Easy Image Extraction: Move Images Without Backgrounds In Ms Paint

Microsoft Paint is a simple graphics painting program that has been included in all versions of the Windows operating system. While it is a basic program, it does offer some features that can be useful for users, such as the ability to move images without the background. In this paragraph, we will discuss how to move an image on Paint without its background and provide a step-by-step guide to help users achieve this.

Set Color 2 to the background colour

When moving images in MS Paint, you can set "Color 2" to the background colour to fill in the cutout. This is useful when you want to move only certain elements in the image without affecting the background.

To do this, open the image in MS Paint and use the "Select" button to mark the desired area. If you move the selected part without setting "Color 2", it will move everything within the selected area, including the background.

By setting "Color 2" to the background colour, you can preserve the background while moving only the selected elements. For example, if you have text on a black background and want to move the text without the background, set "Color 2" to black. This will fill the cutout area with the background colour, allowing you to move the text independently.

Additionally, if you're using a more recent version of Paint, such as Paint 3D, you can follow alternative steps to achieve a transparent background. First, open Paint 3D and select the image you want to edit. Use the "Select" tool to choose the area you want to keep, and the rest of the image will become transparent. Right-click on the selected area and choose "Cut" to remove it from the image. You can now copy and paste the edited image into another window.

Overall, by setting "Color 2" to the background colour in MS Paint, you can selectively move elements within an image while maintaining the original background.

Copy to a new layer

When working with images that have transparent backgrounds in Paint, using layers can be a useful way to manipulate and move specific parts of the image without affecting the background. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

• Open your image in Paint.
• Right-click on the image and select "Save As" to save the image with a new name. This way, you'll have a copy to work on without altering the original file.
• Assuming your image has a transparent background, click on the "'Select' tool", which looks like a dotted rectangle in the toolbar on the top-left.
• Now, click and drag your cursor around the object you want to move. Release the mouse button when the desired object is selected.
• With the object still selected, go to the "Image" menu at the top of the window and choose "Copy to a new layer." This will create a new layer with just the selected object, allowing you to move it independently from the background.
• You will notice a new set of options appear in the "Layers" box on the top-right of your screen. Here, you can rename your layer, adjust its opacity, or change its order in relation to other layers.
• To move your object, make sure the "Select" tool is still active. Then, click on the object and drag it to the desired location. You will see that only the object moves, while the transparent background remains unaffected.
• If you need to make any adjustments to the selection, use the "Add to selection" or "Remove from selection" tools, which look like a plus and minus symbol, respectively, in the toolbar.
• Once you're happy with the positioning of your object, you can merge the layers back together by going to the "Image" menu and selecting "Merge Down" or "Flatten Image."
• Remember to save your work frequently by using the "Save As" option to avoid overwriting your original file.

Using layers in Paint gives you more control over your image editing process and is particularly useful when dealing with transparent backgrounds or complex compositions.

Use the 'Select' and 『Delete』 functions

To move an image without the background on Paint, you can use the 'Select and Delete' functions. This will allow you to cut out the image and paste it onto a transparent background, which can then be moved around without the original background.

First, open the image in Paint by going to File > Open and selecting the image you want to edit. Then, click on Select > Transparent Selection. Now, you can use the Free-form Selection tool to select the area of the image you want to keep. The rest of the image will become transparent.

Right-click on the selected area and press Cut to remove it from the image. You can now copy and paste the image into another MS Paint window by pressing CTRL + V or right-clicking and selecting Paste.

If you want to remove the background completely, go to Select in the top left-hand corner, drag and click over the entire background image, and hit Delete on your keyboard or in the settings. Now, the background will be removed, and you can drag the main image back into the center.

You can use the tabs Add/Remove to refine your selection. If Paint removed too much of the image, use the Add function to fix it. If there are parts of the background still remaining, use the Remove tab and your mouse to select those areas.

Finally, to create a transparent background, go to Menu > Save as > PNG Image and ensure that Transparency is set. Now, you can move the image around without the original background.

Make the background transparent

To make the background of an image transparent in Microsoft Paint, you must first open the image in Paint. Then, you need to cut out the image from the background.

• Open Paint and click on "File" > "Open" to select the image you want to edit.
• Go to "'Select' in the top left corner and choose "Transparent Selection".
• Use the "Free-form selection tool" to select the area of the image you want to keep. The unselected area will become transparent.
• Right-click on the selected area and choose "Cut" to remove it from the image.
• Copy and paste the image into another MS Paint window by pressing "Ctrl + V" or right-clicking and selecting "Paste".
• Now, you can drag the main image back to the center of the canvas.
• Finally, go to "Menu" > "Save as" > "PNG Image" and ensure that "Transparency" is selected.

If you are using the newer version of Paint, Paint 3D, the process is slightly different. You will need to have Windows 10 or 11 to use Paint 3D. Here are the steps:

• Open Paint 3D and click on "Menu" in the top left corner, then select "Open" > "Browse Files" to add your image.
• Click on "Magic Select" on the toolbar and adjust the area to fit around the section you want to keep.
• Use the "Add" and "Remove" icons to refine your selection. Select "Done" when you are satisfied.
• Delete the remaining part of the image and make the canvas transparent by clicking on "Canvas" in the toolbar to enable the "Transparent Canvas" option.
• Finally, save your image as a ".png" file by going to "Menu" > "Save As" > "Image".

Alternatively, you can use third-party tools like remove.bg or Photoroom to make the background transparent more easily and quickly. With remove.bg, you can remove the background of your image in just a few seconds and then use Paint to further edit your image. Photoroom is an AI photo editing app that can automatically detect and remove the background from your image.

Create a sticker

Creating stickers is a fun and creative way to express yourself. You can make stickers from scratch or use pre-existing images, depending on the tools you use. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating stickers using various methods and platforms.

Using Microsoft Paint

Microsoft Paint is a retro tool that still has some cool features. To create a sticker, you will first need to remove the background from your chosen image. To do this, open Paint and go to File > Open, then select the image you want to edit. Once the image appears, click on Select > Transparent Selection. Now, use the Free-form selection tool to choose the area of the image you want to keep, and the rest will become transparent. Right-click on your selection and click Cut to remove it from the image. You can then copy and paste the image with the transparent background into another MS Paint window.

Using Paint 3D

Paint 3D offers a range of stickers for your artwork, and you can also make your own from images. To make a sticker, you must first make the background of your chosen image transparent. To do this, open your image in Paint 3D and click on Menu > Save as > PNG Image. Ensure that Transparency is set, then save your image. Now, with the transparent background, select the image and click > Make Sticker. Your sticker will remain available as long as you keep Paint 3D open. To reuse it later, remember to save it as a separate file on your desktop.

Using Canva

Canva is an online sticker maker that allows you to create custom stickers from scratch or by using their rich collection of sticker templates. You can access their extensive library of visual elements, illustrations, icons, and shapes to create unique stickers. You can also make stickers from photos in your gallery or use their stock images and personalise them with Canva's photo-editing tools. Once you are happy with your design, you can publish it or use Canva Print to get your stickers printed and delivered to you.

Using iPhone

If you have an iPhone, you can easily turn the moving subject of a Live Photo into an animated sticker. Open the Photos app and tap on a Live Photo to open it in full screen. Touch and hold the subject of the photo, slide it up until you see a duplicate image, then release. Tap Add Sticker, and your animated sticker will appear in your stickers menu. You can access this when using the onscreen keyboard or Markup tools.

With these various methods, you can now create fun and personalised stickers to decorate your items or use in your digital communications.

Frequently asked questions