Skip to Content

How to Remove White Background in Canva

How to Remove White Background in Canva

Template Fonts is reader supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more


Canva is a popular graphic design tool used to create stunning visuals for social media, presentations, and various marketing materials. One of the most common tasks that designers face while working on Canva is removing the white background from an image. Fortunately, Canva provides an easy-to-use background remover tool that can get the job done in a matter of seconds.

To remove a white background from an image in Canva, users can simply upload their image or choose one from the Canva image library. They can then click on the ‘Edit Image’ button on the top toolbar and select ‘Background Remover’ on the left side panel that appears. After that, they can click ‘Erase’ to remove the background and make it transparent. While Canva does a pretty good job of removing the background, users can also make manual adjustments using the Erase and Restore brushes that appear in the left panel.

By following these simple steps, designers can quickly and easily remove white backgrounds from their images in Canva and create stunning visuals that are sure to impress their audience. Whether they are working on social media graphics, presentations, or marketing materials, Canva’s background remover tool is an essential feature that every designer should know how to use.

Understanding Canva

Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create professional-looking designs for various purposes. It offers a wide range of templates, images, and design elements that users can customize to fit their needs. Canva is easy to use, even for those who have no design experience.

One of the standout features of Canva is its user-friendly interface. The platform is designed to be intuitive, with drag-and-drop functionality and simple editing tools. Users can easily add and remove elements, change colors and fonts, and adjust the layout of their designs.

Canva also offers a range of design tools that allow users to create custom graphics and designs. These tools include a background remover, which can be used to remove the white background from an image. This can be useful for creating transparent images or for placing an image on a different background.

In addition to its design tools, Canva also offers a range of collaboration features. Users can share their designs with others, collaborate on projects in real-time, and leave comments and feedback. This makes it easy for teams to work together on design projects, even if they are in different locations.

Overall, Canva is a versatile and user-friendly platform that can be used for a wide range of design projects. Its range of templates, design elements, and collaboration tools make it a popular choice for individuals and teams alike.

Basic Steps to Remove White Background

Removing white background from an image in Canva is a quick and easy process. Here are the basic steps to follow:

  1. Upload your image to Canva or select one from the Canva library.
  2. Click on the “Edit Image” button on the top toolbar.
  3. From the left side panel that appears, select “Background Remover.”
  4. Use the “Erase” tool to remove the white background.
  5. Save your image by clicking on the “Download” button.

It’s important to note that the “Background Remover” tool works best with images that have a clear contrast between the foreground and background. If your image has a complex background or similar colors, you may need to use the “Erase” tool more carefully to avoid removing parts of the foreground.

Additionally, if you want to replace the removed white background with a new background, you can simply add a new background to your design and arrange it behind the foreground image.

Related Posts:

Advanced Techniques for Background Removal

For more complex images, Canva offers advanced techniques for removing backgrounds. These techniques allow users to remove intricate details from images such as hair, fur, or transparent objects. One technique is to use the “Brush” tool to manually erase parts of the background. To do this, select the “Brush” tool and adjust the size and opacity of the brush to match the area that needs to be erased. Then, carefully brush over the areas of the image that need to be removed, making sure not to accidentally erase any important details.

Another advanced technique is to use the “Mask” tool to remove the background. This technique is particularly useful for images with complex shapes or transparent objects. To use this technique, select the “Mask” tool and carefully trace around the object that needs to be isolated. Canva will automatically remove the background, leaving only the object in the image.

Finally, users can also use the “Magic Resize” tool to remove backgrounds. This tool analyzes the image and automatically removes the background, leaving only the main subject in the image. This technique is particularly useful for images with simple backgrounds or images that need to be resized quickly.

Overall, Canva offers a range of advanced techniques for removing backgrounds from images. These techniques allow users to remove intricate details from images and create professional-looking designs.

Related Posts:

Using Canva’s Built-In Background Remover

Canva’s built-in Background Remover tool is a handy feature that allows users to remove the background of an image quickly and easily. This tool is available on both the desktop and mobile versions of Canva.

To use the Background Remover tool on the desktop version of Canva, users need to upload an image and click on the “Edit Image” button on the top toolbar. Next, select “Background Remover” on the left side panel that appears. Then, click “Erase” to remove the background. Users can also use the “Restore” brush to bring back parts of the image that were accidentally erased.

On the mobile version of Canva, users can access the Background Remover tool by tapping on the image they want to edit and selecting “Remove Background” from the options that appear. From there, they can use the “Erase” and “Restore” brushes to remove or restore parts of the image.

It’s important to note that the Background Remover tool works best on images with clear and distinct backgrounds. If the background of an image is too complex or blurry, the tool may not work as well. In this case, users may need to manually remove the background using the “Crop” or “Eraser” tools.

By using Canva’s built-in Background Remover tool, users can quickly and easily remove the background of an image without the need for complex editing software.

Related Posts:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, users may encounter issues when removing white backgrounds in Canva. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

1. Canva Background Remover not working

If the Canva Background Remover is not working, users can try clearing their browser’s cache and cookies. To do this on Google Chrome, click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner, select “Settings”, then navigate to “Privacy and Security” and click on “Clear Browsing Data”. Check the options “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”, then click on “Clear Data”. This should help resolve the issue.

2. Poor image quality after removing background

Sometimes, users may notice a decrease in image quality after removing the white background. This could be due to the image’s resolution or format. It is recommended to use high-resolution images in PNG or JPEG format to ensure the best results. Additionally, users can try adjusting the “Tolerance” and “Feather” settings in the Background Remover tool to achieve better results.

3. Incomplete background removal

If the Background Remover tool is not removing the entire white background, users can try manually erasing the remaining white areas using the Eraser tool. This tool can be accessed by clicking on “Edit Image” and selecting “Eraser” from the left-side panel. Users can adjust the brush size and opacity to achieve the desired results.

4. Background removal taking too long

Removing the white background from an image can be a time-consuming process, especially for large or complex images. To speed up the process, users can try simplifying the image by removing unnecessary elements or using a simpler background. Additionally, users can try using the “Smart remove” feature, which uses AI technology to automatically remove the background from an image.

By following these troubleshooting tips, users can ensure a smooth and successful experience when removing white backgrounds in Canva.

Alternative Methods to Remove White Background

If you don’t have a Canva Pro or Enterprise account, or if you prefer to use other software, there are alternative methods to remove white backgrounds from images. Two popular options are Photoshop and GIMP.

Using Photoshop

Photoshop is a powerful image editing software that can be used to remove white backgrounds from images. Here are the steps:

  1. Open the image in Photoshop.
  2. Select the Magic Wand tool from the toolbar on the left.
  3. Click on the white background to select it.
  4. Press the Delete key to remove the white background.
  5. Save the image as a PNG file to preserve the transparency.

Photoshop also offers more advanced tools for removing backgrounds, such as the Background Eraser tool and the Select and Mask feature. These tools can be useful for images with complex backgrounds or foreground objects.

Using GIMP

GIMP is a free and open-source image editing software that can also be used to remove white backgrounds from images. Here are the steps:

  1. Open the image in GIMP.
  2. Select the Fuzzy Select tool from the toolbar on the left.
  3. Click on the white background to select it.
  4. Press the Delete key to remove the white background.
  5. Save the image as a PNG file to preserve the transparency.

GIMP also offers more advanced tools for removing backgrounds, such as the Foreground Select tool and the Paths tool. These tools can be useful for images with complex backgrounds or foreground objects.

Related Posts: