We’ve already covered how to remove a background from an image in Photoshop, but what if you want to replace it with a completely different one?
Follow this guide to learn how to Photoshop your images to make it look like you’re somewhere else, whether that’s a far away country, fifty feet underwater or floating through space.
You can also scroll down to the FAQs section at the bottom of the page to discover how to make your subject fit better with its new background in just a couple of clicks.
What you’ll need:
- A computer with Photoshop
- A Creative Cloud subscription
The Short Version
- Open your image in Photoshop
- Right click on the layer and choose Layer From Background to unlock it
- Open Properties and click Remove Background
- Make any desired adjustments to the mask
- Upload your new background
- Drag the new background layer behind your subject
How to change a background in Photoshop
Step
1Open your image in Photoshop
This is the image with the subject you want to keep and the background getting replaced.
Step
2Right-click on the image layer
This should be in the bottom right corner (or wherever you keep the layers tab).
Step
3Click Layer From Background
This should be the top option in the dropdown menu.
Step
4Click OK
This will unlock the layer so that you can remove the current background. You can also change the name of the layer at this stage if you’d like.
Step
5Click Properties
This option should be on the right hand side of your screen.
Step
6Click Remove Background
You may need to scroll down to find this option.
Step
7Click the mask icon
This will allow you to make adjustments to the mask. You can skip to step 11 if you’re already happy with how Photoshop has removed the background.
Step
8Click Select and Mask
Again, you may need to scroll to find this option.
Step
9Use the tools provided to make any adjustments to the mask
You can use the Brush tool to add and remove details from the image or the Refine Edge Brush to soften the edges of the mask.
Step
10Click OK
This will apply your changes.
Step
11Click the Add New Layer button
You can find this in the bottom right corner of your screen.
Step
12Insert your new background
You can do this by copy and pasting the image from another Photoshop tab or by uploading the image directly.
Step
13Drag the background layer to the bottom
That’s it! Check out the Troubleshooting section below to learn how to make your subject better match its new background.
FAQs
If you’ve followed the above steps and find the colours in your subject don’t quite mesh with your new background, there’s a quick fix for that.
Duplicate your new background layer and move it to the front. Then click Filter, Blur and Average. 
Hold Alt/Option and click the space between the blurred layer and your subject to create a clipping mask. 
Then, just change the blend mode of the blurred layer to Soft Light and reduce the opacity to a level you think looks good. 
That’s it!
Deleting a background takes even less steps than above. Simply follow steps 1 to 11, or head over to our guide on how to remove a background in Photoshop for more advice.
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
