Next.
4. If your selection is not perfect, use Add/Remove to refine the selected area. Use Add to include more area into the focus object. Use Remove to delete portions you do not require.
5. Click on Done.
6. Move the selected object outside the image and place it on the side.
7. Select the remaining part of the image and clear it by right-clicking and selecting Delete.
8. Now, place the cut-out object back into the image area.
9. Crop the image if necessary. Click on Save As to save the image in PNG format for a transparent background.

 

Paint or Paint 3D for transparent background?

Now that we have seen the steps to achieve a transparent background using either tool, which tool is easier for background removal? If you have access to Paint 3D, you can complete this task within the same file.

Using MS Paint requires creating a new file to cut and paste the selected focus object from your image. Also, the Magic Select tool in Paint 3D lets you cut out the focus object with better precision. Nevertheless, Paint is still a preferred tool for many users who want to perform background removal. So, use any of the two tools depending on your comfort and preference.

You can also use third-party apps such as Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, Sketch My Pic, etc., to instantly make your background transparent. Such tools come in handy when your device does not support MS Paint.

 

How to Make a Background Transparent using Sketch My Pic

If your device does not support Paint, or you do not prefer using Paint tools, you can always go for instant background removal using any third-party application online. Sketch My Pic offers a handy tool to make a background transparent, so you can use only your focus object wherever required.

Follow these steps to instantly remove backgrounds from photos using SMP -

1. Open your preferred browser from your desktop or mobile device and open our Sketch My Pic website.
2. Choose the Background Remover menu option at the top menu.
3. Click on “Upload Image” and choose the target photo from your file folders.
4. View the processed image and download the resulting photo.

 

Real-time scenarios where images require a transparent background

It is impossible to capture photos with a transparent background unless you make a professional setup. However, many applications demand photos with a transparent background.

Here are a few cases where a transparent background is a mandate.

1. Passport photos for official purposes mandate a clear, transparent background.
2. Product listings on online marketplaces require images with clear backgrounds for clarity.
3. Cropping objects from other images and adding them to another creation requires making backgrounds transparent beforehand.
4. Merging faces from two or more photos to new photos mandates transparent backgrounds for all source images.
5. Creating slideshows and animations requires several objects with transparent backgrounds to show uniform transitions.

Therefore, making a background transparent is an essential feature in image and video editing. Share with us what tools you prefer for making your images' backgrounds transparent.