Instructional Video

Learn how to Remove the Background of an Image or an Icon

Project:

This instructional video demonstrates a practical workflow for instructional designers who need to extract and clean up graphics for use in eLearning courses, presentations, or digital training materials. Removing background is a necessary skill for all instructional designers to know and be able to complete quickly and easily. Once explained the process is easy to learn and remember. However, it can be very tricky to figure out on your own. This video walks through the process of capturing an image from a PDF using Snagit, saving it as a PNG file, and removing the background using Photoshop’s built in tools. Then the video shows how to extract the file from Photoshop and save it as a PNG file.

The example used in the video features a “No” symbol over a credit card image. The red circle with the slash over the credit card conveys the message that “Credit Cards are not Accepted.” The “No” symbol was downloaded as a transparent PNG, while the credit card image has unwanted background since it was embedded in a PDF. 

The video follows these steps: 

1. Use Snagit to capture the credit card image from the PDF. 

2. Save the image as a PNG to preserve transparency. 

3. Open the image in Photoshop and use the “Remove Background” feature.

4. Export the cleaned-up image as a PNG with a transparent background.

This process is essential for instructional designers who want to create clean, professional visuals that convey a message without the distraction of unwanted background colors. The ability to isolate and layer images effectively supports better visual communication and instructional clarity.

Learning Goals: 

• Identify when and why to use PNG format in instructional design to enhance visual clarity and learner focus.

• Apply basic image editing techniques to prepare visuals for instructional use.

• Demonstrate how to remove backgrounds from images using Photoshop. 

• Integrate cleaned-up graphics into instructional content with improved visual impact.

Learning Outcomes: 

After watching this instructional video, learners will be able to: 

• Explain the importance of using transparent images  in instructional to enhance visual clarity and learner engagement.

• Capture graphics embedded in a PDF using Snagit and remove the background using Photoshop.

• Apply this workflow independently to prepare clean, professional visuals that align with instructional goals.