Basics
On this page you'll learn everything you need to know to get started removing backgrounds in Clipping Magic. The video below is a hands-on example of a simple background removal and download of an image. Below that is a step-by-step tutorial of Clipping Magic's basic functionality, then finally some common issues and how to easily avoid them.
Step-by-step tutorial
In the tutorial below we remove the background from a photo of the office Fragrance Diffuser. You can follow along with this written tutorial, or try out this image for yourself in the Editor. View Example In Editor »
The example edits are slightly different from the tutorial below.
1. Upload image
2. Mark foreground
Use the green tool to mark part of the foreground.
Original + Marks
Result
Clip Tip:
Stay well within the foreground, and don't mark too much.
3. Mark background
Use the red tool to mark part of the background.
Original + Marks
Result
Clip Tip:
Stay well within the background, and don't mark too much.
4. Inspect & fix
Zoom in to inspect the result, and apply touchup marks as necessary. Use the scalpel on troublesome edges. Erase marks that cross boundaries.
Original + Marks
Result
Clip Tip:
You can always Undo unfortunate edits, or Edit > Clear all marks and start over.
5. Tweak the result Optional
Spice things up by adding finishing touches like drop shadows, color adjustments, cropping to the result, and changing the background color. Learn how to add and change these in the finishing touches tutorial.
You can also control how you want your edges, you have power to alter smoothness, feathering, offset. Learn how to alter these in the refine edges tutorial.
Original + Marks
Result
6. Download result
Tips for success
Anything you mark will either be fully in the result, or fully removed from it. This is why it's so important to not go outside the lines - the result is guaranteed to be wrong.
|
Marking Rules |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | = | 100% Foreground | = | Always fully kept in the result |
| Red | = | 100% Background | = | Always fully removed from the result |
| Yellow | = | 1-99% Foreground | = | Partially transparent in the result. See the hair tutorial |
| Unmarked | = | Algorithm decides | = | Leave space to let algorithm figure out exact edge |
| Red and Green marks should never touch | ||||
Go-to fixes
There are three easy fixes when a mistake is made while you're clipping: Erase, Undo, and Add. Use the Erase tool to remove unwanted marks that are possibly causing problems. Use the undo arrow to address the last few marks made (Or clear all mark to completely start over). Finally, add more red and green marker points to give a better roadmap for the clip.
Alternate Between Red and Green
The easiest way to clip an image is to alternate between red and green to let the algorithm give you feedback on where it needs more marks.
Clip Tip:
Use Space Bar to toggle between and
Erase boundary crossing marks
Leave space to let the algorithm find the exact edge. For best results, red and green should never touch. Use the scalpel for precision control of the boundary.
Avoid highlighting
It is not necessary to fill in the entire foreground for Clipping Magic to work. The tool works best when you mark sparingly.
×
Original + Marks
×
Result
Stay within the lines
As mentioned in the “Rules” table, every piece of the image with a green marker will be included in the foreground, and the opposite is true for the background. This means that marking red in the foreground and vice versa will always produce an incorrect clip. We suggest that you mark carefully, and erase marks that cross boundaries.
×
Original + Marks
×
Result
✓
Original + Marks
✓
Result
Mark all pieces
Sometimes there is a piece of background within the foreground. You will need to mark such pieces one-by-one.
×
Original + Marks
×
Result
✓
Original + Marks
✓
Result
