With Photo Studio it’s easy to remove and replace a photo background. The program provides a wide choice of fun backgrounds, and you can even import your own backgrounds to use as pictures.

But what if you want to add a simple color background to your picture? For example, a clean white background for product shots, or a pastel background on a portrait photo. This is also possible in Photo Studio, simply follow the steps below.

If you don’t already own Photo Studio you can download a free trial to test this:

Step 1 – Remove the existing background

Open your photo in Photo Studio and go to the “Remove Background” tab.

Photo Studio removes the original background automatically, using AI to detect the subject of your photo. You can find more information about background removal in this tutorial.

Step 2 – Select a background color

Once your background is gone, click “Colors” in the “Auto (AI)” tab.

You can now immediately select a white background, black background or transparent background.

For more color choices click the + to open the color selector.

There are two ways to choose a color:

1. Choose from the color selector

First select a shade by clicking the horizontal bar. This will update the colors in the larger panel.

Next, click in the larger panel and move the circle to select a more precise color. Click outside the color selector to add the new color to your image.

Tip: previously used colors appear in the main “Colors” menu next to the +. This makes it easy to find the same shade next time without opening the color selector.

2. Pick a color from your photo

You can also choose a color from your foreground image to use for the background.

To do this, click + to open the color selector, then select the pipette icon. Next, click your photo to pick the color.

Deselect the pipette and click outside the color selector to add the color to the photo.

Step 3 – Save your photo

Once you’re happy with the background color, click “Save” in the main Photo Studio toolbar and continue editing.

How to create a color gradient background

In addition to solid color backgrounds, you can also add gradient color backgrounds to your photo.

A gradient background combines two colors and changes gradually from the first to the second color.

Two types of gradient are available in Photo Studio:

Linear Gradient: The color progression is applied in a straight line (from left to right).

Radial Gradient: The color progression is applied in a circular manner (from the center outwards).

Follow the steps below to add a color gradient background.

1.     Select the type of gradient

Click the “Adjustments” tab, then “Background”. By default, “solid color” is selected. Click the icons to select either linear or radial gradient.

2.     Choose colors

Select 2 colors to use in your gradient. Click on one of the color boxes to open the selector, then choose a color as shown in the first part of this post. A preview of your gradient appears in the panel underneath “Colors”.

3.     Adjust scale/angle

For radial gradients, you can adjust the size of your gradient using the “Scale” slider. Move the slider to the right to increase gradient scale.

For linear gradients, you can adjust the direction of your gradient using the “Angle” slider. Move the slider to the right to adjust the gradient angle. For example, to reverse the colors in your gradient, select a 180-degree angle.

If your subject doesn’t fit well with your new color background, you can use the Edit Photo tools to adjust and enhance the photo. For photos of people, you can also check out our tips for retouching portrait photos.

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The 12.1 update makes the workspace even more intuitive by offering users additional options to personalize their setup. Read on to find out what’s new.

If you don’t already own Photo Studio, you can download the free version here.

New Dark Theme

Photo Studio 12 features a fully redesigned minimalist user interface. In version 12.1, you can also enjoy editing in dark theme.

Simply click “My Account” in the top corner of the workspace, then select “Options” and click the moon icon to switch to dark theme.

Dock Side Panel

The editing panel on the left side of the interface can now be switched to the right-hand side, so you can choose the layout most comfortable for you.

As before, click “My Account”, “Options”, then select your preferred “dock side panel” layout.

Improved Split View

The split view in the Edit Photo tab has also been improved. You can now adjust the separation bar to customize your before/after preview.

This means you can extend the “after” preview and reduce the “before” preview, or vice versa.

To do this, click “Dual view” in the top toolbar. Then select either “vertical split” or “horizontal split”. Next, in the workspace, click and drag the separation bar to modify the preview window.

Why not experiment with these new customization options and find the most comfortable setup for your editing?

More about Photo Studio Updates

inPixio listens to user feedback and regularly updates Photo Studio to boost performance and reliability.

Updates can include interface, feature, and performance improvements, as well as minor bug fixes.

When an update is available you will receive a notification on your computer, allowing you to download the latest version.

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In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to combine multiple images in a single montage. If you don’t already own Photo Studio, you can download the free version to try combining photos.

How to combine photos – basic steps

1. Open a photo in Photomontage, select Custom and choose the version of the image you want to work with
2. Add further photos by clicking the + in the image library
3. Arrange and combine photos in the workspace
4. If desired, add text and graphics to the montage

How to combine multiple photos in a montage – detailed instructions

You can have lots of fun combining your own photos to make completely new pictures or create designs. Here are the detailed steps to make an amazing photo montage or composite.

1. Open your first photo

Open the first photo in the Photomontage tab, click Custom and then select your original image. Alternatively, select one of the checkered background thumbnails to work with the transparent version of your image.

Click on your image in the workspace to select it, then use the handles to adjust it to the desired size.

2. Add one or several images

To add more photos, go to More Items – Images, then click the + and select “Adding images”. This will prompt you to choose a photo from your folders. Photo Studio adds the new image to the library.

To cut out an image, click “Adding and clipping images”, this makes you image transparent before adding it to the library.

Learn more about cutting out people and objects from photos

Repeat this process to add all the images you want to combine. The new images are saved to the library and are now ready to use.

3. Arrange and combine images

To add an image to the montage, drag and drop it from the library into the workspace.

• You can resize images using the handles.
• You can also reorder and layer your combined images using the toolbar. Select an image in the workspace to display the toolbar, then click the square icons to send it backwards or forwards in the montage.
• Finally, you can use the checkered icon in the same toolbar to adjust the opacity of each image in the montage. This gives you the possibility to merge or blend two images.

4. Add text and graphics to your combined images

As well as combining your own photos, you can add graphics and text to your composite images.

• In More Items, click Text or Graphics and drag and drop a sample into the montage.
• You can edit text and also adjust color, font and opacity using the toolbar.

Learn more about making a photomontage.

Now you know how to combine images in Photo Studio. Why not experiment with the Photomontage tools and don’t forget to share your combined image on social media.

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1. Optimize your image settings
2. Reduce wrinkles and blemishes
3. Create a bokeh effect blurred background
4. Crop your image

1.     Optimize your image settings

If your photo looks a bit dull or flat, you can try adjusting some settings.

One-click correction

The easiest way to optimize a photo is to use the Auto-correction function. This will automatically boost color and light in your image.

Image adjustments

You can also use the sliders in the Adjustments tab (select Tools – Correction) to improve certain settings on your image.

For example, increase exposure, saturation, and contrast for a brighter, more vivid picture.

Learn more about different ways to enhance a photo.

2.     Reduce wrinkles and blemishes

If you want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes in a portrait, you can do this using the tools in the Erase Objects tab.

• Using the paintbrush selection tool, highlight lines, spots etc. that you want to remove.

Photo Studio will remove the selected areas to leave a more air-brushed finish.

Tip: for the most natural results, adjust brush size to get a more precise selection.

Learn more about the Erase tool.

3.     Create a bokeh effect blurred background

Blurred backgrounds are popular in portrait photography as they help draw attention to the subject of the picture, while keeping a natural look.

You can add a bokeh effect in the Remove Background tab.

• Click the Blur option and select a level of blurriness.

Learn how to edit a photo background

4.     Crop your image

Last but not least, you can crop your portrait photo. Cropping helps cut out distractions and place your subject centrally in your photo.

Cropping a photo

In the Edit Photo tab, click Crop and choose a preset ratio. Some popular formats include:

5:4 – common for portrait photos and compatible with Instagram

3:2 – if you want to print a 6×4 photo

1:1 – for a square image, also good for social media

See our full photo cropping tutorial

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How to make a cut-out with the Photomontage tools

The Photomontage tab is great for making quick cut-outs that you can add directly to your photomontages.

Open any photo in Photo Studio, for example open a recent image from the home screen. Then click the Make Photomontage tab in the left-hand panel.

Next, click More Items and then Images. Finally, click the + and select “Adding and clipping images”. Choose a picture to cut out from your folders.

Photo Studio removes the background automatically and adds the cut-out to the library. It will stay here unless you delete it.

Repeat this process as many times as you like to build up a library of cut-outs to use in your photomontages.

How to make a cut-out with Remove Background

If you want to cut out from a complex photo, we recommend using the Remove Background tab for more precision (Pro version only).

Open the photo you want to cut out in the Remove Background tab. Photo Studio removes the background automatically. Make sure that the checkered background option is selected. This will give you a transparent image.

Next select Adjustments, and Selection. Click Edit Selection to open the different options. Use the Foreground, Background and Edge markers to fine tune the selection. When you’re happy with your cut-out, save it to your computer.

You can easily import your transparent photo to the Photomontage tab in order to use it in different pictures.

Click Make Photomontage, More Items, then Image. Click the + and select “Adding images” then choose the transparent cut-out from your folder. Photo Studio adds it to the library.

How to add your transparent cut-outs to a new background

To add one of your cut-outs to a background, simply open the background image in Photo Studio and navigate to the Photomontage tab.

Click Custom and select the original image.

Then go to More Items, Images, and drag and drop your cut-outs from the library onto the new background. Use the image handles to arrange the cut-outs against the background.

Remember that your cut-outs are now saved in the Images section, ready to use in your next photomontage.

Learn more about combining photos.

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1. Home Screen

When you open Photo Studio you arrive on the home screen. From here you can select which type of editing you want to start with. Click on one of the options and Photo Studio prompts you to open a photo before taking you directly to this tab.

Alternatively, you can select a recent photo from the list at the bottom of the home screen. Left click a photo to open it directly in the editing tab. Or right-click it to select the tab you want to open this photo in.

You can return to the home screen at any time during your editing, by clicking the inPixio logo in the top left-hand corner of the main workspace.

2. Tabs and Tools

All editing tools are stored in tabs in the left-hand panel. Click on a tab to open the editing options inside. Some tabs contain multiple tools which you can expand or collapse by clicking them.

3. Navigator and Zoom Options

At the top of the left-hand panel you will find the navigator and zoom options.

• Use the slider to zoom in or out of your picture.
• Or select one of the zoom options in the drop-down menu

When you zoom in, the navigator displays a box over the part of the image that is visible in the workspace.

• Move the box with your mouse to show a different section of the image in the workspace.

4. View Options

In the Edit Photos tab, you can compare your edited picture to the original using a dual view or a before/ after view.

Dual view

The dual view offers a side-by-side or split comparison of your edited and unedited images.

• Click the “Dual view” icon in the top toolbar.
• Select one of the dual views from the drop-down menu.

Editing in a dual view helps you keep track of changes as you work.

Before/After view

The Before/After option is a quick way to compare your edited and unedited images in a single view. Hold down the Before/After button to view your original image without edits. As soon as you let go of the mouse button, the workspace will return to your edited image.

5. Filmstrip

The filmstrip lets you navigate your folders and open new images. It displays all the images in the same folder as the one you are currently editing.

• Click on the small icon at the bottom left  corner of the workspace to open the filmstrip.
• Click any image in the filmstrip to open it in the workspace.
• Or click “browse” to select a new folder on your computer.

Tip: You can also add folders as favorites.

6. Save Options

To save a photo, click the Save button in the top tool bar. This opens a window where you can choose your save options.

• Select a quality level for the saved photo
• Choose the location to save to (by default, the original image folder)
• Choose a name for the saved photo (the suffix _inPixio is added by default).

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With your inPixio account you can now keep track of everything from licenses to upgrades from a single interface. No matter which version of Photo Studio you have, you can use your inPixio account to:

• Install/reinstall your software any time without a license key
• Get immediate access to new versions
• View all your inPixio software in one place

Install Photo Studio

You can download Photo Studio from your inPixio account, if you already have one, or download the free version directly (Windows version only).

Open the downloaded file and click “Start” to begin installation. Then double-click on the icon on your desktop to open Photo Studio. By default, Photo Studio opens in demo mode. To access the Free, Standard, or Pro versions, create or sign into your inPixio account.

Create your inPixio account

If you didn’t create an account during purchase, for example if you downloaded the free photo editor, you can do so from the home screen. When you first open the program, you will see the “Create an account” window.

• Enter your name and email address
• Choose and confirm your password
• Click “Create an account”

Tip: You can also create an account using one of these services: Facebook, Google or Microsoft.

If you already have an inPixio account, click “Sign In” to go straight to the login window.

Sign into your inPixio account

It’s important to sign into your inPixio account when using Photo Studio. If you are not signed in, watermarks will appear on your photos. Once you are signed into your account, you will have immediate access to all features available in your plan. Simply click the “My Account” icon in the right-hand corner of the workspace to sign in.

My Products tab – download Photo Studio

To download your software, go to the “My products” tab in your account.

Here you’ll find a list of your inPixio software purchases. For each product you can see:

• Type of plan and expiration date
• Number of licenses and computers in use

Reinstalling your software

If you change computers, you can easily reinstall Photo Studio from your inPixio account:

• Click the download button next to the product your wish to install.
• Sign into your account from Photo Studio on your new device.

You can also disactivate the program on your old device:

• Click the small arrow next to the download button.
• Click the X symbol next to the device you want to remove.

Upgrading your software

When a new version of Photo Studio is available, you can access the download directly from “My Products” in your inPixio account.

Note: users with an active subscription or a lifetime certificate can access free upgrades from their inPixio account. Users with other types of licenses can use our upgrades page to purchase the latest version.

Other benefits of your inPixio account

As well as downloading and upgrading your software, your inPixio account gives you additional options.

My Account tab

In the “My Account” tab you can update details such as your email address. You can also merge different inPixio accounts into one.

Payment info tab

Subscribers can use this tab to update payment information for annual renewals.

Locating the Clone tool

From the Photo Studio workspace, select the Erase Objects tab, then click “More tools” and “Clone”.

Selecting a source point

Click “Source to duplicate” and adjust brush size with the slider. Next, click the item on your photo that you want to duplicate.  In this example, we’ve selected the butterfly.

Now move your mouse to the area where you want to duplicate the item. The source point is marked with a small cross. Your mouse pointer now turns into a brush and displays a circle, showing a preview of the content you will clone.

• You can enlarge or reduce the size of the cloning brush using the “Brush size” slider
• You can also adjust the brush tip, using the “Hardness” slider

Duplicating the item

Hold down your mouse button and “paint” the item into position. When you are happy with your duplicated item, release the mouse button to stop cloning.

To duplicate another item, simply repeat the process by re-selecting a source point to clone from.

What else can you do with the Clone tool?

You can also use the Clone tool to remove an object in your image. The process is the same: click to select the area you want to copy, then paint with your mouse pointer to paste this content over the object you want to remove. Find out more about erasing objects.

Introduction to blur effects

Photo blur is a versatile effect that can give your photos a professional look. You can blur photos or areas of a photo to control focus and direct the eye to the best parts of your picture.

Blur effects are useful in all kinds of images from portraits to graphics. You can draw attention to your subject by blurring the background. Or you can blur images to add a dreamy creative touch to a picture. Experimenting with the blur tools is an endless source of discovery and fun for creators. Discover our 4 top ways to blur pictures.

1. 1. Blur image backgrounds
   2. Blur pictures and make impressive graphics
   3. Simulate a miniature effect
   4. Focus on one area with custom blur

1. Blur image backgrounds

Creating a blurred background is one of the most popular types of blur effect. Photo background blur helps perfectly spotlight the subject of your image. It also helps to cover up distractions in the background.

Professional photographers use specific techniques and lenses to achieve this effect. But with a blur photo editor you can blur backgrounds easily and quickly during the photo editing process. Photo Studio uses AI to automatically select your background and blur it instantly.

How to blur a photo background:

1. Use the Remove Background tool to automatically select the background
2. Check and fine-tune your background selection
3. Click “Blur” and select a level of blur

2. Blur pictures and make impressive graphics

From Instagram quotes to banners and posters, blurred images make a great backdrop. This is because they give context, while also helping to make your text pop! In Photo Studio it  only takes one click to blur your entire photo. You can use the sliders to easily adjust the level of blurriness and enhance bokeh brightness. Then switch to the Photomontage tools and add a new text template to your blurred background. Your images will be ready to post in minutes!

How to blur a whole picture:

1. In the Edit Photo tab click “Effects” and then “Graduated Blur”
2. Select “Custom blur”; blur is automatically applied to the entire image
3. Increase or decrease the intensity of the effect using the Blur slider

3. Simulate a miniature effect with tilt-shift

Did you know that you can use blur to create a tilt-shift effect ? Similar to forced perspective photography, this effect makes objects in your photo look like miniature models. The name comes from the camera lenses used to achieve this effect.

Adding blur to the top and bottom of an image helps to simulate shallow depth of field, making the scene look smaller and generating this miniature faking effect.

How to create a miniature effect:

1. In “Graduated blur”, select “Linear blur”
2. This adds a template to your photo, adjust this to place the focus area over the objects that you want to “miniaturize”
3. Adjust the amount of blur in the out of focus areas using the “Blur” slider

4. Focus on one area with custom blur

Similar to background blur, custom blur helps to highlight a specific part of your photo. Custom blur allows you to be even more precise about which areas of the photo to blur and which ones to leave in focus. You can also add bokeh brightness to simulate light sources in the blurred areas of the photo.

How to blur part of a picture:

1. In “Graduated blur”, select “Custom blur” (or Radial blur for circular areas)
2. Select the Paintbrush tool with the minus sign and adjust the brush size
3. Use the paintbrush to deblur areas that you want to keep in focus

Blur image tools in Photo Studio Pro

Blur background tool (select and blur)

This is the fastest way to achieve a blurred background. Your photo background is selected automatically and a blur effect is added. You can then adjust the amount of blur in the background. Learn how to use the background blur tool.

Radial (circle) blur tool

With this tool you can create a circular area of focus on an image, while blurring out the rest of the photo. This is an easy way to create shallow depth of field in an image and put the emphasis on the main subject of your picture. You can move and adjust the template to achieve a more distinct or more graduated blur effect.

Vertical (tilt-shift) blur tool

With Vertical blur you can add lines of blur to the top and bottom of your image. Simply drag and drop the template and adjust it to fit your photo. Vertical blur is a quick solution for creating a tilt-shift effect which makes your photo look like a miniature.

Blur image paintbrush (custom blur)

The paintbrush gives you a free hand to choose which areas of the photo you want to blur. The advantage of selective photo blurring is that you have precise control over the sharp and blurred areas of your picture. This means you can focus your image in exactly the way you want. You can blur an entire image or just one part.