[Tutorial] How to Remove Background in Procreate? 3 Efficient Ways and One More Option

Procreate, a powerful image creator and processor, can help people deal with their image-related needs in many ways. However, the app's richness of functions inevitably leads to difficulties in learning: When people have a need, they don’t know what to do. This article will show you how to remove background Procreate through three different approaches and introduce a much simpler tool to fit that specific need. Here we go!

How to Remove Background in Procreate

Part 1. How to Remove Background in Procreate Step-by-Step

Before exploring the specific steps for removing a picture background, one should first import the picture into Procreate and prepare it.

Step 1.
Open Procreate on your device. Tap the “+” sign at the top-right corner to create a new canvas. Select anyone you like from the list or customize your canvas by tapping the icon that looks like a cardboard box.
Procreate Create And Customize New Canvas
Step 2.
Tap the icon, which looks like a wrench or spanner, to reveal the Actions menu. Choose Add to insert a photo from your album or a file from the Files, or take a picture to be used.
Procreate Insert A File
Step 3.
Hit the Layers button, which looks like two squares putting together, select the layer that your photo is on, left-slide, and tap Lock and Duplicate to make a copy of the layer. Again, left-slide the copied layer, choose Unlock, and then untick the visibility box of the Inserted Image layer to hide it from vision. We do so to have a safe copy of your original layer as the reference or backup in case you mess something up while exploring.
Procreate Duplicate A Layer

You can give a long-press instead of a quick tap on the layer to reveal a different operation list. Here we choose Rename and rename the copied layer as “Layer 1” for the sake of convenience. Remember, you can only operate on the unlocked layer, so tap on Layer 1 to select it before closing the Layers menu.

Procreate Rename A Layer

If you accidentally do something wrong in Procreate, you can undo your operations by double-finger tapping. Now that the preparation is finished. Let’s remove the background!

Approach 1. Using the Selection Tool

Using the Selection tool to remove the background of pictures with simple shapes and distinguished colors is efficient.

Step 1.
Tap the Selection tool. It is located on the left next to the arrow icon in the toolbar, looking like an S.
Step 2.
Choose the mode you want to use at the bottom toolbar. Under Automatic mode, the user could tap on the areas that they want to remove, and Procreate would create a selection based on the boundary lines of the objects and color. Under Freehand mode, the user can create a selected area by drawing a closed outline. Now, create a selection of the region that you want to keep.
Step 3.
Tap the Copy & Paste button to create a new layer containing only your selection.
Procreate Create A Selection And Copy

Then tap the Layers button and untick the visibility box of Layer 1 and the background color.

Procreate Copied Layery

Now that you know how to make the background transparent in Procreate, it’s time to learn how to export it for your use!

Step 4.
Tap the Actions button (See Step. 2) and choose Share. Select the image format you want to use from Share Image, then tap Save Image to export it into your album or other options that suit your needs.
Procreate Export Your Work

Approach 2. Using the Eraser Tool

Using the Eraser tool in Procreate to remove unwanted pixels may be the first method people think of when they consider how to remove BG in Procreate. It’s certainly possible and could do the job reasonably quickly when combined with the selection tool.

Step 1.
Choose the Selection tool, find Remove at the bottom bar, and use the mode you like to create a selection.
Procreate Remove Mode Selection
Step 2.
Tap the Eraser button on the top right corner. You’ll see that the region being successfully selected will be covered by interlaced semi-translucent lines. The selected region will not be affected by your eraser or brush.
Step 3.
Erase the background from your picture.
Procreate Erasing Completedk

Approach 3. Using Layers and Masks

The Layers and Mask techniques in Procreate are rich and efficient but not very friendly to new users. Let’s see one relatively simple way to use Layers and Mask to remove white background from a picture.

Step 1.
Tap the Selection tool, choose the Freehand mode.
Step 2.
Outline what you want to keep, but this time, don’t close the line. Instead, you should tap on the little white dot.
Step 3.
Tap Layers and tap the layer that is highlighted, then a list will pop out.
Procreate Create Mask Layer
Step 4.
Choose Mask from the list, and a new layer of your selected area will be created on top of your current layer.
Step 5.
Use two fingers to pinch the layer mask and your operating layer in the Layers list. They should be merged into one layer. Job well done!
Procreate merge the Layersr

Removing the background in Procreate is technically possible. Still, after trying the approaches mentioned above, you may find that it is not that easy for amateurs of painting to produce a satisfactory result: the automatic selection mode often misreads the boundaries of objects in similar colors, and the freehand selection mode needs you to be highly patient when drawing the outlines. Moreover, if you want to deal with multiple pictures, the repetitive preparation work of the pictures will undoubtedly be laboring. It’s safe to say that Procreate is not the best option for eliminating unwanted backgrounds, considering all its time and skill thresholds.

Part 2. Alternatives to Procreate for Background Removal

A recommended choice for those struggling with background problems in pictures is Aiseesoft background remover. Compared to Procreate, Aiseesoft background remover is simple to use and master. With simple clicks and adjustments, the background remover can produce a highly satisfactory result within seconds, which will undoubtedly be handy when you must deal with many pictures. Aiseesoft bg remover also has other outstanding features as follows:

• Automatically removes background with an advanced AI algorithm

• Supports processing pictures in JPG/JPEG/PNG/GIF

• Provides background changing, size editing, and precise erasing of pictures

• Quick processing speed without any installation

• Free for processing an unlimited amount of pictures

Click the link to remove your unwanted BG for two steps!

Step 1.
Click on Upload Image or drag your picture into the dashed-line box. The AI will automatically start removing the background for you.
Aiseesoft Online Bg Remover Webs
Step 2.
Once the removal is done, click the Save Image button and choose your desired picture quality. Then, select Preview Image to download the processed picture for free!
Aiseesoft Online Bg Remover Preview The Results

If you are unsatisfied with the processed picture or have additional editing needs, try the edit function.

Aiseesoft Online Bg Remover Outcome Comparison

Part 3. FAQs About Background Removal

What tools in Procreate are best for background removal?

Using layers and masks is the best method if the picture is complicated, but for cutting out simple objects from the picture, the selection tool is more recommended.

Can I restore the original background after removing it in Procreate?

If you are asking this during the editing process, you can try double-fingered taps on your iPad to undo your operations. But if you’ve already saved your work once as pictures without duplicating the original images or layer information, then the only hope would be restoring the picture from your backup.

How can I replace the background color in Procreate?

After clearing the background of your picture, add a layer below it, and then paint the blank layer with a brush of the color you like. If you still have the Background color layer, changing the color of it will also do. Then, pinch those two layers to merge them into one.

Conclusion

This article provides three different approaches to the question of how to remove background in Procreate and an alternative for Procreate when background removal is needed: Aiseesoft background remover. Procreate, though being a versatile image-creating tool, may not be a convenient background remover for common people. Aiseesoft background remover, on the contrary, specializes in only background removal and intends to meet the needs of the vast majority. Have a try on from the link above and start your easy background removal life from today!

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