How To Remove Background in Procreate

Procreate doesn’t have a built-in feature for automatically removing backgrounds like some other graphic editing software.

However, you can manually remove backgrounds in Procreate using various methods. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

_{^{Method 1: Manual Erasing}}

This method involves manually erasing the background from your artwork:

_{^{Step 1}} 

Open your artwork in Procreate.

_{^{Step 2}} 

Create a new layer above your artwork layer by tapping the “+ Layer” button and selecting “New Layer.”

_{^{Step 3}}

On the new layer, select a brush (e.g., the “Studio Pen” or “Inking” brushes work well for precision). 

_{^{Step 4}}

Set the brush color to fully opaque (usually pure white).

_{^{Step 5}}

Carefully start erasing the background around your subject. Zoom in for better accuracy.

_{^{Step 6}}

Adjust the brush size and opacity as needed for different parts of the image.

_{^{Step 7}}

Continue erasing until you’ve removed the entire background.

_{^{Method 2: Selection and Masking}}

This method involves making a selection around your subject and then deleting the background:

This method involves making a selection around your subject and then deleting the background:

_{^{Step 1}}

Open your artwork in Procreate.

_{^{Step 2}}

Choose the “Selection” tool from the toolbar (usually looks like a small “S”).

^{_{Step 3}}

Carefully trace around the subject you want to keep.

_{^{Step 4}}

Once the selection is complete, tap the “Layer” menu, swipe with 3 fingers, and  choose “Cut” or “Copy.”

^{_{Step 5}}

Create a new layer above your artwork layer.

_{^{Step 6}}

Tap on the new layer and choose “Paste.” The selected area will appear on this new layer.

_{^{Step 7}}

Hide or delete the original background layer.

_{^{Method 3: Alpha Lock}}

This method is useful if you want to maintain the original background layer but need to make parts of it transparent:

_{^{Step 1}} 

Open your artwork in Procreate.

^{_{Step 2}} 

Duplicate the background layer by swiping left on the layer and selecting “Duplicate.”

_{^{Step 3}} 

On the duplicated layer, tap it to bring up the layer options and choose “Alpha Lock.”

_{^{Step 4}} 

Use an eraser or brush with transparency to remove parts of the background while preserving the original layer’s content.

_{^{Method 4: Use the Crop Tool}}

If your artwork is on a separate layer, you can use the Crop tool to remove the background:

_{^{Step 1}} 

Select the “Crop” tool from the toolbar.

_{^{Step 2}} 

Adjust the cropping handles to include only the part of the image you want to keep.

^{_{Step 3}} 

Tap the checkmark to apply the crop.

After removing the background, you can export your artwork as a PNG file to retain the transparency or place it on a different background layer or image.

Please note that the effectiveness of these methods may vary depending on the complexity of your artwork and the precision required.

For more advanced background removal tasks, you may consider using specialized graphic editing software like Adobe Photoshop. Procreate is primarily designed for digital painting and illustration rather than detailed photo editing.