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Create your first Photoroom design
Create your first Photoroom design

Learn how to upload a photo, remove its background, add some text, and save your design

C
Written by Craig Wright
Updated today

If you're new to Photoroom, this article is for you. Here, we will guide you through the basics of creating your first Photoroom design, including:

  1. Uploading a photo and removing its background.

  2. Choosing a template for the image size and background.

  3. Adding text and shapes to a design.

  4. Using layers.

  5. Saving your design.

We don't cover the AI features here, but you can find out about them in the help center's Pro features articles.

Ready to get started? Follow the instructions for your device.


iPhone and iPad tutorial

Watch the video or follow the instructions for each step below.

(Video shows Photoroom on iPhone)

Step 1: Import a photo

To import a photo:

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

  2. Either:

    1. Select an image from your Camera roll. This is your device's photo gallery.

    2. Select Camera to use a new photo that you will take with your device.

    3. Select Files to choose a photo from a folder.

  3. When you have chosen an image or taken a photo, Photoroom automatically imports it and removes its background.

    Photoroom has imported an image of a sweater. The background of the image has been removed, so is now transparent.


    Note: If you need to restore or remove parts of the image, you can use the Cutout tool. We won't cover that in this tutorial, but you can find out about it in Add and remove parts of an image with Edit Cutout.

  4. Choose a Template from the Photoroom library.
    A template is a canvas for your image. It sets the size of the image and may include a background and various foreground objects as well as the subject of your photo.

    When you choose a template, Photoroom displays your design in the editor. For this tutorial, we chose the Minimal Shop template with a light pink background.

    Edit page for an imported image. The image has a template background and there are options for Layers, Insert, Text, Backgrounds, Shadows, and Resize.


    ​At this stage, if you are happy with your design, you could select Export to save and share it. But for the tutorial, we are going to show you how to further edit the image.

Step 2: Add a sticker and text [optional]

Let's add a sticker and some text to your design so that you get a feel for how the editing features in Photoroom work.

  1. Select Insert.

  2. Scroll down and you will see lots of categories of objects that you can add to your design. Look in the Shapes category and select Stickers.

    Close-up of Insert options. There is a Shapes category and inside that, options for Classics, Stickers, Blobs and more.
  3. Choose a sticker shape. Photoroom adds the sticker to your design. The settings for the sticker are shown at the bottom. These are called layer settings.

    A sticker shape has been added to the design. It is positioned over the main object of the image, on a separate layer. The layer settings for the sticker are shown at the bottom of the page.



    Note: When you select an object, Photoroom displays that object's "layer settings" at the bottom. You can use these settings to change the appearance of the selected object.

  4. Select a color for the sticker. Choose a color from the list or select the color wheel to display a larger palette of colors.

    The sticker's layer settings include 6 suggested colors and a color spectrum. When the color spectrum is selected, a larger palette of colors is shown.


  5. Use gestures to resize the sticker and drag it to the position you want.

    The sticker has been made smaller and repositioned in the top-left corner.


    You will see that it is positioned over the top of the main object in your design. This is because it is on a different layer.

  6. Select Done on the sticker's layer settings.

  7. Select Layers.

  8. Here you can see the different layers of your design. The lowest layer in the list is the background and then the other layers are laid on top of it in order.

    The Layers show a stack of layers, where the sticker layer called


  9. Press and hold the horizontal lines at the end of the layer for your main object. (For our design, the layer is called "Clothing"). Drag the layer so that it is above the other layers. This makes it appear in front of every other layer.

    Your main object moves in front of the sticker.

    The clothing layer is now at the top of the layers stack. The sticker is now shown behind the clothing layer.
  10. Select Done on the Layers settings.

  11. Select the main object. Use gestures to resize it and then drag it to the position you want.

  12. Select Done on the main object's layer settings.

  13. Select Text.

  14. Type some text, for example "Sale" and choose a text style from the options at the bottom.

    The insert text page. There is an area for typing the text and a sideways-scrolling list of text styles.


  15. Select Done.

  16. Position the text over the sticker and use gestures to resize it.

    The layer stack is reordered so that clothing is top, text is next, graphics are third, and background is last.
  17. Choose a color in the layer settings for the text.

  18. Select Done on the text layer.

  19. Select Layers and then move the text layer so that it is above the sticker layer but below the main object layer.

    Layers. The Clothing layer is at the top of the list, then the Sale text layer, then the Graphics sticker layer, and finally the background layer
  20. Select Done to confirm and close the layer settings.

  21. Select the foreground object in your design and use gestures to move it and resize it.

    The final design has a pale pink background, a blue sticker in the top-left with the word

You have now learned how to:

  • add text and shapes

  • use the layer settings

  • change the order of layers.

There are many other ways to edit a design, including adding images and applying different effects. But similar principles apply - each layer has its own settings for editing the objects on that layer.

Next, let's save your design.

Step 3: Save your design

To save your design, select Export. By default, Photoroom saves your design to your device and the current Photoroom workspace. This is shown below the preview of your design.

Close-up of the information on the Export page. There is a preview of the saved design and below it Photos and Personal space.

In this example, the design is saved to Photos on your device and your Personal space workspace in Photoroom.

From the Export page, you can also share your design with other people, save again to your camera roll, and save your design to a folder.

Note: Photoroom has many options for saving and sharing your design. To learn about them, see Export a design.

Well done! You've created your first Photoroom design. You can access it on the Your Content page, in the Your Designs section.

But there's so much more you can do! Browse our knowledge base articles for help and tips.

Related content

Check out our "How to use Photoroom" video on YouTube (English only).


Android tutorial

Watch the video or follow the instructions for each step below.

(Video shows Photoroom on Android)

Step 1: Import a photo

To import a photo:

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

  2. Either:

    1. Select an image from your Gallery. This is your device's photo gallery.

    2. Select Camera to use a new photo that you will take with your device.

    3. Select Files to choose a photo from a folder.

  3. When you have chosen an image or taken a photo, Photoroom automatically imports it and removes its background.

    Photoroom has imported an image of a sweater. The background of the image has been removed, so is now transparent.


    Note: If you need to restore or remove parts of the image, use the Cutout tool. We won't cover that in this tutorial, but you can find out about it in Add and remove parts of an image with Edit Cutout.

  4. Choose a Template from the Photoroom library.
    A template is a canvas for your image. It sets the size of the image and may include a background and various foreground objects as well as the subject of your photo.

    When you choose a template, Photoroom displays your design in the editor. For this tutorial, we chose the Minimal Shop template with a light pink background.


    ​​At this stage, if you are happy with your design, you could select Export to save and share it. But for the tutorial, we are going to show you how to further edit the image.

Step 2: Add a sticker and text [optional]

Let's add a sticker and some text to your design so that you get a feel for how the editing features in Photoroom work.

  1. Select Insert.

  2. Scroll down and you will see lots of categories of objects that you can add to your design. Look in the Shapes category and select Stickers.

  3. Choose a sticker shape. Photoroom adds the sticker to your design. The settings for the sticker are shown at the bottom. These are called layer settings.


    ​​
    Note: When you select an object, Photoroom displays that object's "layer settings" at the bottom. You can use these settings to change the appearance of the selected object.

  4. Select a color for the sticker. Choose a color from the list or select the color wheel to display a larger palette of colors.


  5. Use gestures to resize the sticker and drag it to the position you want.


    You will see that it is positioned over the top of the main object in your design. This is because it is on a different layer.

  6. Select Done on the sticker's layer settings.

  7. Select Layers.


    Here you can see the different layers of your design. The lowest layer in the list is the background and then the other layers are laid on top of it in order.

    The Layers show a stack of layers, where the sticker layer called


  8. Press and hold the horizontal lines at the end of the layer for your main object. (For our design, the layer is called "Clothing"). Drag the layer so that it is above the other layers. This makes it appear in front of every other layer.

    Your main object moves in front of the sticker.

  9. Select Done on the Layers settings.

  10. Select the main object. Use gestures to resize it and then drag it to the position you want.

  11. Select Done on the main object's layer settings.

  12. Select Text.

  13. Type some text, for example "Sale" and choose a text style from the options at the bottom.

  14. Select Done.

  15. Position the text over the sticker and use gestures to resize it.

  16. Choose a color in the layer settings for the text.

  17. Select Done on the text layer.

  18. Select Layers and then move the text layer so that it is above the sticker layer but below the main object layer.

    Layers. The Clothing layer is at the top of the list, then the Sale text layer, then the Graphics sticker layer, and finally the background layer.
  19. Select Done to confirm and close the layer settings.

  20. Select the foreground object in your design and use gestures to move it and resize it.

    The final design has a pale pink background, a blue sticker in the top-left with the word

You have now learned how to:

  • add text and shapes

  • use the layer settings

  • change the order of layers.

There are many other ways to edit a design, including adding images and applying different effects. But similar principles apply - each layer has its own settings for editing the objects on that layer.

Next, let's save your design.

Step 3: Save your design

To save your design:

  1. Select Export to display the Export page.

  2. Select Save to Gallery to store your design in your phone's photo gallery.

    Photoroom will also save your design to the currently selected workspace. This is usually your personal workspace, unless you select a team workspace instead.

  3. [Optional] Select the Options link to display the image file options. You can use those to change the file format and file name. Select Done to close the options.

  4. [Optional] Select the workspace link, for example, Personal space, to save your design to a different workspace. This is only possible if you are a member of a team and have access to other workspaces.

  5. Select Done.

Note: Photoroom has many options for saving and sharing your design. To learn about them, see Export a design.

Well done! You've created your first Photoroom design. You can access it on the Your Content page, in the Designs section.

But there's so much more you can do! Browse our knowledge base articles for help and tips.

Related content

Check out our "How to use Photoroom" video on YouTube (English only)


Web App tutorial

Watch the video or follow the instructions for each step below.

(Video shows Photoroom on Web App)

Step 1: Import a photo

To import a photo:

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

  2. Use the selector in the top-left to make sure you are in the workspace where you want the design to be saved.

    You have a personal workspace that is private to you. You may also have team workspaces.

  3. On the Create page, select Select a Photo.

  4. Choose a photo file.

    Photoroom uploads your image and removes the background automatically.

    Note: If you need to restore or remove parts of the image, you can use the Cutout tool. We won't cover that in this tutorial, but you can find out about it in Add and remove parts of an image with Edit Cutout.

  5. Select Templates and choose a template from the Photoroom library. Select Apply new template to confirm.



    A template is a canvas for your image. It sets the size of the image and may include a background and various foreground objects as well as the subject of your photo.

    When you choose a template, Photoroom displays your design in the editor. For this tutorial, we chose the Minimal Shop template with a light pink background.

Step 2: Add a sticker and text [optional]

Let's add a sticker and some text to your design so that you get a feel for how the editing features in Photoroom work.

  1. Select the foreground object in your design and use the handles to resize it. Drag it into a position that leaves a suitable amount for some text to fit next it.



    Note: When you select an object, Photoroom displays that object's "layer settings" in the right side panel. You can use these settings to change the appearance of the selected object.

  2. Select the background of the editor to exit the layer settings.


  3. Select Insert.

  4. In the Shapes category, select Stickers.

  5. Choose a sticker to add to your design.

  6. Use the handles to resize the sticker and position it where you want. Make sure you keep the sticker selected so that its layer settings are shown in the side panel.


  7. In the sticker's layer settings, select a color for the sticker. Choose a color from the list or select the color wheel to display a larger palette of colors.

  8. Select the background area of the editor to close the layer settings. The side panel now shows the layers in your design.

  9. Select and hold the horizontal lines at the end of the layer for your main object. (For our design, the layer is called "Clothing"). Drag the layer so that it is above the other layers. This makes it appear in front of every other layer.

    Your main object moves in front of the sticker.


  10. Select Add Text and choose the style of lettering you want to use.

  11. Click in the text box and enter the text that you want, for example, "Sale". Click outside the text box to exit the text editor.

  12. Select the text box and use the handles to resize it. Drag it to your preferred position.

  13. In the layer settings for the text box, choose a color for the text.


  14. Select the background area of the editor to display the layers.

  15. Drag the text layer so that it is above the sticker layer but below the main object layer.


  16. Select your main object and move or resize it if needed.


You have now learned how to:

  • add text and shapes

  • use the layer settings

  • change the order of layers.

There are many other ways to edit a design, including adding images and applying different effects. But similar principles apply - each layer has its own settings for editing the objects on that layer.

Next, let's save your design.

Step 3: Save your design

To save your design in your chosen workspace, select the Home button.

​Well done! You've created your first Photoroom design. You can access it on the home page in the Designs section.

But there's so much more you can do! Browse our knowledge base articles for help and tips.

Note: When you edit a design, you can also download the design as an image file or choose to share it with other users. There are download and share options at the top. To learn more, see To learn about them, see Export a design.

Related content

Check out our "How to use Photoroom" video on YouTube. (English only)


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