Accidentally took a picture with my iPhone and someone I didn’t want in the photo ended up in the background. Need advice on how to remove them. What tools or apps can I use? Any tips would be appreciated! Thanks!
Accidently capturing someone in the background of your photo can be a bit annoying, but if you’re using an iPhone, there are a few ways you can easily deal with that issue. Here’s a guide to help you through it.
Built-In iPhone Tools
Firstly, iPhones have some built-in tools that you might find useful for simple edits. Let’s start with:
-
Photos App:
- Open the photo in question in your Photos app.
- Tap on Edit at the top right corner.
- Use the Crop tool to try and remove the person by adjusting the frame. This is pretty basic and works best if the unwanted person is near the edge of the photo and can be cropped out without losing the main subject.
-
Markup Tool:
- While in Edit mode, select the Markup tool.
- You can use the brush or the shape tools to obscure the person, but it might not look very professional.
Third-Party Apps
If built-in tools aren’t sufficient, several third-party apps can help you:
1. Snapseed:
- Download Snapseed from the App Store.
- Open the app and import your photo.
- Use the Healing tool under the Tools menu to click on the person you want to remove. Snapseed will intelligently try to fill in the background.
- You might need to touch up a bit to make it look natural.
2. TouchRetouch:
- An excellent app specifically designed for removing unwanted objects.
- Import your photo into TouchRetouch.
- Use the Object Removal tool. You simply highlight the person, and the app does the magic.
- Line Removal Tool is particularly handy if the person is near straight lines or borders.
Advanced Techniques
For those comfortable with more sophisticated edits or looking for professional results:
1. Adobe Photoshop Express:
- A more robust tool compared to the previous options.
- Download Adobe Photoshop Express.
- Use the Spot Heal or Clone Stamp tool to remove the unwanted person.
- This app offers more precise control and is useful if the background is detailed.
2. Lightroom:
- Though better for color corrections, Lightroom’s Healing tools can help for small background removals.
Tips for Best Results
- Zoom In: Always zoom in on the area you’re editing to get more precise control.
- Multiple Passes: Sometimes, it helps to do multiple smaller edits rather than one big removal.
- Background Match: Pay attention to the background textures and colors. Apps like TouchRetouch and Snapseed use intelligent fill, but you may still need to blend areas manually for the best results.
Technical Jargon Insight
For those who are a bit more into the technical side of things:
- The Algorithmic Correction tools in Snapseed and TouchRetouch are based on pattern recognition and content-aware fill techniques, which analyze the neighboring pixels around the area highlighted for deletion and attempt to auto-fill the gap using those data patterns.
- For more granular control, using a Raster Graphics Editor like Photoshop allows for detailed layer manipulation and healing brush techniques that can replicate and blend areas seamlessly.
Remember, no app is perfect, and the quality of the outcome often depends on the complexity of the background and the accuracy with which you apply these tools. But with a bit of practice, you can get pretty amazing results.
Feel free to try out these tools and see which one works best for you. Good luck with your editing!
Honestly, I wouldn’t bother with the built-in tools on the iPhone for that. The “Crop” and “Markup” options are pretty underwhelming unless the person’s way off to the side or you’re cool with a half-baked cover-up.
Third-party apps? Sure, “Snapseed” and “TouchRetouch” are decent choices. I’ll admit, the “Healing” tool in Snapseed does a fairly good job, but good luck if the background’s not plain. You’ll end up with a somewhat obvious patch. “TouchRetouch” can be pretty miraculous, but it isn’t perfect. Sometimes, removing a person leaves the spot looking a bit dodgy, like you tried too hard to hide something.
If you want a really clean edit, you’ll probably need to go pro with “Adobe Photoshop Express” or “Lightroom.” Though you have to mess around a bit longer, they offer more precision with stuff like the “Spot Heal” or “Clone Stamp” tools. But honestly, if you’re just looking to remove someone occasionally, these might be overkill and not worth the time investment. Not to mention, they have a steeper learning curve.
Cons: Most of these tools aren’t a magic wand. You still see artifacts and obvious edits, especially on complex backgrounds. And forget using them if time’s a factor—quick fixes almost always look sloppy.
Eh, I see where @techchizkid and @byteguru are coming from with their recommendations but let’s be real – the built-in tools on your iPhone aren’t gonna cut it if you need to erase someone convincingly.
Here’s my two cents:
Keep It Simple With Easy Apps
TouchRetouch probably is your best bet. Sure, it’s not foolproof, but for simple backgrounds, it works decently well. The app’s Object Removal tool is pretty nifty. If you mess up, you can always Undo and try again. Don’t expect magic though; if the background is detailed, you’ll probably end up with a weird-looking patch.
Snapseed – It’s available and free, but the Healing tool sometimes leaves a noticeable artifact. If the person you’re trying to remove is small or far away, it can work okay. Anything larger than that and, well, good luck.
Higher Quality Edits
If you’re after a clean, natural look, forget Snapseed and TouchRetouch:
Adobe Photoshop Express is the way to go. Yeah, it’s got a learning curve, but it gives you precision with the Spot Heal and Clone Stamp tools. You have more control, which pays off if the background’s detailed. No pain, no gain, right?
However, if you’re not comfortable diving into Photoshop, you could also try Pixelmator. It’s user-friendly but still gets a bit more advanced features like clone stamping. It’s more intuitive for beginners than Photoshop.
Lightroom would be overkill, IMO. It’s better for color correction and overall photo enhancement rather than object removal.
Alternative Tricks
I know it’s gonna sound a bit wild, but sometimes the best option is to simply take another photo if you can. Saves you the headache of fiddling with the edit tools for hours. Another quick fix is to use a background blur tool to obscure the unwanted person. It’s not technically erasing, but it directs attention away from them. Check out Focos, an app that does a pretty good job with background blur effects.
Experience from my Side
I’ve tried these tools a bunch of times and trust me, quick fixes often look… well, quick. If you’ve got the time and patience, mastering Photoshop Express is worth it. But if you’re just a casual user who needs to remove someone occasionally, then TouchRetouch might suffice.
Don’t expect miracles from any of these apps, especially on complex backgrounds. Zoom in for precision, and always do smaller edits rather than big ones at once. Makes for a less ‘edited’ look.
Anyway, give a few a try and see what you’re comfortable with. Don’t go bananas aiming for perfection on your first few tries. Happy editing (kinda)!