Remove Background in Illustrator — 3 Methods That Work
Image Trace, Opacity Mask, and the right export settings
Illustrator is a vector editor, not a pixel editor — which means removing a background from a raster image inside Illustrator requires a different workflow than Photoshop.
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Method 1 — Image Trace (Fastest, Vector Output)
Best for: logos, icons, and flat illustrations you want as vectors
Place the image in Illustrator
File → Place, select your image. Click to place it on the artboard.
Open Image Trace
With the image selected, go to Window → Image Trace. Choose a preset.
Adjust the trace settings
In the Image Trace panel, check 'Ignore White' to treat white areas as transparent.
Expand and export
Click Expand to convert the trace to paths. Ungroup and delete any white shapes. Export as SVG or PNG.
Method 2 — Opacity Mask (Keeps Raster Quality)
Best for: photographs where you need to preserve the original pixel quality
Place the image and create a mask layer
File → Place your image. Create a new layer above it. Paint the area you want to keep white.
Create the opacity mask
Select both layers. In the Transparency panel, click Make Mask.
Refine the mask
Click the mask thumbnail to edit it. Paint with black to hide, white to reveal.
Export as PNG with transparency
File → Export → Export As → PNG. Check 'Transparency'.
Method 3 — Remove Background First, Then Place
Best for: any raster image where Illustrator's tools don't give you enough control
Remove the background in BGRemover
Open /workspace, upload your image, and download a transparent PNG. 5 seconds.
Place the transparent PNG in Illustrator
File → Place and select the PNG. Because it already has transparency, no mask is needed.
Trace if you need vector
If you need vector output, select the PNG and use Image Trace → High Fidelity Photo.
Export
For raster: PNG with Transparency. For vector: File → Export As → SVG.
Illustrator background removal — frequently asked questions
Can Illustrator automatically remove image backgrounds?
Illustrator's Image Trace has an 'Ignore White' option, but it treats white as a color to be traced, not transparency. For clean transparency, use the Opacity Mask method or remove the background in BGRemover first.
What is the fastest way to remove background in Illustrator?
Method 3 — removing the background in BGRemover first (5 seconds), then placing the transparent PNG in Illustrator. This bypasses Illustrator's limited raster tools entirely.
Remove background in 5 seconds, then design in Illustrator
BGRemover handles the cutout. Illustrator handles the design. Upload your image, download a transparent PNG, and place it directly on your artboard.