Photo editing

Donkey's years since I last needed to edit a photo (in Win XP I think) but I just need to remove an object unintentionally caught in the background of a photo for a new driving licence taken with my laptop's camera, and overwrite it with the surrounding plain background. I don't expect to need to use the app often at all so something free would be good.

I have tried downloading a couple of free apps but wasn't able to do what I need so am hoping for a recommendation or two.

Have you tried: UPDATE 9/18: The update to the Paint app for Windows 11 that includes background removal is now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel (version 11.2306.30.0).

Background Removal in Paint begins rolling out to Windows Insiders.

That sounds just the job for the photo I need but I'm no longer an Insider and don't want to go back to it either. Pity as I need to get this licence application dealt with sooner rather than later.

If you'd like post it here or make available for me to download & I'll do it for you

Edit: Or you can PM it to me here if you want.

Thanks, I'll do that tomorrow.

fixer said:

I just need to remove an object unintentionally caught in the background of a photo

Click to expand...

With perseverance, you can cut and past little bits of the original in Paint, paste to a new layer is the best approach. Layers are available in the public release version of Paint, no need to be an Insider.

fixer said:

Donkey's years since I last needed to edit a photo (in Win XP I think) but I just need to remove an object unintentionally caught in the background of a photo for a new driving licence taken with my laptop's camera, and overwrite it with the surrounding plain background. I don't expect to need to use the app often at all so something free would be good.

I have tried downloading a couple of free apps but wasn't able to do what I need so am hoping for a recommendation or two.

Click to expand...

Here's the update that will add Background Removal to PAINT.
See post #11 this topic, if you have any problems installing this.





And here's the Virustotal results...





And here's an example...





And just like that... He took my background.












There's also this for the more... creative.

Thanks Ghot. First d/load effort failed - I'll try again.

fixer said:

Thanks Ghot. First d/load effort failed - I'll try again.

Click to expand...

Try again. I think I fixed the link, up above.

Dropbox keeps "improving" their website, so I have to keep re-learning it. LOL

When I run that it says a newer version of Paint is already installed

fixer said:

When I run that it says a newer version of Paint is already installed

Click to expand...

I did the Background Removal patch about 4-6 months ago.
I'm not on the Insider channel.
Here's the PAINT version I have. Click the Settings gear at top right to see the version you have...





Get the Classic Windows 10 PAINT here, and install that first...



Then do the Background Removal Update.

Then, if everything worked... run Windows Updates again. To bring PAINT with the background Removal, up to date.



Someone posted the file I uploaded to dropbox about 4-6 months ago.
I downloaded it and just installed it, and then I had the background removal.

Wow - installing that version has fixed it!! Thanks a million Ghot

Suspect my installed version already had the feature but as I don't use it I just didn't know.

Anyway it's sorted, thanks guys

fixer said:

Wow - installing that version has fixed it!! Thanks a million Ghot

Suspect my installed version already had the feature but as I don't use it I just didn't know.

Anyway it's sorted, thanks guys

Click to expand...

Note: The Background Removal works better on some pics, than on others.

For example...






Seems to work best with pics of people.

Btw... that ugly critter is a Tardigrade
Scroll down to the Physiology section of the Wikipedia article.
Tardigrades are tough little critters. ^^