How to Remove Objects from Photos Using Photoshop's Remove Tool and Clean Plate Technique

How to Remove Objects from Photos Using Photoshop's Remove Tool and Clean Plate Technique

Professional photo editing often requires removing unwanted objects while maintaining natural-looking results. The challenge lies in creating seamless edges and realistic backgrounds, especially around complex subjects like hair or intricate details.

This tutorial demonstrates both basic object removal using Photoshop's Remove Tool and an advanced "clean plate" technique used in professional TV and movie poster production.

Watch the Tutorial

Video by Photoshop Training Channel. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Essential Tips for Object Removal

  • Create a new layer before starting removals to preserve the original image and maintain editing flexibility
  • Uncheck "remove after each stroke" in the Remove Tool settings to control when changes are applied and review results first
  • Use Generative Fill instead of the Remove Tool for intricate details like hair, jewelry, or complex textures
  • Apply the clean plate technique for complex removals by first removing the subject to generate a perfect background, then masking to reveal the subject
  • Expand selections by 3-4 pixels using Quick Mask mode and the Maximum filter to include flyaway hairs and edge details

More Tutorials About Object Removal in Photoshop

Explore additional techniques and tools for removing unwanted elements from your photos.

How to Remove Unwanted Objects in Different Ways in Photoshop
Do you have photographs with distracting elements that need removing? In this insightful Photoshop tutorial from artist Zak Eazy, viewers will learn several effective techniques for eliminating unwanted objects from their images. Whether it's removing superfluous signs, wires or passersby, Zak walks through practical use cases that showcase the Patch and Clone Stamp tools as well as Content-Aware Fill. Through demonstration on real-world sample images, viewers will gain an understanding of when
How to Erase Anything in Photoshop with Content Aware Fill
In this tutorial, the author Serge Ramelli shows how to erase anything using the content-aware fill in the latest version of Photoshop. This updated feature makes it simple and quick to remove just about anything from a photo. However, it's important to note that you'll need the most recent version of Photoshop to utilize this tool. The content-aware fill feature in Photoshop allows users to easily erase unwanted elements from their images. By selecting the area to be removed and using the cont
How to Remove People From Photos in Photoshop: Easy and Advanced Methods
Removing unwanted elements from photographs, especially people, is a common task in digital image editing. Whether you're a professional photographer or an enthusiast, the ability to clean up a scene can transform an ordinary shot into a compelling visual, allowing the true subject or landscape to shine without distractions. This video explores two distinct approaches to achieve this in Photoshop. Viewers will discover how to use the automated features for simpler scenarios involving crowds, an

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Photoshop

Many essential Photoshop functions surprisingly lack default keyboard shortcuts, forcing you to navigate through menus repeatedly for common tasks like creating smart objects or layer masks. Learning to create custom shortcuts transforms your workflow by giving you instant access to the tools you use most. This comprehensive guide walks you...

How to Convert a Portrait Photo into a Black and White Logo Design

Portrait photos can be transformed into bold, graphic logos with the right combination of filters and adjustments. This technique uses Gaussian blur and threshold adjustments to convert photographs into high-contrast black and white designs suitable for branding, badges, or stamps. The process involves subject isolation, smart filtering, and precise path...

How to Create Sharp Halftone Effects in Photoshop

Traditional halftone effects in print media created depth through visible dot patterns that gave images character and texture. While Photoshop's built-in Filter Gallery offers a quick halftone option, it produces blurry results that lack the crisp definition of professional halftone work. This technique uses the Color Halftone filter...

Create a Sci-Fi Hologram Effect in Photoshop

Transform ordinary portraits into futuristic holographic projections with this sci-fi effect technique. The process combines motion blur, gradient mapping, and scan line patterns to create the distinctive translucent appearance of holographic displays. This method keeps your subject vibrant and colorful while converting the background to black and white, emphasizing the...

How to Use Reference Images with Generative Fill in Photoshop

Generative Fill transforms when you replace text prompts with actual images. Instead of describing what you want, you show the AI exactly what to create using reference photos. This feature works for adding objects like toys and electronics, or swapping clothing items with precise visual control. The AI automatically matches...

Photoshop's Generative Fill Gets Major Upgrade: New Model Comparison and Quality Test

Adobe's latest Generative Fill update brings the new Firefly Fill and Expand model with double the resolution and dramatically improved quality for generating people, hands, and complex objects. The upgrade moves from 1024x1024 to 2048x2048 pixel output, allowing for larger selections without quality loss. This comprehensive comparison tests...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.