How to Cut Out Images from Pictures?

Photos are not always captured in the way you want to see them. They may have a distracting background or something that you want to cut out from them.

Imagine you are on a family trip and want to protect all the memories through photos. What if you return home and find that some pictures have a grainy background or strangers appear behind you? This becomes a frustrating situation indeed.

To get out of this trouble, you can cut out a specific image from the picture. Don’t know how to cut an image out of a background? Don’t miss this guide, as it explains how you can cut out a picture on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and online. Moreover, it shares valuable tips for cutting out images accurately.

Part 1. What Exactly Does “Cutting Out an Image” Mean?

Isolating a specific part (mostly the main subject) of a photo is referred to as cutting out an image. You can isolate a picture’s specific portion by eliminating unwanted elements or removing the background. With this approach, you can only extract what you need. It could be a place, product, person, or object. Once you cut them out, you can place them on a new background.

The term “cutting out an image” is also known as extracting, background removal, or clipping. This term is commonly used in various domains (such as content creation, photo editing, graphics design, and digital marketing) when you aim to focus on a specific subject with no distractions. Cutting out an object digitally from a photo is similar to using scissors in the real world.

You might be wondering if there are any applications for cutting out images. Right? Well, you may need to cut out images or remove the background in different scenarios, as listed below.

• Creating social media graphics or YouTube thumbnails.
• Highlighting a subject with zero visual distractions.
• Designing presentations, posters, and flyers.
• Replacing backgrounds in photos.
• Making product images for ecommerce businesses.

Part 2. How Can I Cut an Image from a Picture on Windows?

Now that you know what it means by cutting out an image, it is time to learn how you can do it on Windows computers. Below is a list of built-in and third-party tools you can use to cut out images from pictures within seconds.

1. UniConverter

It is an unmatched AI-powered third-party software that allows you to remove the background of your photos to eliminate all the distractions, or simply crop unwanted parts from your images. One thing you will love about this tool is that it helps you remove backgrounds or crop pictures from multiple photos at once. If you are the one who needs quick results without following any complicated background removal process, try UniConverter.

Batch Image Editor and BG Remover

Easily edit images in bulk, including rotating, cropping, flipping, resizing, removing background, watermarking, and more.

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Steps to crop photos or remove the photo background instantly.

Step 1

Go to the official UniConverter website, download the Windows version, and install it right away.

Step 2

Choose Batch Image Editor.

Step 3

Load one or multiple pictures into UniConverter by tapping on the “+ Add Files” button.

The pictures you load into the tool will appear like the one shown below.

Step 4

Now, tap on the Image BG Remover menu from the left pane and enable Remove Background. Doing this will immediately remove the background from your photo.

Step 5

If you want to crop images, tab on "Crop & Rotate" tab to customize aspect ratio and cut out an image.

Step 6

Click the Export All button and save the main subject as a new image.

2. Paint 3D

It is a pre-installed photo-editing and graphics design application that comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11. Unlike classic MS Paint, Paint 3D offers both 2D and 3D editing features for pictures. The top features of this tool include annotation, painting, background removal, drawing, and adding various brushes, effects, and texts.

Paint 3D supports the PNG file format for saving photos with transparent backgrounds. Whether you are an educator, student, or beginner who wants to create visuals and make some quick edits, this photo editing application will be your go-to assistant. It lends a helping hand to anyone who wants to remove backgrounds or cut out images from pictures.

How you can cut out an image using Paint 3D on a Windows PC.

Step 1

Launch the tool and open a photo from which you want to cut out a specific image or object. To do this, tap on the Open button, browse for photos, and click Open.

Step 2

Tap on the Magic Select tool in the top menu bar.

Step 3

You will now see a box around the photo. Drag its corners to focus on a specific subject. In the image below, we have focused on the dog’s left eye.

Step 4

Now, click on the Next button, and the main subject will be automatically detected, as shown below.

Step 5

If some parts are not highlighted properly, you can use the Add or Remove buttons in the right pane to make the selection perfect, as shown in the image below. You can see that the eye is more accurately highlighted now.

Step 6

Hit the Done button, and the selected object will be separated. You can move it anywhere on the layer, as shown below. You can use the Cut or Copy buttons to copy the main subject. Then, you can send it to any messaging app or use it with a new background.

3. GIMP

This open-source picture editing tool is available for free on Windows devices. The word GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. You will be surprised to see professional-grade functionalities in this utility. It is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. Whether you are a pro or a beginner, GIMP offers easy-to-use features. Here is how it helps you remove the background from your photos.

Step 1

Download, install, and open GIMP tool on your Windows computer.

Step 2

Open the desired photo in GIMP.

Step 3

Right-click your photo layer in the Layers panel and select Add Alpha Channel. It ensures that it keeps a transparent background once you remove it.

Step 4

Choose the Foreground Select Tool to select the portion that you want to remove from the picture. You can also choose other tools (such as Basic Square or Circle Selection, Select by Color, Paths Tool Method, and Fuzzy Select) according to the complexity of your photo.

This is how the Foreground Select tool will help you select the main subject in your photo.

Step 5

Now, you have chosen the portion of the photo that you want to keep. Press the Delete button on the keyboard to remove the background.

Part 3. How to Cut an Image from a Picture on Mac?

When it comes to cutting out an image on a Mac computer, tools like Preview App, Photoshop, and UniConverter come in handy.

1. UniConverter

Like Windows, UniConverter is also available for Mac computers for background removal and image cropping, and other projects. The background removal and image editing process for Mac is similar to what we have seen for Windows computers. Have a look at it again.

Batch Image Editor

Easily edit images in bulk, including rotating, cropping, flipping, resizing, removing background, watermarking, and more.

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2. Photoshop

Adobe launched this powerful photo editing utility that offers a variety of advanced background removal features. Whether you are a newbie or a pro designer, Photoshop will allow you to remove image backgrounds in no time. Here is how it enables you to remove backgrounds like a pro.

Step 1

Launch Photoshop and load the desired photo into it.

Step 2

Go to the Layers panel, right-click the layer, and select Convert to Smart Object.

Step 3

Now, enter the Properties panel. Then, under the Quick Actions section, tap on Remove Background.

Step 4

Wait for a while until Photoshop detects the background automatically and deletes it.

Part 4. How Do I Cut an Image Out of a Picture on Android?

If you are an Android user and are looking for efficient and reliable background removal apps to cut out a specific image from your photos, try the Background Eraser or Canva Mobile apps.

1. Background Eraser App

Whether you want to cut out a specific portion of your picture or make its background transparent, try this app to get over the line.

Step 1

Download the app from the Google Play Store and install it on your Android mobile.

Step 2

Click Load a Photo and select the picture from which you want to remove the background.

Step 3

Frame the picture’s portion that you want to keep using the crop tool.

Step 4

Choose the Manual Mode and swipe your finger to remove the background.

Step 5

Once the background is removed, click Done.

2. Canva Mobile

It is an AI-assisted photo and video editor. Canva is rich in so many easy-to-use photo-editing features. Most of them are available for free for design enthusiasts or seasoned professionals. The steps below show how can you cut an image from a picture.

Step 1

Download, install, and open Canva on your Android phone.

Step 2

Click the “+” icon and hit Uploads to add your photo from the phone gallery.

Step 3:

Click the photo to choose it on the canvas. You will now see a toolbar.

Step 4

Scroll down and tap on Effects to expand the editing options.

Step 5

Hit the BG Remover option, and Canva will automatically find the background of your photo and remove it as a priority.

Part 5. How to Cut an Image Out of a Background on iPhone?

Are you an iPhone user? Searching for ways to cut an image out of a background? Follow the methods below to isolate your main subject from the picture.

1. Lift the Subject from the Background

This built-in feature is available in iOS 16+ models. It enables you to detect the main subject and isolate it quickly. Below are the steps you should follow while cutting out an image from a photo.

Step 1

Open the Photos App and load the photo you want to remove the background from.

Step 2

Touch and gently hold the subject that you want to cut out from the picture.

Step 3

After a while, a little pop-up menu will appear along with the highlighted outline. Click Copy to keep the isolated subject on the clipboard for later use. You can also save or share the subject you just cut out from the photo.

2. Magic Eraser

This is a free photo editing and background removal application designed for iPhone and iPad users. Whether you want to erase unwanted objects or isolate the main subject, Magic Eraser will assist you with both. Apart from background removal, it offers so many features to turn your pictures into more professional and appealing images. Here is how you can use this app to cut out images from photos.

Step 1

Download the Magic Eraser: Background Editor app from the App Store.

Step 2

Import your picture and select the Erase brush from the toolbar. You can adjust the brush size by moving the slider. Don’t forget to zoom in for more accurate control.

Step 3

Now, paint over the background that you want to erase from the photo.

Step 4

Click Erase to see if the background is perfectly removed.

Step 5

If you have removed some areas mistakenly, use the Repair mode to get them back.

Step 6

Copy, save, and share the main subject you just took out of the photo.

Part 6. How to Cut Out an Image from a Photo Online?

Searching for how to cut an image out of a background online? The tools like Remove.bg and Photopea will help you do the job.

1. Remove.bg

It is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get rid of unnecessary distractions from your photos by removing their backgrounds. All you need to do is upload the pictures that you want to edit, and the tool will automatically detect their backgrounds and remove them all instantly. Once done, you can save the images with transparent backgrounds on your computer within seconds.

2. Photopea

Though it is a free online image editor, it comes with Photoshop-like functions to ensure more precise background removal. If you want to edit photos quickly without installing any external tool, Photopea should be your top choice. It just asks you to upload the desired picture and select the background. The removal happens autonomously.

Part 7. Tips for Cutting Out Images from Pictures Accurately

If you want to become more proficient in removing photo backgrounds and making other professional edits, ensure you follow the few simple tips given below.

• High-contrast backgrounds ensure precise auto-detection. Therefore, try using images with high-contrast backgrounds.
• If you want to get the best possible outcomes, always use high-resolution photos.
• When you have to select edges manually, don’t forget to zoom in on your photo for more accurate editing.
• Use layers instead of using eraser tools.
• Always save the picture in the PNG format, as it allows you to keep the background transparent.

Final Words

If you are wondering how do I cut an image out of a picture, the process is simple, but you need to choose a worthy tool. For a better understanding, cutting out an image from a picture means background removal or isolating a specific subject from the photo.

The discussion above has presented efficient tools for cutting out images from pictures on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. It has also listed online tools to perform instant background removal. If you are looking for a trusted tool to remove backgrounds from multiple pictures at once, try UniConverter.

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