Top 7 Ways to Remove Background in Lightroom Like a Pro

Lola Lin

Lola Lin

August 10, 2025

5 min read

Remove bg Lightroom is a skill every photographer should master. No matter if you're editing product photos, portraits, or creative projects, knowing how to remove background in Lightroom can level up your work. The process is simpler than you might think, and with the right tools, you can achieve professional results. In this guide, we'll dig in to 7 key methods for remove bg Lightroom, including step-by-step instructions and tips for tricky situations. Let's get started!

Lightroom workspace for background removal

1. Use the Adjustment Brush for Precise Edits

The Adjustment Brush is one of the most useful tools for remove bg Lightroom. It lets you paint over specific areas to make targeted changes.

  1. Open your image in Lightroom's Develop module.
  2. Select the Adjustment Brush tool (shortcut: K).
  3. Adjust the brush size and feather for smooth edges.
  4. Paint over the background you want to remove.
  5. Lower the exposure and saturation to make the background disappear.

For more details, check out Adobe's guide to the Adjustment Brush.

Adjustment Brush in Lightroom

2. Use Assembo.ai to Create Custom Backgrounds

Assembo.ai is a great tool to visualize how your remove bg Lightroom edits will look with different backgrounds. It works alongside Lightroom to help you test various options.

  1. Remove the background in Lightroom using your preferred method.
  2. Export the image with a transparent background.
  3. Upload to Assembo.ai to try different background options.
  4. Choose from preset backgrounds or create custom ones.

Learn more about how Assembo.ai works with Lightroom.

Radial Filter in Lightroom

3. Try the Radial Filter for Circular Selections

The Radial Filter is perfect when you need to remove bg Lightroom in circular or oval areas.

  1. Select the Radial Filter tool (shortcut: Shift+M).
  2. Draw a circle around your subject.
  3. Check 'Invert Mask' to affect the outside area.
  4. Adjust exposure, contrast, and clarity to fade the background.
  5. Use feathering for smooth transitions.

Key benefits:

  1. Great for spotlight effects
  2. Works well with round subjects
  3. Easy to adjust after applying

See Lightroom Queen's tips on background removal for more ideas.

Graduated Filter in Lightroom

4. Use the Graduated Filter for Gradient Effects

When you need to remove bg Lightroom with a gradual fade, the Graduated Filter is your best friend.

  1. Select the Graduated Filter tool (shortcut: M).
  2. Click and drag across your image to create the gradient.
  3. Adjust the angle and width of the effect.
  4. Lower exposure and saturation in the affected area.

This method works best for:

  1. Sky replacements
  2. Creating depth in landscape photos
  3. Smooth background transitions

For advanced techniques, read this Lightroom tutorial on background removal.

Range Mask in Lightroom

5. Master Range Masks for Complex Backgrounds

Range Masks help with remove bg Lightroom when dealing with tricky color differences.

  1. Apply any adjustment tool (Brush, Radial, or Graduated Filter).
  2. Click on Range Mask in the tool options.
  3. Choose between Luminance or Color range.
  4. Use the eyedropper to select background colors to target.
  5. Adjust the range sliders for precision.

This is especially useful for:

  1. Hair and fur details
  2. Busy backgrounds
  3. Subtle color differences

Check out Adobe's Range Mask documentation for more information.

Lightroom Mobile background removal

6. Remove Background in Lightroom Mobile

You can also remove bg Lightroom using the mobile app with these steps:

  1. Open your image in Lightroom Mobile.
  2. Tap on the Brush tool.
  3. Adjust the brush size and feather.
  4. Paint over the background areas.
  5. Lower exposure and saturation.
  6. Use the eraser to clean up edges.

Mobile tips:

  1. Use two fingers to zoom for precision
  2. Work in good lighting to see details
  3. Save multiple versions to compare

Learn more about mobile background removal options.

Exporting transparent PNG from Lightroom

7. Export with Transparent Background

The final step in remove bg Lightroom is saving your image correctly.

  1. Complete your background removal edits.
  2. Go to File > Export.
  3. Choose PNG as the file format.
  4. Ensure 'Transparency' is checked.
  5. Set resolution to at least 300ppi for print.
  6. Click Export.

Remember:

  1. PNG maintains transparency
  2. JPEG doesn't support transparency
  3. Higher resolution keeps quality

For more export tips, see this guide from Wedding Rebels.

Final Thoughts

Remove bg Lightroom is a powerful technique that opens up many creative possibilities. While Lightroom isn't as advanced as Photoshop for this task, these 7 methods give you plenty of options for most situations. Practice each technique to find which works best for your specific needs. Remember to use high-quality images and take your time with tricky areas like hair or fine details.

For more advanced editing, consider combining Lightroom with tools like remove.bg's Lightroom workflow or Assembo.ai for background creation. With these skills, you'll be able to create professional-looking images with clean, removed backgrounds in no time.