How to Create Transparent Backgrounds Using Pixlr

Last Updated: December 8, 2021

It's common to need a transparent background when layering or uploading to the web, but not many people can afford Photoshop or any other professional editor. Luckily, there's a free easy way to create transparent backgrounds. This wikiHow teaches you how to remove a background using a web application called Pixlr.

Steps

1
Go to http://apps.pixlr.com/editor/ in a web browser. This is the website for the Pixlr Web Editor app. You can use any web browser on PC or Mac.
2
Click Continue with Pixlr Editor. This opens the free version of Pixlr.
- If you want to try Pixlr X, click Try Pixlr X.
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3
Click Create a New Image. It's next to an icon that resembles a plus (+) sign. It's the first option in the opening menu.
4
Type a name for the file. Use the text bar below "Name" to type a name for the file.
- If you know the dimensions of the image you want to edit, you can type them in the boxes below "Width" and "Height". You can also select an image dimension using the "Presets" drop-down menu.
5
Click the checkbox next to "Transparent" and click Ok. This creates a new image with a transparent background.
6
Click Layers. It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
7
Click Open Image as Layer. It's the fifth option in the drop-down menu below "Layers". This opens your image as a new layer.
8
Click on the Wand tool. It's the icon that resembles a magic wand in the toolbar. The wand tool can select parts of an image by color.
9
Click the background of your image. This selects all pixels of a similar color in the area you click.
- To select multiple areas by holding ⇧ Shift and clicking multiple areas.
- You can adjust the sensitivity of the Wand Tool by clicking the drop-down menu next to "Tolerance" and dragging the slider bar. Decrease the tolerance to select less area, and increase the tolerance to select more area.
- Alternatively, you can also click the Lasso tool, which resembles a lasso in the toolbar. Draw an outline around the object in the image you want to keep to select it. Then click Edit in the menu bar, and click Invert Selection to select all except the shape you traced around.
10
Press Delete. This removes all selected parts of the image.
- If you delete too much of the image, press Ctrl+Z on PC or ⌘ Command+Z on Mac to undo the delete. Adjust the tolerance of the Magic Wand tool, or use the Lasso Tool to draw an outline around the objects in the image you want to keep. Then try again.
11
Press Ctrl+D on PC or ⌘ Command+D on Mac. This deselects the selected parts of the image.
12
Click the eraser tool. It's the icon that resembles a pink eraser in the toolbar.
13
Erase any remaining background. Use the eraser tool to remove any remaining parts of the background.
- To adjust the eraser size and type, click the drop-down menu next to "Brush" in the upper-right corner and select a new eraser brush.
14
Click File. It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen. This displays a drop-down menu.
15
Click Save. It's in the drop-down menu below "File".
16
Type a name for the file. Use the text box below "Name" to type a name for the image.
17
Select "PNG" as the format. Use the drop-down menu below "Format" to select PNG as the format. PNG is an image format that supports transparent backgrounds.
18
Click Ok. This opens a file browser you can use to save the image.
19
Select a save location and click Save. This saves the images with the transparent background in PNG format.

Community Q&A

Question

When I do this, it gives me a white background. Why?

Community Answer

It's probably just the default for your device. Try saving the picture and pasting it somewhere else later.
Question

Can I do this by selecting a color to make transparent?

Community Answer

Yes. Use the wand tool to select the color you want to make transparent. It should not select the rest of the image.