How to Remove Background from Video [Ultimate Guide]

Unlock how to remove background from video with our comprehensive guide covering tips that can enhance your visuals and create professional-quality content effortlessly.
How To Remove Background From Video To Elevate Your Content

What is a Background Remover?


A background remover is a tool that isolates the subject of a video by removing or replacing its background. It can be:

  • AI-Powered: Automated tools like UniFab Video Background Remover AI that quickly detect and remove backgrounds.
  • Chroma Keying: Using green screen technology for seamless replacement.
  • Manual: Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro for precise control.

When Should You Remove Background From Video?

  • Professional Presentations: Focus attention on the speaker or content.
  • Social Media: Create clean, branded visuals.
  • Marketing Videos: Enhance messaging with tailored backdrops.
  • Creative Projects: Add dynamic or thematic elements.
  • Fix Poor Backgrounds: Remove clutter or improve lighting.
  • Virtual Events: Use professional or branded backgrounds for meetings or live streams.

Removing backgrounds elevates video quality and improves audience engagement. Today, we'll explore how to remove background from video to elevate your visual storytelling effectively.

How to Remove Background from Video

Although this process can be daunting and time-consuming for beginners, an effective background remover tool can make it much easier to eliminate and replace backgrounds quickly. Let's explore how to remove background from video using top software solutions:

1. UniFab Video Background Remover AI [Free AI Tool]

UniFab Video Background Remover AI is a free, easy-to-use tool that quickly replaces video backgrounds using advanced AI technology. It ensures precise background removal, even for complex elements such as hairlines or intricate details. The AI automatically detects and separates the subject from the background.

Hair-level precision cutout

Key Features of UniFab

  • Fully Automated AI Tool

UniFab removes video backgrounds instantly with no manual effort. Simply upload your video, and the AI takes care of the rest.

  • Add Custom Green Screen

Easily add any background color (green, blue, red) to create a blank canvas for further editing in other video software.

  • Preserve Fine Details

UniFab maintains small details like hairlines and ear edges, ensuring a smooth and seamless background replacement.

  • Versatile Video Editing

UniFab also allows you to trim, crop, rotate, mirror videos, remove unwanted objects, adjust file size, and add audio effects.

How to Remove Background from Video with UniFab

Free Download

Step 1

Open UniFab, select "Background Remover," and import your video. Customize it by trimming or cropping, then choose the background color, output size, and format.

unifab video background remover interface
Step 2

Once you've completed the customizations, click "Start" to allow UniFab to remove the background from your video.

2. Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro  is renowned for its comprehensive features and offers tools like Chroma Key for effortless background removal. With options like the basic Color Key and the preferred Ultra Key, Premiere Pro simplifies the process, ensuring your videos stand out without distracting backgrounds. 

How to Remove Background from Video in Premiere Pro

Step 1

Import Your Video Clip

Add the video clip from which you want to remove the background to Adobe Premiere Pro.

Step 2

Apply Ultra Key Effect

Navigate to Effects > Video Effects > Keying > Ultra Key. Drag the Ultra Key effect onto your footage.

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Step 3

Select Background Color

You can use the eyedropper tool in the Effects panel to select the color (usually green) on your video frame that you want to remove.

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Step 4

Adjust Output Settings

Change the output view to Alpha to focus on your subject's details. With the Settings option, you have the flexibility to adjust the aggressiveness of the effect to your liking.

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Step 5

Refine Matte Generation

Explore the "Matte Generation" settings to fine-tune Transparency, Pedestal, and other options for a clean matte.

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Step 6

Clean Up Edges

Use "Matte Cleanup" settings to refine edges. Adjust the "Choke" to shrink edges and "Soften" to make them smoother.

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Step 7

Adjust Spill Suppression

If your subject has a background color spill, tweak the spill suppression settings to correct it.

3. Canva

Background removal becomes incredibly simple with Canva Pro. It only needs a few clicks without the hassle of layers or complex design techniques. You can remove backgrounds from up to 500 images every 24 hours, but the Background Remover feature currently supports images under 9MB in size. Images with a resolution higher than 10MP will be downscaled after background removal. Additionally, you can remove backgrounds from images in your 'Project' folders, though some features like the Erase and Restore brushes may not be available there. Below, we have listed the steps involved:

How to Remove Video Background in Canva [Desktop]

Step 1

Upload or Choose Your Video

Upload your video or select one from Canva's library.

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Step 2

Access Editing Tools

Select the 'Edit Image' button found in the top toolbar to proceed with editing.

Step 3

Choose Background Remover

Select 'Background Remover' from the options in the left side panel.

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Step 4

Erase Background

Click 'Erase' to start removing the background from your video.

Step 5

Apply or Restore Changes

Once satisfied, click 'Apply' to save the changes. Use 'Restore' to undo any alterations.

Step 6

Position Your Video

Drag your newly edited video into the desired position to complete the process.

How to Remove Video Background in Canva [Mobile]

Step 1

Select Your Video

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Step 2

Access Effects

Navigate to the toolbar below the editor and tap on 'Effects.'

Step 3

Choose Background Remover

Select 'Background Remover' from the options.

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Step 4

Wait for Processing

4.After Effects

Background removal is essential for isolating subjects, adding new backgrounds, and enhancing videos with special effects. Today, we'll show you how to remove backgrounds from videos using After Effects. Depending on your video's background, there are four methods to achieve this in Adobe After Effects, so let's explore each one.

Technique 1: Removing the White Background from the Video in After Effects

Step 1

Import and Add Video Clip

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Step 2

Apply Color Range Keying Effect

Click on the video layer and then Effect > Keying > Color Range.

Step 3

Select White Background

Choose the Eyedropper tool from the top left corner. Click on the white background within your video.

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Step 4

Confirm Removal and Export

Review the video in the timeline to ensure the background has been successfully removed. Once confirmed, you can export the video.

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Step 5

Add New Background

Finally, right-click on the timeline and choose New > Solid. Choose a new color for your clip's background.

Technique 2: Removing Black Background from Video in After Effects

Step 1

Import and Select Clip

Start by importing your black background clip into Adobe After Effects and select the layer on the timeline.

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Step 2

Apply Shift Channels Effect

Go to Effect > Channel > Shift Channels.

Step 3

Adjust Alpha Channel

Change the "Take Alpha From" option to Luminance in the Shift Channels settings.

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Step 4

Adjust Opacity (Optional)

If necessary, adjust the opacity. Duplicate the black background layer by pressing CTRL + D. Select both layers, right-click, and choose Pre-compose. Name the pre-composition and click OK.

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Step 5

Export the Edited Video

Technique 3: Eliminating Green Screen Background in After Effects

Step 1

Import and Place Video Clip

Step 2

Apply Keylight Effect

In the Effects & Presets panel, locate the Keylight tool in the Keying folder. Simply drag and drop the Keylight tool onto your video clip to apply it.

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Step 3

Adjust Keylight Settings

The Keylight effect will appear in the Effect Controls panel. Beside "Screen Colour," select the Eyedropper tool and click on the green background in your video.

Step 4

Check Screen Matte

Switch the View setting from "Final Result" to "Screen Matte" to verify if the correct parts of the background have been keyed out. Adjust additional Keylight settings if needed. Your green screen background will now be removed, allowing you to add other backgrounds to your video. 

Technique 4: Removing Background in After Effects Without Green Screen

Step 1

Load and Set up Rotobrush 3.0

Please search for the Rotobrush tool in Effects and ensure it's set to version 3.0.

Step 2

Trace the Subject with Rotobrush

Hold down the ALT key (For Mac users its Option Key) as you outline the subject of your video. Continue selecting until the background is completely separated from the subject.

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Step 3

Freeze the Frame

Click the Freeze button in the timeline's bottom right corner to freeze the first frame. This will apply the effect to the entire video.

5. Cutout.Pro

CutOut.Pro offers a hassle-free solution for removing backgrounds from videos and seamlessly replacing them with virtual backgrounds. Bid farewell to the need for professional green screens, costly equipment, and complex technologies. With CutOut.Pro's fully automatic process of removing video backgrounds is as easy as a single click. There's no need to manually select pixels, choose colors, draw masks, or adjust paths. It streamlines the background removal process, making it efficient and accessible. Let's take a look:

How to Remove Video Background in Cutout.Pro

Step 1

Register on Cutout.Pro

Register on Cutout.Pro using your Google account or Facebook account. 

Step 2

Upload Video

Import your video file from your desktop into Cutout.Pro's Video Background Remover, which supports various formats such as MP4, WebM, MOV, or GIF. Depending on your video's size, the uploading process may take a few seconds or longer, after which the background will be automatically removed.

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Step 3

Automatically Change Background Color/Image/Video

Upon completion of processing, a complimentary 5-second preview at 360P resolution will be provided. Subsequently, you have the option to access the Color Palette on the left to modify the video's background color or utilize the Upload button to add photos or videos as desired. Once you've done this, you will see the result in the preview.

Step 4

Download Video

Click download only when the video rendering is finished at 100%. The downloading problem usually happens when you click download immediately after uploading without giving it time to process. 

FAQs 

Does Canva Offer a Free Background Remover?

You can use Canva's Background Remover once for free. 

Is there an online tool to remove background from video?

Yes, Clipchamp is an online tool that can easily remove video backgrounds, making it simple and convenient for users.

Can I Modify My Video's Background?

Absolutely! You're not stuck with it even if your video was shot with a specific background. Use a video background editor to make adjustments, such as changing the color or replacing the background entirely.

Is Background Removal Available in Google Photos?

Yes, Google Photos offers a straightforward background removal tool called Magic Eraser. You can find it in the Tools tab. For photos with many people in the background, it may also appear in the Suggestions tab.

As an avid enthusiast of software testing, AI, and tech, I bring a fervent zeal for precision and innovation to my editorials. With a love for ping pong and badminton, and a passion for exploring new horizons through travel, I live by the maxim "Done is good." My articles aim to serve as your trusty compass in the fast-evolving tech landscape.