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Remove part of a photo with Manual Cutout
Remove part of a photo with Manual Cutout

Learn how to use manual cutout to remove objects from photos with precision.

C
Written by Craig Wright
Updated today

When you import a photo, Photoroom automatically detects the objects in your photo and removes the background. Sometimes, it may keep parts of the image that you don't want, so we have a Cutout feature to help you remove them.

In this article, we explain how to use Manual Cutout on a new image that you import into Photoroom.

3 side-by-side images. The first image shows a photo imported into Photoroom. The manual cutout feature is active. The second image shows manual cutout being used to draw over an object in the photo being edited. The third image shows the photo with the drawn over object removed.

To learn about using Cutout with existing designs, see Remove parts of an image with Edit Cutout.

Note: Cutout also has an Assisted mode, where Photoroom will remove a region that you select. It can be quicker than using Manual mode, but also less precise. To learn more, see Remove part of a photo with Assisted Cutout.


On iPhone and iPad

To use Manual Cutout on a newly imported image on the iPhone or iPad version of Photoroom:

  1. On the Create page, select Start from Photo.

  2. Upload a new image. You can select either:

    1. Camera roll to choose an image from your device's photo gallery.

    2. Camera to take a new photo with your device and then upload that to Photoroom.

    3. Files to choose an image file.

    4. Generate an image with AI to create an AI image. We will not cover this here, for details, see Create an AI Image. When you have created an AI Image, the Cutout feature works in the same way as described for importing photos.

  3. Select Cutout. The option is next to the preview image.


  4. Select the Erase option.

  5. Select the Manual tab.

  6. Use the Brush width slider to change the size of the brush cursor.

  7. Draw over the area that you want to remove. Look in the zoom box to get a closer view of the brush position for more precision.

    Tip: You can drag the Cutout settings up from the bottom to change the Brush width again if needed.

    Tip: If you make a mistake, select the Undo icon at the top to cancel your previous action. Alternatively, select the Restore option and use it to recover the erased parts of the image. Restore works in a similar way to Erase, except that it brings back removed areas.

  8. Select Done.

  9. Select a template for the background of your image or select AI Backgrounds to create a background from a prompt.

  10. [Optional] Use the editor settings to make further changes to your design, such as add shapes or text.

  11. [Optional] Select Export and use the export settings to export your design as an image file and share it. Select Done to exit the export options.

  12. Select the cross icon ( x ) to exit the editor and save your design.


On Android

To use Manual Cutout on a newly imported image on the Android version of Photoroom:

  1. On the Create page, select Start from Photo.

  2. Upload a new image. You can select either:

    1. Camera to choose an image from your device's photo gallery.

    2. Gallery to take a new photo with your device and then upload that to Photoroom.

    3. Files to choose an image file.

    4. Generate an image with AI to create an AI image. We will not cover this here, for details, see Create an AI Image. When you have created an AI Image, the Cutout feature works in the same way as described for importing photos.

  3. Select Cutout. The option is next to the preview image.

  4. Select the Erase option.

  5. Select the Manual tab.

  6. Use the Brush width slider to change the size of the brush cursor.

  7. Draw over the area that you want to remove. Look in the zoom box to get a closer view of the brush position for more precision.

    Tip: You can drag the Cutout settings up from the bottom to change the Brush width again if needed.

    Tip: If you make a mistake, select the Undo icon at the top to cancel your previous action. Alternatively, select the Restore option and use it to recover the erased parts of the image. Restore works in a similar way to Erase, except that it brings back removed areas.

  8. Select Done.

  9. Select a template for the background of your image or select AI Backgrounds to create a background from a prompt.

  10. [Optional] Use the editor settings to make further changes to your design, such as add shapes or text.

  11. [Optional] Select Export and use the export settings to export your design as an image file and share it. Select Done to exit the export options.

  12. Select the back arrow to exit the editor and save your design.


On Web App

To use Manual Cutout on a newly imported image on the Web App version of Photoroom:

  1. Log in to Photoroom at app.photoroom.com.

  2. Select Select a photo.

  3. Choose an image file to upload.
    Photoroom removes the background automatically and opens the image in the editor.

  4. Select the layer that contains the image you want to remove.

  5. Select Edit Cutout in the layer settings in the sidebar.

  6. Select Erase.

  7. Select Manual.

  8. Use the Brush width slider to change the size of the brush cursor.

  9. Draw over the area that you want to remove.

  10. Select Confirm.

  11. [Optional] Select a Template for the background of your image or select AI Backgrounds to create a background from a prompt.

  12. [Optional] Use the editor settings to make further changes to your design, such as add shapes or text.

  13. [Optional] Select the download icon. Enter a file name and set the image file type and then select Download.

    Download button. It is a tray with a downward facing arrow above it.
  14. Select Home to exit the editor and save your design.

    Home button. It is a house.

Further information

Check out Photoroom's e-commerce photography and photo editing trend reports to learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to create product images that sell.

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