This lesson cleanly replaces a photo’s background — useful for CV headshots, product shots, social covers, anything.
2026 note: Recorded on Photoshop CS6 in 2014. Adobe sells Photoshop via Creative Cloud subscription now; about 95% of the menus and shortcuts in the video still match the modern version.
Steps (Classic Method)
- Duplicate the background layer.
- Select the subject: rough out with Quick Selection (W), refine via Select and Mask → Refine Hair.
- Output To: Layer Mask, OK. Subject lands masked on its own layer.
- Drop the new background underneath.
- Color spill on the subject’s edges? Apply Layer > Matting > Decontaminate Colors.
- Add a touch of Gaussian Blur (3-8 px) to the new background — mimics camera depth of field.
- Match subject color to the new background: Match Color or a small WB tweak in Camera Raw.
2026 Shortcuts
- Select Subject + Generate Background: Photoshop CC 2024+ auto-cuts the subject and lets Adobe Firefly generate a new background from a prompt.
- remove.bg and similar web services strip the background in one click.
- On iPhone, long-press the subject in the Photos app and pick “Copy Subject” — paste into Photoshop.
Pro Tip
Make sure the light direction on the new background matches the subject. Side-lit portrait + front-lit background gives the trick away instantly.
