Affinity Photo v1 - How To Remove Backround?

[Mainecoon364]

I select the object with Smart Selection Brush Tool.

 

Then I want to remove the backround. Backround has to be white.

 

How can I do this the easiest way?

[iconoclast]

Hi Mainecoon364!

Simply add a Layer Mask to the Layer after you selected it with the Smart Selection. The left Button at the bottom of the Layers Panel. It is a non-destructive way to create transparency. You can work on the mask for refinement afterwards if you need. In that case simply paint with the Brush Tool and black color on the mask or with white color to restore the parts you erased. Better read the Help Files about masks.

[Paul Mudditt]

10 hours ago, Mainecoon364 said:

I select the object with Smart Selection Brush Tool.

 

Then I want to remove the backround. Backround has to be white.

 

How can I do this the easiest way?

Make sure you are working on a pixel layer, rasterise/merge visible if necessary then as an alternative to above, easiest destructive method is Commands -> Pasteboard -> Cut (V1) or Edit -> Cut (V2) or one finger press then select cut or delete on pop up menu. (V1/V2)

Edited March 9, 2023 by Paul Mudditt
Added V1/V2 options.

[Mainecoon364]

 

 

I change the backround color like in the way on this video.

 

But nothing happens.

 

How can I fix It? What can I do wrong? (Backround Color should be green as you see on the green layer on the most bottom.)

[iconoclast]

I suppose, there is a rectangle as background. In that case you can change its color as you see it in the video. So simply place a rectangle shape as a layer below the layer with Jimmy Heftfield.

Edit: Ah I see, there already is a rectangle layer. Drag it a bit down in the Layer Panel. It is nested in the layer with Hetfield, but it needs to be below it as a separate layer.

[Mainecoon364]

I do but It does not work.

 

On the video the image layer and the mask layer is on the same layer.

 

But on mine It is not? The image layer and the mask layer (isolated objects outlines) are seperate layers.

 

I think the problem s there.

 

How can I fix It?

[walt.farrell]

6 minutes ago, Mainecoon364 said:

ut on mine It is not? The image layer and the mask layer (isolated objects outlines) are seperate layers.

The problem isn't with the Mask, it's with your green layer. That needs to be separate from, and below, the image. You have it nested within the image.

Drag it above the image. Then collapse the image layer, and drag the green layer below the image layer.

[Mainecoon364]

1. On the layers section;

 

From above the below there are 

A. Image

B. Image Layer

C. Mask (Green) Layer

 

Right?

 

2. Currently Mask (Green) Layer is below the Image Layer. (According to my definition on the Question 1) You say I should put It below the Image and the above the Image Layer. Right?

 

3. How do you understand I nested the Mask (Green) Layer within the Image?

 

4. I haven’t heard about collapsing the image while watching masking tutorials. How do I do It?

 

 

[iconoclast]

The rectangle layer is nested in the image layer (Hetfield), like in a group. You can see that it is indented  a little to the right in the layers stack, compared to the Hetfield layer (aligned with the layer mask, that is nested to the image layer too). Simply drag it a little bit down, so that it will become a separate layer (a highligted baseline over the full width of the layer entry will show when you can release the mouse button to place the rectangle layer). You don't need to collapse the image layer group, but it would make visible if the rectangle layer is a separate layer or if it is nested. In the second case, it would disappear, if you collapse the stack.

By the way, to collapse the image, means to fold up its child layers (in this case the layer mask and the rectangle layer). You can do this by clicking on the small triangle (arrow) on the left of the image layer.

[iconoclast]

One additional annotation: the green layer is not the Mask layer. It is the Rectangle you intended to be the background. Layer Masks are always greyscale layers, without any colors. If you paint with black on a mask, it will become transparent there. If you paint on transparent areas of a mask, it will become opaque there.

[Mainecoon364]

Dragging won’t work. I can not make It unnested.

Both

 

A) Dragging below.

and 

 

B) Dragging diagonal to left.

???

[iconoclast]

OK, it looks like there is something different on iPad. I'm on Desktop with Windows 10. On my PC it works as the attached video shows. But I can't say what is different and why.

In my case the rectangle wasn't nested after I created it. It initially appeared as top layer. I nested it myself for the video below. As I saw in the Youtube-Video you attached above, the guy there didn't initially nest it too. But he did that very quick, so that it is not easy to see how he did it. Possibly it wouldn't have nested if the layer mask would have been folded up to the image layer as you dragged the rectangle layer to the bottom. But it must be possible to unnest it anyway. Maybe there is a function for it under one of the buttons on top of the layers panel. Maybe under the first one on the left?

I'm afraid I can't really be helpful. I'm sorry about that, but I never worked with an iPad.

Edit: Is it possible to drag the rectangle layer back to the top (as top layer), then collapse the mask layer into the image layer and then drag the rectangle layer down. That's what Walt said some time ago.

 

[Mainecoon364]

I could do It by watching this video. Better tutorial.

 

https://youtu.be/dpwyGS5HrTw

 

[iconoclast]

Glad to hear that it finally worked for you. But however there still must be a way to unnest layers. By the way, it doesn't matter if you use a pixel layer or a rectangle as background in this case.

One additional annotation: to remove and replace the background will always be much easier if the initial background isn't too complex. If it is texturized, with different colors and dark and bright areas, it will not be as easy as shown in Ezras tutorial. Especially fine details like hair often cause problems, because the pixels they consist of are mixed up with the colors of the initial background. You can see that also in Ezras tutorial - there is a soft halo around the head of the cow. Such cases need more refinement.