Common FAQs Answered: How to Remove a Person in Photoshop

Question 1

Q: How do I select the person I want to remove?

Accepted Answer

A: There are several selection tools you can use in Photoshop to isolate the person you want to remove. You can use the lasso tool or magnetic lasso tool to draw around the person manually or use selection tools such as quick select or magic wand which automatically selects pixels based on their color and tone.

Question 2

Q: What do I do once I have selected the person?

Accepted Answer

A: Once you have selected the person, simply hit delete on your keyboard or click on the ‘Delete’ button located in your toolbar. The person will then be removed from your image.

Question 3

Q: Will there be an obvious gap where my subject was?

Accepted Answer

A: Yes, there will likely be an empty space where your subject once was. To fill this gap and make it look seamless with the rest of your image, use either ‘content-aware-fill’ or ‘clone stamp-tool’. Both these tools allow you to duplicate areas adjacent to where your subject was standing without leaving any noticeable imprint.

Question 4

Q: How do I ensure that my image looks natural after removal?

Accepted Answer

A: One way of making sure that your image looks natural after removing someone is by adjusting levels such as brightness/contrast/exposure. This ensures that color balance and brightness match around where your subject was removed so there aren’t any visible signs of tampering.

Question 5

Q: Is it possible for me bring back parts of original picture near area where subject has been deleted?

Accepted Answer

A: Yes, it is possible for you to bring back parts of the original image by using the clone stamp tool. By selecting a similar range of colors and texture in the image surrounding the deleted subject, you can then use this tool to ‘stamp’ or fill in any empty space with that same information. You may need to fine-tune…

Question 6

Q: Is it possible for me to remove/hide people from video footage using Photoshop?

Accepted Answer

A: No. Although Photoshop offers many features for editing photos as listed above, removing people from videos is beyond its capacity at this time. However there are plenty of softwares advanced enough that can help achieve this.