How to Remove White Background in Illustrator: Complete Walkthrough

Why do you need to remove the white background

• Flexibility in design: A white background can clash when placing a logo or graphic on colored or textured surfaces. So, when you remove it, it allows the design to adapt to any layout with ease.
• Professional presentation: Transparent backgrounds give graphics a polished look, especially when used on websites, social media posts, or branding materials. It avoids awkward white boxes around your design.
• Easy integration: Without the white background, you can layer your designs over other elements in presentations, posters, or product packaging without disrupting the overall flow.
• Print and web compatibility: Designs with transparent backgrounds work better for both digital and print use. You can easily scale, resize, or export them to different file types like PNG or SVG for universal use.

How to remove the white background after image trace in Illustrator

Below are the steps on how to remove the white background from an image in Illustrator using the "Image trace" tool:

STEP 1
1. Import the image

Open Illustrator and go to "File" and click "Open" to bring in the image. Once loaded, select it on the artboard so you can start editing. Now, go to "View" and select "Show transparency grid" to reveal the checkerboard.

STEP 2
1. Use the image trace

With the image selected, click the drop-down menu next to "Image trace" and choose "High fidelity photo." After your picture is vectorized, click "Expand." Then, go to "Object," hit "Ungroup, click the white background, and press "Delete" to remove it.

STEP 3
1. Export the image

Finally, export your artwork by choosing "File," selecting "Export," and clicking "Export As." Then, pick a format such as PNG for transparent backgrounds.

How to remove a white background from a vector in Illustrator - Pen tool

Sometimes a vector comes with a white background that you don't want in your final design. The Pen Tool in Illustrator lets you draw precise paths around the subject and remove the background manually for a clean, transparent result.

These are the steps on how to remove a white background in Illustrator from a vector file:

STEP 1
1. Upload and select the vector

Open "Illustrator" on your PC, click "Open" on the main screen, and choose your vector file to import it. Press "Z" on the keyboard and click on the keyboard to zoom in on the vector. Now, click "View" in the top menu bar and select "Show transparency grid." Head to the "Layers" panel, click "Create new layer" to create Layer 2, and then lock the "Layer 1" (the one with the image).

STEP 2
1. Use the Pen tool to remove the BG

Click the "Pen tool" from the left menu, select a stroke color, choose "No fill," and start clicking around the vector icon to create anchor dots. Then, unlock the "Layer 1" and press "Shift" to select both layers. After that, press "Ctrl+7" to create a clipping mask and remove the white background.

STEP 3
1. Export the vector

Go to "File," select "Export," and choose "Export As." Choose PNG with the “transparent background” option checked, or save as SVG for scalable vector use.

How to get rid of white background in Illustrator - Magic Wand

The Magic Wand tool offers a simple way to select and remove the white background in Illustrator and leave your artwork ready for transparent use.

STEP 1
1. Import the vector file

Open Adobe Illustrator and import the file you want to edit. Go to "File," click "Open" and select the vector file from your computer. Once it appears on the artboard, make sure it is selected before moving to the next step.

STEP 2
1. Use Magic Wand

Select the "Magic Wand (Y)." Double-click its icon to open the dialog, then choose "Fill color" (and optionally Opacity). Set "Tolerance." You can start at 0 for solid white; raise slightly (e.g., 5–15) if the "white" includes near-white tones. You can also open "Window" and click "Magic Wand" to adjust attributes. Click a white area. Illustrator selects all vector shapes that match the chosen attributes within the tolerance. Press "Delete" to remove them. If some white pieces remain, click again or raise the tolerance a bit and delete them.

STEP 3
1. Export to device

Finally, choose "File," click "Export," and select "Export As." Pick PNG file format, check "Use Artboards" if needed, and in PNG options set "Background color: transparent."

In Illustrator, removing background usually involves manual tracing or technical steps that take time and practice. For many users, especially those working with product photos, social media graphics, or quick marketing visuals, this process can be a bit time-consuming. That's where CapCut Web provides a much easier path.

Best online alternative to remove a white background

CapCut Web provides a complete editing space where you can start with background removal and finish with a fully styled image. As an online editor, it focuses on automation and smart tools, so you can get clean results without needing advanced design knowledge. Whether you're preparing a logo with transparency, a lifestyle photo for e-commerce, or a creative image for content, CapCut Web gives you everything in one place.

Explore CapCut Web's effortless image white background remover

• One-click background removal: CapCut Web's image background remover uses AI to detect the subject in your image and instantly erase the white background. This is especially useful for bulk tasks like editing product listings or creating multiple social media posts.
• Manual brushes to refine background: With CapCut's restore and remove brushes, you can clean up small areas the AI might miss. These tools allow you to bring back parts of the image or erase leftover background patches to ensure you keep fine details like hair strands or intricate product edges.
• Edge edit options: To improve the cutout's look, CapCut offers tools to edit edges. You can add shadows for depth, apply glow effects for emphasis, soften the outline with feathering, or add strokes to highlight the subject. Each adjustment comes with sliders so you can fine-tune the effect to match your design.
• Background replacement options: Once the white background is gone, CapCut gives you several creative choices. You can leave the background transparent and export as PNG for branding needs, replace it with a solid color for simplicity, or upload a custom background image for marketing visuals.
• Smart image editing tools: CapCut Web goes beyond background removal and offers smart image editing tools powered by AI. It includes automatic color correction to balance tones, along with filters and effects that align with different creative styles. Style transfer options let you apply artistic looks, while retouching and old photo restoration improve portraits or refresh vintage images. The platform also provides image upscaling to improve resolution for web or print projects.

Steps to remove the white background in CapCut Web

Sometimes an image with a white background doesn't fit well into a design or project. CapCut Web offers a simple way to clear the background and gives you more freedom with your visuals. The platform works online, so you don't need extra software to get a clean, professional result.

STEP 1
1. Open "Image editor"

Sign up for CapCut Web using your Google, Facebook, or TikTok credentials. You can also connect your account through CapCut Mobile. After that, go to the "Image" tab and click "New image." Click "Upload image" on the next page to import your photo.

STEP 2
1. Remove the white background

Select the image on the canvas, go to "Remove background," and turn on "Auto removal." After AI removes the backdrop, click "Customize" to use the manual "Restore" and "Remove" brushes and fine-tune the result. You can also click "Edit image" to add shadow, stroke, glow, and feather.

STEP 3
1. Export the image

Finally, click "Download All," click the "Settings" icon next to "Download" to set the file format to PNG, check "Transparent background," and click "Download" one more time to export the image to your device.

Conclusion

In this article, you've learned how to remove a white background in Illustrator using three different methods. Each option gives control over how you prepare your designs, but they can take time and practice to master. CapCut Web stands out as the best online alternative. With one-click background removal, smart editing tools, and flexible export options, it's built for both beginners and professionals who need quick results. Try it now and create clean, transparent images directly in your browser.

FAQs

1
1. How to remove a white background from the PNG in Illustrator?

To remove a white background from a PNG in Illustrator, you can import the image, select it, and then use Image Trace or the Magic Wand tool to isolate and delete the white areas. Once cleared, exporting the file as a PNG with transparency gives you a clean image ready for design projects. While Illustrator offers these options, it still requires multiple steps and some manual adjustments. A simpler option is CapCut Web, which lets you edit visuals online with quick background removal, built-in templates, and creative tools for resizing, color correction, and adding overlays in one place.

2
1. How to delete a white background in Illustrator and leave it transparent?

If you want to know how to remove a white background in Illustrator, you can use Image Trace, Magic Wand, or the Pen Tool to select and delete the white areas. While this approach works, it often takes extra time and manual edits. CapCut Web is the best alternative, which removes backgrounds in one click and also offers tools like edge adjustments, background replacement, filters, and AI-powered editing for a smoother workflow directly in your browser.

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1. Can I remove a white background in Illustrator using AI?

Yes, you can remove a white background in Illustrator using AI through the Image Trace feature. This tool detects shapes and colors in the image, which allows you to turn the background transparent with fewer manual steps. While it provides a faster way compared to traditional methods, you may still need to adjust settings or clean up edges for a neat result. For a more versatile solution, CapCut gives you AI-powered editing online, including instant background removal, smart resizing for social platforms, style filters, and quick export options.