This article explains how to separate an image subject from the original background using Microsoft Paint and a Windows computer. Paint can automatically remove the background of an image if the background is solid, giving you the ability to paste the remaining subject onto another photo. However, Paint does not allow you to save an image with a transparent background, and any area of the photo that has a transparent background appears completely white.
Steps
Step 1. Open the image to edit in Microsoft Paint
Select the photo file with the right mouse button, place the pointer on the item Open with, then select the option Paint listed in the list of available programs.
Remember that the image must have a solid or white background
Step 2. Select the Color 2 pane visible on the Paint toolbar
For this procedure to work, you need to select the background color of the image as Paint's "Color 2".
For example, if the background color of the image under examination is white, you need to set Paint's "Color 2" to the same shade of white
Step 3. Click on the "Color Picker" toolbar icon
It is characterized by a small dropper.
Step 4. Click on a point on the background of the image
In this way the "Color 2" box will be set to the color tone that has the background of the photo in question. At this point you can separate the subject of the image from its background.
Step 5. Click on the Toolbar Selection menu
It is located near the upper left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 6. Click on the Transparent Selection item
The "Transparent Selection" selection tool will be chosen and the corresponding menu item will be marked with a check mark.
Step 7. Now choose the Rectangular Selection option or Freehand figure selection.
They are both listed within the "Selection" drop-down menu.
Depending on the area of the image you want to select, you will need to choose one of the two tools indicated
Step 8. Select the subject of the image you want to separate from the background
Hold down the left mouse button as you outline the area of the photo to be cropped.
You will see a black outline line appear, but this is simply a visual indicator which will then automatically disappear as soon as you release the mouse button
Step 9. Right-click the image area you traced
Around the area of the photo that you have chosen to separate from the background you will see a blue dotted line.
Step 10. Choose the Cut option or Copy from the appeared context menu.
The selected area will be copied to the system clipboard.
The area you drew in the previous step will be removed from the image
Step 11. Open a new image with Paint
Now you can paste the portion of the photo you copied into any other photo.
Step 12. Paste the area you cut out
Select the new image with the right mouse button, then choose the option Paste from the context menu that appeared. The image area you copied or cut in the previous steps will be pasted into the new document with a transparent background.
