How to Modify, Remove and Blur Background in Krita

You get an excellent image from the Internet but hate the background. Don’t worry. You can change or remove the background to make it transparent. 

You can easily remove, change color, and blur the background in Krita. To replicate the process, read the following step-by-step guide.

How to Remove the Background and Make it Transparent in Krita

Step 1: Open an Image in Krita by clicking File > Open …

Opening a new file from an image in Krita

Step 2: Choose an Image you want to remove the background.

Step 3: Click the Bezier Curve Selection Tool on the left sidebar.

Bezier curve selection tool

Step 4: Zoom in and carefully click the part of the image that directly touches the background to make the first anchor point. Continue clicking around the picture until the first anchor point meets with the last anchor point.

Using Bezier Curve Selection Tool on an image in Krita

Step 5: Click the Select menu and choose Feather Selection. A popup will appear. On the feather radius option, choose the 3 px option, then click the OK button.

Opening Feather Selection Tool

Step 6: Click Select again and click Invert Selection. Press delete on your keyboard to remove the background. 

Deleting the background step

Step 7: After removing the background, open the Select menu and choose the Deselect option

Successfully removed the background of an image in Krita

You have finished removing the background. You can redo the process if you make a mistake while selecting using the Bezier Curve Selection Tool. 

To learn more about selection tools, check out our guide on the List of Selection Tools in Krita and How to Use Them.

Quick Way to Remove White Background in Krita

If your image has a white background, there is a quick way to remove the white background from your image.

Step 1: Open Filter > ColorsColor to Alpha

Color to Alpha Filter

Step 2: On the popup window, use the Default preset and turn on the preview option. The background will become transparent. 

Color to Alpha filter setting

Step 3: Click OK to save the change

Changing white to transparent background in Krita

This will be the end result after using the Color to Alpha filter

How To Save an Image with a Transparent Background in Krita

To save and export an Image in Krita, follow these steps:

Step 1: Select File > Save As

Step 2: Write the file name

Step 3: On the Image Extension option, choose PNG image (.PNG), then click Save

Saving image as a PNG image

You can save your image as a PNG file or WebP file. Both image formats can save the transparent background on your image.

  • WebP is better than PNG because WebP images can be up to 30% smaller than the PNG counterpart at the cost of slightly reduced image quality.
  • GIF is not recommended because it’s for a moving image or animation. Saving a still image to GIF format is not the correct way to create a GIF image.
  • If you choose JPG, the transparent background will become a white background instead.

How to Change Background Color in Krita

Step 1: On the Layer panel, select the background layer.

Background layer

 To know more about layers, check out How to Use Layers in Krita

Step 2: Unlock the background layer by clicking the lock icon

Step 3: Open the fill tool by pressing F or clicking the Fill tool icon on the left sidebar.

Important tips: Learn more about keyboard shortcuts in Krita in this guide: https://artworkpath.com/keyboard-shortcuts-in-krita/

Step 4: On the Advanced Color Selector panel, choose the color you want

Advanced Color Selector panel

Step 5: click the Fill tool on the canvas

Changing the background color in Krita

You have successfully changed the background color of your art in Krita

Changing the Default Background on a new Canvas in Krita

If you want to change the default background color, which is white in Krita, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open a New File in Krita by clicking the File menu and selecting New…

Step 2: On Custom Document, click the Content Tab

Step 3: Press the Blackground Color option and choose your desired color. I choose light green as an example.

Background color setting on a new canvas

Step 4: Click OK to confirm the custom background color. Select Create to create a new document with the color you choose. 

Step 5: Check if the new canvas has your chosen background color. As you see, my new canvas has a background with a light green color.

New canvas with a light green background color in Krita

How to Blur Blackground in Krita

Step 1: Open an Image in Krita from your computer by clicking File > Open …

Step 2: Choose an Image you want to blur the background

Step 3: Click the Bezier Curve Selection Tool 

Step 4: Carefully select the image inside the background using the Bezier Curve Selection Tool by repeatedly clicking around the image from the first anchor point until the last anchor point.

Step 5: Click the Select menu and choose Feather Selection. A popup will appear. On feather radius, choose 2 px, then click OK.

Step 6: Click Select again and click Invert Selection.

Step 7: Click Filter > Blur > Blur …

Opening Blur Filter

Step 8: Turn on the Preview option. Carefully Adjust the Horizontal and Vertical Radius. Make sure you blur the background too much, and remember to increase the strength of the blur.

Blur Filter setings in KRita

Step 9: Click OK to save the change

Step 10: After blurring the background, open the Select menu and choose the Deselect option

Blurred background

Step 11: Check if your image background is blurred. Don’t forget to save your change in Krita.

There are many ways to blur in Krita. If you want to learn more, check out How to Blur in Krita (Quick Guide)

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Author
Kenny HD
Hi, I’m Kenny. I’m a digital artist who began learning art at the age of 21. I enjoy drawing cartoons and fan art.

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