Remove the background from photos for free using Inkscape

In this Inkscape tutorial you’ll learn how to remove the background from a photo for free. Inkscape is free design software similar to Photoshop and Illustrator however, Inkscape is totally free to use. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to use the Bezier tool to trace out the object you want to remove from the background and then how to use the Clip feature to pop that image right out of the background. I’ll also go over how to remove smaller sections of your photo if needed. There’s no need to pay for apps that do this for you when you can remove the background from a photo for free with Inkscape.
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[@glenrichardson6396]

Easily the best explanation I've seen. A thousand thanks.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Wow, thanks!

[@funlovers5]

it doesn't work because I'm unable to change the fill so the moment i stop cropping it turns black,anyone can help?

[@edwinvarghese]

faced same issue. but didnt matter...i then selected the whole thing as shown in the tuturial (image and selection) and then object>clip>set clip. It worked!

[@ZeroPlaytime]

I know it's probably late, but you need to set the fill to none (it was set on black by default somehow) I'll just leaving it here this in case other people needed it.

[@lmccallum8340]

Fantastic! So simple - just what I need! thanks so much

[@noelwauchope9497]

Excellent tutorial. The best I have ever seen! Thank you!

[@loraduvall708]

Just discovered your tutorials today! Thank you for the direct and easy to follow instructions.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

You are so welcome!

[@Clips-xq9dm]

I never leave comments but just had to thank you for s video. As someone with no graphic design experience learning Inkscape and gimp in order to things I need to do in a new occupation as been pretty overwhelming. This is such a simple way to do this which is a big piece of the puzzle for things I need to do. Game changer. Good concise video. Thanks so much Crystal.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Wow, thank you!

[@jpla8716]

Wooooohoooo I did it!!🎉🥳 I followed your instructions step by step and I did it! Thank you so much 🤗

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Yay!! You're so welcome!

[@jimintaos]

Thanks-this helped a lot.

[@Nikki_Nicole850]

OMG!! Thank you so much!! 💜💜

[@evelynbrady3347]

Loved it! Never could find out how to turn one tool off to grab another.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Glad I could help!

[@benicio1967]

@@CrystalsCrafties I’m outlining a dog and when I get to his feet it whites out half of his body. I’m wondering how to prevent that. I did complete an outline once but then it’s removing the dog and not the background. I don’t know how to get it to reverse the part of the image I can keep.

[@divyachirayath5512]

Wouldnt trace bitmap be easier?

[@marcelbednar8139]

Hello. Is there another way to cut out an object from the background or only with the Bezier tool?

[@boydriver2978]

What file type do you save in when doing this please?

[@zeidooon70]

i have downloaded the inkscape and it shows me the dark vision which is littel bit deferant than in this video.but thanks very much for this explanation.

[@melirn7280]

Finally, someone who tells us what tools to use and how. Thank you! I was able to get it now.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Aww, thank you!

[@Melissa030412]

@@CrystalsCrafties a lot of videos start off the lessons already assuming you know what tools to use and where they are. I think I speak for a lot of us when I say, we don’t even know where the tool is, let alone being able to do anything on the canvas.

[@cynthiacrawford5709]

Thanks

[@kevinglendinning4337]

Thank you so much..........i am Forrest Gump and needed a simple instruction that goes at my speed and not one that goes at 100 mph

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Great to hear!

[@amothershed852]

I Was able to do this successfully in inkscape; however, When I imported my image over to Cricut Design Space it turned out black. Is there any reason behind this or did I do something wrong?

[@dondarko7885]

Thanks for the tutorial and the inspiration. Just one question though. The little space between the left arm and the body, how do you get the background in that space? Thanks.

[@gaciscosony117]

Excellent, I am so grateful

[@Old52Guy]

Great vid! Thank you for this.

[@ctmcollins4160]

Thank you for showing me clearly, the errors of my ways. At last! Red beans and lentils to you from Kaapstad.

[@Laurasanchez-kj4gr]

Thank you! Informative, quick and works thanks for your time

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Glad it helped!

[@jeffery2211]

Thank you :-)

[@CrystalsCrafties]

You bet!

[@melissawallace1759]

Great tutorial, very easy to follow. Ty!

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lucy-bv2wq]

Amazing job explaining this process...thanks a million : )

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Glad it was helpful!

[@qzwwzt]

Great!!! Please, how do I save it as a PNG? when I try to export, the png created is fully black. I also tried to convert SVG to PNG but had the same issue, the png was black. Thanks a lot

[@AInewsnetwork-AINN]

Thank you! You made it so easy to follow.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ts-fr8hb]

You are a terrific teacher, thank you 💠

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Thank you! 😃

[@tomsvideos68]

Great tutorial. Thank you - subscribed

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Thanks for the sub!

[@mikethompson9745]

So I just today found you r channel, and I was able to follow exactly what i needed in one pass, I have little photo app experience and gimp and photoshop befuddle me, I subscribed and I hope you you made a lot of videos on ink scape. next i"m going to look on how to bend text, I just got a laser engraver and everything's new. Thank you for the highlighted cursor and a pace that was for the beginner.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@antoniogonzalez3317]

Great instructions

[@normabates5603]

Thank you so much.

[@gamingshreyas3673]

Thank you so much 🥰🥰🥰

[@CrystalsCrafties]

I'm glad it helped!

[@bertusattila]

If you reduce the transparency of the image you can see the lines better :)

[@muhammadamirshahzad3241]

Thanks a lot, it works.

[@CrystalsCrafties]

You're welcome!

[@cheryldell9252]

my picture goes pink over the top when i do bitmap and join the dot up, then it cuts away the background but when I clip to a different background it dissappears, where have I gone wrong I have watched your you tube over and over and you don't get the pink over the top once you join the dots. nor does your picture dissappear when you clip set. Thanks so much I am much getting annoyed that I might be missing something. Thanks

[@CrystalsCrafties]

You shouldn't have to make a bitmap of anything. Just import your image, just the bezier tool to trace around what you want to cut out and then select your tracing and the original photo and clip set.

[@secretmission-avoid1300]

thank you!

[@CrystalsCrafties]

You're welcome!

[@IfunanyaE.]

Very helpful

[@CrystalsCrafties]

Glad to hear that

[@TheCaptainmeow]

I'm clicking Object Clip and Set Clip and nothing is happening. Other folks are saying that it works why isn't it working for me?

[@ErioluwEdema]

Isn't working for me too Tried it twice I don't know what I'm doing wrong

[@user-vr6hd1yv2i]

Excellent tutorial, thank you so much! I have always found Inkscape's Pen and Node tools far superior to those of the 'competitors' especially when it comes to snapping. I don't like GIMP's Paths tool either. So, just using Inkscape for cut outs makes my life easier. In regard to the inner area, I would use GIMP and maximize the transparency for that with a layer mask. I have just found that Inkscape auto-refreshes linked bitmap images as they get updated in GIMP so they perfectly complement each other and it's almost the same experience that Affinity Designer. Thank you again!

[@dboys100]

Photo wont print only the background

[@ManofGoodwill]

👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@thedalillama]

This person could cut out 90% of her words.

[@robinhanff4248]

Not trying to be mean but there is a program called " Remove Background" that is free that will do it much easier. 😁

[@musicsexlove]

Those programs really only work best with 1 color backgrounds. With photos like these that have complex backgrounds, inkscape/photoshop/gimp/etc programs work way better IMO

[@wittyfpv]

Maybe if u have a simple photo taken with a single colour background. Iv been using every app under the sun to remove the background from some photos of deer out in the wild and I can tell you now none of the "remove background" apps/programs do not work. Only way to do it is manually

[@dougveganparadisebuilder5808]

Replacing the part between his arms with a solid color is cheating in my book.

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

Big deal. You can do this with photoshop. But this is NOT a PDF!!!

[@beckysteffens3976]

Inkscape is a free program. Photoshop is not. This is to help those who may not have the resources to get Photoshop. That's why it's a big deal.

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

@@beckysteffens3976 lol photoshop is free, genius.

[@Jer0867]

I thought this was going to be some sort of special or fast function...there are many easier (and faster) ways to do this on free things that I've used for years! This is a waste of time.

[@funlovers5]

ok so please let us know the faster ways.?