When you use the Remove Background tool, or any other selection technique, to extract something from the background and place on a different background, you inevitably end up with a fringe around the edge of the object, particularly if the new background is lighter or darker than the original background.
There are many different ways of fixing these fringes, some work better than others and results vary from image to image. This article outlines another method to try using the Remove tool.
Figure one shows a sample “Before and After” using this technique.
Fig 1 - Before and After the Edge Blend
You could simply paint around the edge of the object with the Remove tool but this technique suggests creating a border selection around the edge of the object first to make that process more accurate.
Firstly create a selection around the extracted object, the easiest way to do this is to hold down the Command (Mac) or Control (Windows) and click on the layer mask (if it has been extracted using a layer mask) or on the layer thumbnail of the object itself if it is a transparent background object and not done using a layer mask.
With the selection active click the Brush icon that will be at the left-hand side of the Context Sensitive Taskbar and choose Select Border (see Figure 2), then in the dialog box presented choose the width in pixels for the border you want to cover your edge. Allow a few extra pixels for a feathered edge to be created in the next step.
Fig 2 - Creating the border selection
Click the Brush icon in the Context Sensitive Taskbar again and choose Feather Selection, then choose the number of pixels to feather the border selection.
The border width and feather amount will vary depending on the image and the size of your fringe. You may have try a couple of different widths, or even do this a couple of different times for parts of the same image if the fringe varies in size.
Now create a blank layer, and with that layer selected paint into the selection with the Remove Tool. As you are painting into a selection you can choose a big brush and don’t really need to be too careful (see Figure 3).
Fig 3a - Painting into the border selection with the Remove tool
It is always best to do this type of fix non-destructively on a new blank layer as if some sections aren’t perfect, they can easily be masked out and done again on another new layer. You will have to ensure that the “Sample content from all visible layers” icon in the Options bar is clicked if using a blank layer.
If you have the “Remove after each stroke” unchecked in the Options bar (my preferred setting) click the tick mark in the Options bar or press Enter to have the Remove tool do its thing and blend your edges.
You may find that using the Command+H (Mac) or Control+H (Windows) key to hide the selection “marching ants” gives you a better view of your edge blending as you work your way around the object.
I hope that you find that this technique works well for you.
This article was first published in the January 2025 issue of Artists Down Under magazine.