How to add a white background to a photo for free

Why white backgrounds work

A plain white background puts all the attention on what you are selling or showing. Many online marketplaces ask for product photos on white, and catalogs use it so every item looks consistent. A white backdrop also hides a messy desk, a busy room or uneven light. You don't need a lightbox or a studio. You need a decent photo and a few clicks.

How to add a white background

1. Open Remove background and click Select images, or drop your JPG or PNG photos onto the page.

2. Under Subject, choose Object or product for items you sell, or Person for portraits and profile photos.

3. Under Background, choose Colour. White is the default color, so the white swatch is already picked for you.

4. Click Remove background. The tool cuts out your subject and places it on pure white.

5. Click Download images. Each photo saves as a JPG with no-background added to the file name, ready to upload.

Product photos for online listings

Shoot your product on a plain surface near a window, with soft light and no strong shadows. Fill most of the frame with the item, but leave a little space around it. The tool does better when the edge of the product is easy to see. A white mug on a white table is harder to cut out than a white mug on a gray one, so pick a surface that contrasts with your product.

Check each result before you upload. Glass, thin handles and cables are the usual trouble spots. Click Fix by hand to clean them up: Magic selects areas of similar color, Pen lets you trace an exact shape, and Erase or Keep applies the fix. The white swatch is pure white, so your photo blends into a white product page with no gray box around it.

ID-style and profile photos

For a portrait, choose Person as the subject. It handles hair and shoulders better than the general model. Face the camera, stand a step away from the wall to reduce shadows, and make sure your face is evenly lit. Once the background is replaced, use Crop image to frame your head and shoulders, or Resize image to reach an exact pixel size.

Official photo rules differ by country and by document. Some ask for white, some for light gray or off-white, and most also have rules about size, head position and expression. Read the requirements for your document first. If it asks for a light gray, click Custom colour and pick the shade you need. This tool changes the background; it doesn't check your photo against official rules.

Other colors and transparent cut-outs

White is not the only option. The Background colour swatches also include black, light gray, blue, yellow, green and coral, and Custom colour lets you pick any shade you like. A brand color behind every product photo can make a shop page look planned and tidy. Whatever color you choose, the result is saved as a JPG that opens anywhere.

Need the cut-out for a design instead? Choose Transparent under Background and you get a PNG with no background at all, ready to place on a banner, slide or flyer. Either way, your photos are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to a server, so unreleased products and personal portraits stay on your device.

Add a white background