How To Remove a Photo Background With Pixelmator Pro

[@halliwaxbasementbuilds]

Gary your channel has saved me so many times, thank you for everything you do

[@sankalpachakma]

Gary is the best. Such a perfectionist.

[@PhoticsTV]

The recent version 3.6 update of Pixelmator Pro now has “AI Background Masks”. That's very similar to what was mentioned in this video. But instead of removing the background, it creates a mask. The general idea of this tutorial is still relevant. The main difference is that instead of *“Remove Background”* in the *“Edit”* section, there's a new *“Hide Background”* in the *“Format > Mask”* section. I tested it out with a picture of my cat. I used Time Machine to go back to an earlier version and then compared the results with the newer version of Pixelmator. While still not perfect, I think the newer version did a better job. It did have trouble with some whiskers and parts of the furry outline, but the legs were more accurately masked.

[@macmost]

I've been playing with that this week too. The old way Pixelmator did it couldn't seem to recognize my black hat against the green screen correctly. And the new version couldn't either. Weird. Apple's Life Subject does it without a problem.

[@NicksMommy86]

Well I’m in the market for a new Apple and I just want to say I’ve had my MacBook Pro for 10 years and I never really knew how to use it until I found you so thank you from the bottom of my heart. Honestly I think you are the best person I have ever come across that actually explains and teaches in a way that everybody including me can understand.

[@jcinaz]

Ah, well, I know two people who find him not so useful. I think it is because they don't realize that they can pause and replay and tinker until they get it. That's the major advantage of a video tutorial over a live tutorial.

[@macmost]

Yikes. So the main problem they have is I go to fast? But I get others who say I should have shorter videos or cut out parts where I explain in too much detail. I guess having complaints on both sides shows I'm in the right spot. You can't please everyone.

[@NicksMommy86]

@@macmost Please don’t change a thing that’s why I can understand what you’re doing. All you have to do is posit and follow along like that. My whole problem has nothing to do with some thing you can fix is I can’t see the screen even though I’ve got a 75 inch TV but that’s because I don’t have my glasses on lol if you took anything out then I’m sure I would miss important information that I need to be hearing so please don’t change it! Yeah they’re going a little fast but it’s OK because there’s a pause button it’s just like when you’re cooking no I’m sorry that’s not true because some of the people on there do take too long because if they’re mixing say cornstarch and flour they have the camera rolling the whole time that we have to watch them with cornstarch and flour. So yes you’re right where you need to be thank you

[@mikec1851]

Found you on KZbin a few weeks ago and subscribed. I really enjoy your stuff. Have learnt a lot about everything Apple related. It blows my mind how you know so much and actually retain all that knowledge, especially the shortcut keys to everything. Really great Pixelmator tutorial. I am a Lightroom Cloud user and have been wanting a program that can remove/replace/blur a background but find Photoshop to complex when I don't need to use it very often. I will definitely check out Pixelmator Pro. Cheers from Sydney, Australia.

[@carolinemyddelton580]

Super-useful! And it's taught me a bunch of new things on how to use the various selection tools and refine selections. Thanks, Gary!

[@guitarsoundsaround]

Thank you Gary! Had I not been watching your other videos - I would never have known of this app. For casual users editing the odd, Photoshop is far too complex with features I’ll never use or need. Your tutorials are so helpful. I really appreciate your wealth of knowledge with Mac and Apple products. Cheers from 🇨🇦

[@arshadhasan]

My god, you are a pro. Absolutely fabulous stuff.

[@pedropuckerstein4670]

I absolutely learn at least one thing from each of your videos. I am an Affinity Photo/Publisher power user and also have pixelmator pro and luminar. Pixelmator pro has some nice AI and the last portion of your video answered questions that I was not able to address previously, that is how to grow/shrink a selection ! - thank you Gary. As per Leonard Hoffsteder (sp?), you are "King of the Nerds" - which is a compliment

[@jcinaz]

He's definitely the "King of making video tutorials". I'm a Mac tutor, and I've never bothered to take the time to do tutorials like he does. All my lessons are done in a live workshop, and mostly one-on-one.

[@hvailjr]

I learned a lot here. I had to hit the spacebar to stop and write down each step to enable me to practice. I know I can look at your transcript but I don't know how to print it. The more I am into Pixelmator Pro, the more I like it.

[@naomigilholme7170]

Thank you for a wonderful, informative video! Do you have one on removing backgrounds / tidying up handwriting please?

[@macmost]

Nothing on that specifically. You just have to work with the tools to do what you need in that specific situation with that specific image.

[@loisskiathitis8926]

A very useful video tutorial today! Thanks as always for the visuals! Thank you, Gary! 👍🏻👏❤️

[@_hb6181]

Thank you very much sir, this program looks much more beautiful and easier than the Photoshop application, do you have a playlist to explain it in detail?

[@macmost]

No, I have only done a few videos on Pixelmator. You can search for them: www.youtube.com/@macmost/search?query=Pixelmator

[@MichelBarbaro]

Great! direct to the point! Thank you so much!

[@johncarveth4177]

This was very helpful. Thank you Gary and keep up in the work !

[@simonpaulengland7833]

You are THE man Gary, cool as always....!!! Thank you, I bought the pro version on your recommendation & I adore it....Nice Musical things, Simon

[@fowlercarlos]

I decided to purchase this app after watching your video tutorial

[@tomserotoninandthedopamine4375]

Great video, Thank you. I will watch multiple times for reference ! 😃👍

[@k16e]

More Pixelmator Pro tuts, please. And, thanks for this one - playlisted, watched severally.

[@1BSDjunkie]

You have read my mind here! Just trying to do this today! Thank you Gary for the great tutorial with Pixelmator Pro!

[@andyxxx3114]

Awesome! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@MrJimGoddard]

Another very helpful video. Thanks so much.

[@Biribirijr]

Hello! How do you add the white border/Frame around a subject? I’m referring to the cover of your KZbin videos. Thanks

[@macmost]

I select the layer that has the subject (me) and then simply apply a stroke to it. I make it white and about 10 pixels.

[@davemengle4961]

Thanks Gary! Pixelmator Pro has been my go-to application for years over any of it's competition, including even CS6! BTW, interesting side note... KZbin decided to place ads for Luminar Neo and Adobe in front to todays video! )))

[@nataliehawkes3377]

thx so much :)

[@frankvet1]

I guess you cannot "feather" selections in PM-Pro to help make a better composite image? Thanks again for all your work.

[@macmost]

Yes, you can. Select Edit, Select and Mask... and it changes to a mode with all sorts of useful things. "Softness" would be what you want I think.

[@POOCHDOGGG]

Your the best thankyou man !!! 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@GilbertNeal]

Hi, Gary, I saw one of your videos on how to use Keynote to make text not seem cheesy with the iMovie templates. Which video was that?

[@macmost]

Maybe this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3LZYatma9min7c

[@bikoncy]

Thanks

[@KARICKTER]

how are you adding to the selection without releasing the original selection. I cannot get that to happen

[@macmost]

Hold down Shift when making another selection.

[@SpinuzziProductions]

Hi Gary, I really need help figuring out how to add shadows once this is done. Drop shadow does not work and I am stumped.

[@macmost]

Just play around with the Drop Shadow settings. Maybe you have the numbers set too small to see it.

[@SpinuzziProductions]

@@macmost I was able to figure it out for the most part. My biggest issue now is being able to change the angle. Not the direction from 0-400 degrees but the actual tilt of it so it can look more realistic on a background with let’s say grass. Is that possible?

[@macmost]

@@SpinuzziProductions You have the angle and amount to play with to simulate that. But image editing apps are not 3D graphics apps, so you have to be artistic about it.

[@SpinuzziProductions]

@@macmost ahh gotcha. Thank you so much for the reply I appreciate it! Also subscribed:)

[@ezantunes]

great

[@curryhousechicken]

How do you change the background color to white?

[@macmost]

Just remove the background like I show, and then add a new layer under that that is a white rectangle.

[@curryhousechicken]

@@macmost .. does not work. Can you make a video for that?

[@macmost]

@@curryhousechicken This video here is pretty close. How is it not working for you? Describe the issue.

[@RobinP556]

Interesting, is there a way to delete someone from the photo (like an ex spouse) and then expand the background to make up for the space where the other person used to be?

[@macmost]

It really depends on the exact situation. You'll need to learn how to use a wide array of tools in Pixelmator Pro, practice them, and then apply those skills to accomplish that task. There is no easy way to replace such a large section of a photo.

[@RobinP556]

@@macmost I may just pay someone to do it. It’s only a few photos and that sounds like something that I would learn and only use a couple of times, then forget.