
PaintShop Pro is a photo editing software that allows users to change the background of an image. The software has a Background Eraser tool that can be used to remove the background from an image, after which the user can add the background of their choice. The latest versions of PaintShop Pro also have AI-powered features that simplify complex tasks such as background replacement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software | Paint Shop Pro |
| Steps | 1. Open both images in Paint Shop Pro. 2. Copy the original picture and paste it over the new background. 3. Open the Layers Palette and select New Mask Layer. 4. Paint out the original background. 5. Flatten the layers. |
| Tools | Background Eraser, Paint Brush, Layer Mask |
| Other Features | Crop an image, watermark photos, blur a photo, remove image noise, fix underexposed images, fix overexposed images |
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What You'll Learn

Using the Background Eraser tool
The Background Eraser tool in PaintShop Pro allows you to remove sections of an image based on a colour selection. It can be used to remove the sky, a white wall behind the subject, or even a fence in front of the subject.
To access the Background Eraser tool, open the image you want to edit in PaintShop Pro. On the Layers palette, click the layer that contains the image element you want to isolate. Then, on the Tools toolbar, select the Background Eraser tool. It is often hidden under the Eraser tool, so if you don't see it immediately, click the arrow next to the Eraser tool to display it.
Once you've activated the Background Eraser tool, you'll see various options in the Options toolbar. Here, you can choose your preferred brush options and adjust the default settings to suit your needs. For example, you can change the opacity, colour tolerance, and sample area settings.
When you're ready to start erasing, drag the brush around the edges of the image area you want to isolate. It's important to use slow, careful strokes for the best results. Keep the centre of the brush on the regions you want to erase, while keeping the edges of the brush on the regions you want to preserve. The Background Eraser tool will remove the areas adjacent to the centre of your cursor.
It's important to note that the Background Eraser tool might not always work as expected. It may struggle to differentiate between a background colour and an element with a similar colour. In such cases, you may need to explore other tools in PaintShop Pro, such as the Selection tool, to achieve the desired result.
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Opening both images in Paint Shop Pro
To begin with, open both images in Paint Shop Pro. You might need to make some slight adjustments to these. For example, you could flip the background photo horizontally using Image>Mirror (Ctrl+M) so that the window detail appears uncovered.
The next step is to copy the original picture by selecting Edit>Copy (Ctrl+C) and paste it over the new background using Edit>Paste as a new layer (Ctrl+L). The image will now appear over the top of the background. You can now close the original without saving, as you won't need it anymore.
Now, open the Layers Palette by going to View>Palettes>Layers (F8) and select New Mask Layer>Show All from the drop-down menu in the top left corner of the Layers Palette. The new mask will allow you to hide parts of the picture you don't want to be visible (in this case, the background of the top layer), without making any permanent changes to the original.
You can now paint out the original background. To do this, select the Paint Brush tool and open the colour palette by choosing View>Palettes>Materials (F6). Choose black by dragging the selector into the top left corner of the Colour Palette.
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Copying and pasting the image over the new background
To change the background of an image in Paint Shop Pro by copying and pasting it over a new background, follow these steps:
Firstly, open both the image you want to edit and your chosen new background in Paint Shop Pro. You may need to make some adjustments to these images, such as resizing or flipping the background photo horizontally, to ensure they align correctly.
Next, copy the original picture by selecting Edit > Copy or using the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut. Then, paste it over the new background by selecting Edit > Paste as a new layer or using the Ctrl + L shortcut. At this point, you can close the original image without saving, as you won't need it anymore.
Now, open the Layers Palette by navigating to View > Palettes > Layers or using the F8 keyboard shortcut. From the drop-down menu in the top left corner of the Layers Palette, select New Mask Layer > Show All. This will allow you to hide the background of the top layer without making any permanent changes to the original image.
With the new mask layer selected, choose the Paint Brush tool and open the colour palette by going to View > Palettes > Materials or pressing F6. Select black by dragging the selector to the top left corner of the Colour Palette. Adjust the brush size and reduce the hardness for a softer edge. Now, select the Layer Mask on the Layer Palette and paint over the original background. You will see the new background start to appear through. For smaller details, select a smaller brush and zoom into the picture. If you make any mistakes, simply select white and paint over them.
Once you're happy with the image, flatten the layers by choosing Layers > Merge > Merge All (Flatten). This will merge the two layers into a single file. You may also want to save a version with layers so you can change the background again in the future.
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Flattening the layers
When working with layers in Paint Shop Pro, you may want to flatten them at some point. Flattening layers in Paint Shop Pro merges all visible layers into a single background layer. This can be useful if you want to reduce the file size or if you've finished editing and want a simpler, more manageable image.
To flatten layers in Paint Shop Pro, first, check how many layers you have. You can do this by pulling down the Layers menu, which will list all the layers and show the currently active one with a checkmark. Once you're ready to merge, go to the Layers palette and click on the layer you want to keep. This will ensure that your desired layer remains intact while the others are merged into it.
From the drop-down list on the palette toolbar, choose "New Adjustment Layer." This will give you the option to select "Flatten Image" from the menu. Clicking this will merge all the visible layers into a single new layer, effectively flattening your image.
It's important to note that flattening layers is a permanent change. Once you've flattened an image, you can't undo it or restore the individual layers. So, before proceeding, ensure that you have the original file saved or have duplicated the image so you can work on a copy. Additionally, if you plan to send the image via email or use it on a web page, remember to save it in JPEG format (.jpg), as this format does not preserve separate layers.
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Applying effects to the new image
Once you have replaced the background of your image in Paint Shop Pro, you can apply effects to the new image to make it appear more natural.
One way to do this is by using the Paint Brush tool. First, open the colour palette by selecting View > Palettes > Materials (F6). Choose black by dragging the selector to the top left-hand corner of the Colour Palette. Next, select an appropriate brush size and reduce the hardness of the brush to give it a softer edge. Now, select the Layer Mask on the Layer Palette and paint over the picture. You will see the image underneath start to appear through.
For smaller details around the edges, select a smaller brush and zoom into the picture. If you make any mistakes, simply select white and paint over them.
Another way to apply effects to your new image is by using the Background Eraser tool. This tool will remove the areas adjacent to the centre of your cursor. However, it may struggle to differentiate between a background colour and an element that is very similar in colour. You can adjust the Brush Variance palette (F11) to improve the accuracy of the tool.
Remember that Paint Shop Pro has many other tools that can help you create wonderful projects, so feel free to experiment with different effects to enhance your image.
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Frequently asked questions
To change a background in Paint Shop Pro, you need to isolate the subject of the image and remove the background. Here are the steps:
- Open both the image and the new background in Paint Shop Pro.
- Copy the original picture and paste it over the new background.
- Open the Layers Palette and select the layer with the image element you want to isolate.
- Choose the Background Eraser tool from the Tools toolbar.
- On the Tool Options palette, choose your preferred brush options.
- Drag the brush around the edges of the image area you want to isolate.
- Once you are satisfied, flatten the layers by selecting Layers, Merge, and then Merge All.
When using the Background Eraser tool in Paint Shop Pro, you can adjust the brush options to get the desired result. Here are some tips:
- Use slow and careful strokes for the best results.
- Adjust the brush size and hardness as needed. For smaller details, select a smaller brush and zoom into the picture.
- Check the Brush Variance palette if the area being deleted is much smaller than expected.
- Experiment with different Sharpness settings to improve the result.
Yes, Paint Shop Pro allows you to change the colour of your image. Here's how:
- Go to Adjust > Color > Red/Green/Blue.
- In the Red/Green/Blue dialog box, set a value to change the percentage for each colour.
- To add more of a colour, use a positive number. To remove some of a colour, use a negative number.









































