Remove & Replace (Background Swap)
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
This reminds us that becoming a new creation in Christ brings transformation, we can use photography to explore the idea of transformation through creativity. Of course, changing a photograph is only a visual illustration, not the same as the spiritual transformation described in Scripture.
Welcome to the World of Photo Manipulation!
Have you ever wished you could travel to outer space, stand beside a dinosaur, or explore a magical jungle?
What if you could do all of that without leaving your classroom?
This week, you will learn how to remove the background from a photograph and replace it with something completely different using Adobe Photoshop!
This technique is called a background swap, and it is one of the most exciting ways to create photo manipulations.
1. What Is a Background Swap?
A background swap is when you remove the original background from a photograph and replace it with another image.
Imagine taking a picture of yourself standing in your classroom. With Photoshop, you could remove the classroom and make it look like you are:
-
Walking on the moon.
-
Standing inside a volcano.
-
Swimming with sharks.
-
Exploring an ancient castle.
-
Running away from a giant dinosaur.
The possibilities are endless!
BEFORE: Original photo
AFTER: Fantasy location
2. Meet Your Photoshop Tools
Today, we will use three important Photoshop features.
Select Subject
Photoshop uses artificial intelligence to identify the main subject in your photograph and create a selection around it.
Instead of tracing around every part of your body, Photoshop does much of the work for you!
![[Full Guide] How to Remove White Background in Photoshop (2026)](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/ZiMa0kijQCdyOjfNkJb6lAerbHZ8FmJ3BM3m59j0_kIddpLZYYynSNcOE_2OPrlzjNkwGh4_AcOlTrSmpk61bElDW9ogk0ZFbm6JQ6M_-yOqvEaz90Z5OLkfEn2wZ9slcCXxN39eZioGhupkjGCaVxw5I4BAJevkRAANYxSBcMU?purpose=inline)
Remove Background
This feature automatically removes the background and creates a layer mask, leaving your subject visible.
You may need to make small adjustments around hair, clothing, or other difficult edges.
Layer Masks
A layer mask allows you to hide or reveal parts of an image without permanently deleting them.
Remember: Black hides, white reveals!
3. Let's Remove a Background!
Follow these steps carefully.
Open your photograph
Open Photoshop and select File → Open. Choose a clear photograph of yourself or a classmate who has agreed to be photographed.
Select your subject
Choose the Object Selection Tool (W), then click Select Subject in the Options bar.
Photoshop will attempt to select the person in your photograph.
Remove the background
With your image layer selected, open the Properties panel and look for Remove Background under Quick Actions.
Click it and watch your original background disappear!
Choose a new location
Find a photograph of an interesting location. You can download free images from Pexels .
Open your background image in Photoshop and place it on a layer underneath your subject.
Adjust your subject
Use Free Transform (Ctrl + T on Windows) to resize and position yourself.
Make sure you fit naturally into your new location, unless you are intentionally creating a funny scene!
Make it believable
Look closely at your photograph.
Does the lighting match? Are the edges clean? Does your subject look too large or too small?
Make adjustments until you are happy with your creation.
4. Watch and Learn
Before starting your project, watch a tutorial showing how to remove and replace a background in Photoshop.
5. In-Class Project: Put Yourself or Someone else Somewhere Crazy!
Your mission is to create a photograph that makes people say, "Wait, how did you get THERE?!"
Choose one of the following locations or invent your own.
Choose your destination
Select a location to inspire your project.
Your project requirements
Your final image must include:
-
A photograph of yourself or an approved subject.
-
A completely different background.
-
Clean edges around your subject.
-
Proper positioning and resizing.
-
At least one creative detail that makes your image unique.
Bonus challenge: Add a shadow, adjust the lighting, or include another object to make your scene even more convincing!
Photo Critique: Can You Spot the Mistake?
The Quick Selection Tool is one of the most useful tools for cutting objects out of photographs.
Instead of tracing the entire object yourself, you can brush over the object and Photoshop tries to recognize its edges.
For example, if you have a photograph of a person standing outside, you can brush over the person and Photoshop will attempt to select the person without selecting the entire background.
You can make your brush smaller when working around detailed areas like hair, hands, or clothing.
Best for: People, animals, cars, products, and other objects with recognizable edges
6. Photo Critique: Can You Spot the Mistake?
After completing your project, exchange photographs with a classmate.
Ask yourself:
-
Does the subject look like they belong in the scene?
-
Are there any pieces of the old background remaining?
-
Does the subject's size make sense?
-
What is one thing you really like about the edit?
-
What is one improvement you would suggest?
Remember to give constructive feedback. The goal is to help each other grow as digital artists.
Homework: Create Your Own Fantasy Location Edit
Now that you know how to remove and replace backgrounds, it is time to create something completely original!
Create a fantasy location photograph using Photoshop. Your scene should be different from the one you made during class.
You can create a realistic scene, a funny situation, or something completely impossible.
What to submit in Google Classroom:
-
Your original photograph before editing.
-
Your completed fantasy location photograph as a JPG or PNG.
-
Two or three sentences explaining your creative idea and which Photoshop tools you used.
Remember: Your imagination is your only limit, but your Photoshop skills will bring your ideas to life!