How to Remove Picture Background in PowerPoint

Removing a Solid Color Picture Background in PowerPoint

The fastest way to remove an image background is to use the Set Transparent color tool. The only catch is this only works for removing solid colors, like white backgrounds.

Step 1: Insert and select a picture on your slide

Step 2: Navigate to the Picture Tools Format Tab.

Step 3: Open the Color drop down.

Step 4: Select the Set Transparent Color tool (your cursor becomes a little pen with an arrow)

Step 5: Click on the color you want to remove from your background.

When set transparent color doesn’t work

Example #1: This technique does not work well if your background and image are too similar in color.

Example #2: This technique does not well with gradient color backgrounds.

Example #3: This technique does not work well with minute details like strands of hair or clothing. This also includes pixels around people’s hands, as pictured below.

Removing a complicated image background

Step 1: Select the desired image, then click the Format tab.

Step 2: Click the Remove Background command.

Step 3: PowerPoint will try to guess which part of the image is the background, and it will mark this area with a magenta fill. It will also place a box around the image with selection handles.

Step 4: Drag the selection handles until all of the foreground is inside the box. After you do this, PowerPoint may readjust the background.

Step 5: At this point, you may need to help PowerPoint decide which parts of the image are foreground and which parts are background. You can do this by using the Mark Areas to Keep and Mark Areas to Remove commands:

If PowerPoint has marked part of the foreground magenta, click Mark Areas to Keep and draw a line in that region of the image.