How do I remove the background from a product photo?
Recent iPhones can lift a subject off its background in the Photos app. For best results, shoot on a plain background in good light, then send us the original too.
Product photos on a clean white or transparent background look tidy in a store or catalog. Many phones and photo apps can now cut the subject out for you. The cleaner the original photo, the cleaner the cutout.
What you need
- An iPhone XS, iPhone XR or newer on iOS 16 or later, or a photo app with a background removal tool.
- A few minutes per photo.
Steps on an iPhone
Official guide: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102460
- Open the product photo in the Photos app.
- Touch and hold the product until a glowing outline appears around it.
- Let go, then choose Copy or Share.
- Paste the cutout into a note or message, or share it to email or AirDrop.
- Send us the cutout and the original photo.
Get a better cutout
- Shoot on a plain background that contrasts with the product, such as a white sheet or poster board.
- Use soft, even light to avoid hard shadows.
- Keep the whole product in the frame with a little space around it.
- Photograph every product from the same angle and distance so a store page looks consistent.
We can do this for you. Open a request in your client portal and attach your product photos. Our team can remove backgrounds and match them across your catalog.
Common problems
- If the outline cuts off part of the product, retake the photo on a plainer background with more contrast.
- If edges look jagged, send us the original and we can clean the cutout.
- If a white product disappears on a white background, use a gray or colored background instead.
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