How to Remove the Background from a Photo on iPhone (Tap to Select, Fix Hair Edges)

TL;DR

Open Cutout, tap the subject (tap more to add, tap again to remove), pick an edge style (Soft, Natural or Sharp), and switch on HD Hair to recover fine hair and semi-transparent edges. Export as PNG to keep transparency.

The problem

Cutting a subject out by hand means tracing around hair and edges for ten minutes, and the result still has a halo. Automatic tools are quick but often get hair wrong or take the wrong object, and many want the photo uploaded.

How Cutout works

  • Tap to select. A segmentation model (MobileSAM) turns your tap into a mask of the object under it. Tap more areas to add parts, and tap an included area again to remove it.
  • Edge style: Soft, Natural or Sharp, controlling how hard the cutout’s edge is.
  • HD · Hair: an alpha-matting model recovers fine hair and semi-transparent edges instead of a hard outline.

Everything is computed on the phone.

Steps

  1. Open Cutout and choose the photo.
  2. Tap the subject. Check the outline.
  3. Add or remove parts with more taps.
  4. Pick an edge style, and turn on HD · Hair for portraits and pets.
  5. Export as a transparent PNG, or go on to replace the background.

Tips

  • Good contrast between subject and background gives the cleanest cut.
  • Zoom in on hair and fingers before exporting.
  • Natural is a good default; Sharp suits products, Soft suits portraits.
  • Remove small leftover bits with a tap.

Limits

Glass, smoke and very fine mesh are hard for any automatic cutout. If the result is rough, try a different edge style or add and remove regions.

FAQ

How do I choose what to keep? Tap the subject. Tap other areas to add them, and tap an included area again to remove it.

What is HD · Hair? An option that recovers fine hair and soft edges with an alpha-matting model, instead of a hard edge.

Is it free? Cutout is an AI edit: 3 per day on the free plan, unlimited with Pro.

The app PhotoRepair →