This wikiHow teaches you how to change the background of an image using one of the Paint programs on your Windows computer. While the traditional MS Paint program will not allow you to create a transparent image, you can create a green screen background by filling the image with a solid color that can be replaced by a different image later. You can also use Paint 3D to cut out the section of the image you want to use and then paste the resulting image onto a background.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use Paint
Step 1. Find the image you want to change the background for
Go to the image you want to use for this project. You can use any image, but keep in mind that it will be easier to work with a higher resolution one.
Step 2. Right click on the image
Doing so will open a drop-down menu.
Step 3. Choose Open With
It's near the middle of the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will appear.
Step 4. Click Paint
This option is in the drop-down menu. Doing this will open the photo in Paint.
Step 5. Select the drawing tool
Click on the pencil-shaped icon in the "Tools" section of the Paint toolbar to do so.
Step 6. Change the width of the drawing tool
Click the drop-down box Size and then on the thickest line of the resulting drop-down menu.
Step 7. Double click on the light green box
It's in the upper-right part of the Paint window.
Step 8. Carefully draw around the part of the image that you want to save
This will help create a boundary between the image for which you want to change the background and the section of the photo that you will replace with a green screen.
- You can zoom in by clicking on the icon + in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 9. Use the light green color to fill in the surrounding space
The best way to do this will vary depending on the image. For example, if the left side of the image is mostly a background that you want to remove later, you can select the rectangle drawing icon, click Fill out, on Solid color, and then in the box Color 2 and double click on the light green option. You can then click and drag across the section you want to remove to block it with a large green box.
When you're done, you'll get a green background surrounding the subject
Step 10. Save the image
Once you've added the green background to the image, save the image as a new file by doing the following:
- click File.
- Choose Save as.
- click JPEG image.
- Enter a filename, then click a destination location (for example, Desk).
- click Keep.
Step 11. Use a different program to replace the green screen
Unfortunately, MS Paint cannot replace the green screen with a different image; you will have to use your preferred photo manipulation option (eg Photoshop) or video editor to do so.
Since the entire background will be the same color, any green screen editing should leave you with only the starting subject on whatever background you select
Method 2 of 2: Use Paint 3D
Step 1. Open Start
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open Paint 3D
Type paint 3d in the Start menu, then click the option Paint 3D at the top of the Start window.
Step 3. Click Open
It's in the center of the Paint 3D window.
Step 4. Click Browse Files
This option is near the center of the window. Doing so will open a new window.
Step 5. Select a photo
Go to the location of the photo for which you want to replace the background, then click the photo once to select it.
Step 6. Click Open
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The image will open in Paint 3D.
Step 7. Click on the Canvas tab
This three-by-three grid icon is in the upper right of the Paint 3D window. Doing so will open a new column on the right side of the window.
Step 8. Click the gray "Transparent Canvas" switch
It's in the right column. The switch will turn blue
Step 9. Click Magic Selection
You'll find this tab near the left side of the Paint 3D window.
Step 10. Drag the edges of the canvas to surround the subject
This will ensure that the final image requires as little editing as possible.
Try to get the edges as close as possible to the part of the image that you want to keep without being inside it
Step 11. Click Next
It's on the right side of the page.
Step 12. Add or remove any sections that you want to keep or remove
Anything outlined in blue and in full color (for example, not tinted gray) will be saved when you crop the photo. If the parts of the section that you want to save are not included, or if the parts that you don't want to save are included, you can add or remove sections as follows:
- Add: click the icon Add at the top of the right column, and then draw an outline around the section of the image you want to include.
- Remove: Click the icon Remove at the top of the right column, then draw an outline around the section of the image you want to remove.
Step 13. Click Done
It's on the right side of the page.
Step 14. Copy the selection to the clipboard
Press Ctrl + X to do it. You will see the selected portion of the image disappear from the Paint 3D window.
Step 15. Click Menu
It's a folder-shaped icon in the upper-left corner of the window.
Step 16. Open the background image
Do the following:
- Click on To open.
- Click on Explore the archives.
- Click on Do not save when asked.
- Select the image you want to use as the background.
- Click on To open.
Step 17. Add the original image to the background
Once the background image opens, press Ctrl + V to paste the copied section of the original image into the background.
If necessary, you can resize the original image by clicking and dragging one of the corners in or out
Step 18. Save the image
To save your project as a single image, do the following:
- Click on the folder icon Menu in the upper left corner of the window.
- Click on Save as.
- Click on Image.
- Enter a name for the image, then click a destination location (for example, Desk).
- Click on Keep.