Looking for quick and easy ways to transform your photos? What if you could cut out a person from a photo or change their clothing, face, or hair without having to do a reshoot? Being able to edit the sky or change image backgrounds is one of the easiest ways to uplevel your photos (not to mention a great way to remove background clutter). And now with PicsArt’s newly launched AI Select feature, you can do all of this and add a new background to photos in mere seconds! 

AI Select is a game-changer because it’s much faster than using the Eraser tool. Our AI technology does the work to select the part of your photo you want (background, person, face, hair, and head) in one tap, thereby decreasing the amount of time and effort you put into manually erasing those areas yourself. Currently available select modes are Background, Person, Face, Hair, and Head. Debuting at the end of September 2020 are Sky and Clothing selections (on iOS)! 

You can access AI Select through almost all of these tools in-app that feature the Eraser: 

• Effects
• Sticker
• Text
• Add Photo
• Square Fit
• Mask
• Shape Mask
• Adjust
• Curves
• Tilt Shift
• Enhance
• Dispersion
• Cutout
• Free Crop
• Selection (iOS only)

How Do You Change the Background (and More) of a Photo Using AI Select?

AI Select is an amazing feature, but how do you use it when editing? Let’s use it to walk through the process to change image backgrounds. 

Step 1: Open the PicsArt app and tap on the pink plus sign at the bottom of your screen to choose the photo you want to work with. 

Step 2: Once you’ve chosen your photo, click into any of the aforementioned PicsArt tools that feature the Eraser. You can tap on Effects, Sticker, Text, Mask, etc. If you would like to access the Cutout, Free Crop, and Selection tools, click on Tools from the bottom editor bar and tap on your desired tool from there. Let’s continue with the background change example and tap on the Sticker tool. 

Step 3: When you’re in your desired tool, you have to pick a specific effect, sticker, or mask to be able to access the Eraser tool at the top of your screen. Once you do, click on the Eraser tool then Select, and there you’ll see the selection modes at the bottom of your screen. You can tap on Background, Person, Face, Hair, or Head, and AI Select will automate the previously manual selection work for you! Play around for as long as you want until you’re happy with the result. 

Step 4: Once you’re satisfied with your AI Select edit, click on the checkmark at the top right of your screen, then click Apply. From here, you can either post your edit to the PicsArt community and your favorite social channels or save it to your device by clicking on the down arrow at the top of your screen. 

How Do You Use Effects With AI Select?

There are so many photo effects that you can use in PicsArt to edit your photos in just a single tap. When combined with AI Select, you’re able to easily apply effects to defined parts of your photos (head, hair, person, background, and sky) to create a truly stunning masterpiece. Want to add a vintage grain effect on just your jacket or blur the sky? This is for you! 

With AI Select, just one part of your photo — not the entire photo itself — takes on the effect. It’s a great way to level-up your filter and effect game! How do you use it with Effects? 

Step 1: Open the PicsArt app and tap on the pink plus sign at the bottom of your screen to choose a photo you would like to work with. 

Step 2: Once you’ve chosen your photo, click on Effects from the bottom editor bar. You can then tap through FLTR, FX, Canvas, Sketch, Blur Artistic, Magic, Pop Art, Distort, Paper, or Colors effects. 

Step 3: Tap on the effect you want to work with. 

Step 4: Click on the Eraser tool at the top of your screen, then tap Select and choose Background, Person, Face, Hair, or Head. AI Select will then only place your desired effect on the area you select. Want your face to be natural but your hair to take on a cool black and white effect? Select “hair” here to make it happen! 

Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with your AI Select edit, tap on the checkmark at the top right of your screen, then tap Apply. From here, you can either share your edit to the PicsArt Community and social media or save it to your device by clicking on the down arrow at the top of your screen. 

How Do You Use Stickers With AI Select?

When it comes to stickers, you can choose to manually place your desired sticker on top of your photo yourself or you can let AI Select do it for you! The best way to utilize this feature with stickers is by choosing background stickers versus text stickers. You can use the sticker to cover your face, hair, head, or background! 

Step 1: Open the PicsArt app and tap on the pink plus sign at the bottom of your screen to choose the photo you want to work with. 

Step 2: Scroll across the editor bar and tap on Sticker to access the sticker library. 

Step 3:  Search for your perfect sticker background in the search bar at the top. There’s a vast library already but you can always make your own custom sticker too!

Step 4: Tap on your desired sticker to start working with it. 

Step 5: Tap on the Eraser tool at the top of your screen, then tap Select and choose from Background, Person, Face, Hair, or Head. AI Select will then move the sticker around for you. 

In our background change example, select a sticker background that you like (we’re loving cloud stickers!). Resize it to cover the background area in your photo. Tap on the eraser tool on top. On the bottom bar, you’ll see the Select tool appear. Tap on Background and see your new cloud sticker background applied to your original photo! Voila! You’ve changed the background of a photo! 

Step 6: Once you’re happy with the result, click on the checkmark at the top right of your screen, then hit Apply to post it or save it to your device. 

How Do Swap an Image Background With Another Photo?

Let’s say you have an amazing photo in your camera roll that you want to use as the background of another picture. AI Select is the perfect way to swap the background of one photo for another when you want to change a photo background! 

Step 1: Open the PicsArt app and tap on the pink plus sign at the bottom of your screen to choose a photo you would like to work with. 

Step 2: Once you’ve chosen your photo, click on Add Photo from the bottom of your screen to add another photo. 

Step 3: Click Add at the top right of your screen and expand your second photo to fit the original photo. 

Step 4: Click on the Eraser tool then Select Background to move it to the background of your first photo. 

Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with your new background, click on the checkmark at the top right of your screen, then click Apply. From here, you can either post your edit or save it to your device by clicking on the down arrow at the top of your screen. 

What Is the Best Background Editor App?

When it comes to easily changing a background image (or other parts of a photo), PicsArt is your go-to photo editing app. Once you’ve played around with the speed and ease of using new features like AI Select, we think you’ll agree! Access AI Select wherever the Eraser tool exists and let it do the previously manual erasing work for you in just one tap! You have so many options when it comes to changing any part of a photo with PicsArt, and it just got so much easier. We can’t wait to see what you create!

Make Awesome

PicsArt all-in-one Photo and Video Editor, Collage, and Sticker Maker is the world’s largest creative platform with over 150 million monthly active creators and influencers. PicsArt has collaborated with major artists and brands like Taylor Swift, The Jonas Brothers, Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5, Lizzo, Meghan Trainor, One Direction, MONSTA X, Warner Bros. Entertainment, iHeartMedia, Condé Nast, and more. Download the app today to level-up your photos and videos with thousands of quick & easy editing tools, trendy filters, fun stickers, and brilliant backgrounds. Unleash your creativity with PicsArt and upgrade to Gold for awesome premium perks!