FreeStack guideDesign4 min

Cut out a product photo without adding another subscription

A manual Photopea workflow for a clean transparent PNG, with an edge check before you publish.

What you’re working towards

A transparent product cutout checked on light and dark backgrounds.

Start with one well-lit product photograph you own. This recipe uses manual selections, so it does not depend on an AI credit allowance. The example below is an original FreeStack illustration showing the delivery goal, not a Photopea screenshot.

Free boundaries before you start

Source checks for this workflow. These notes clarify older catalogue summaries; they do not change your saved toolkit.

Photopea · checked 2026-10-13

Core local browser editor remains free and ad-supported; PSD and common image formats supported. Premium removes advertising. No numeric AI-credit or cloud-storage quota was confirmed in this check. No open-source licence was established; fonts and imported assets retain their own rights.

Account requirement not confirmed in this source check.

PICTURE THE RESULT

A small example to aim for

STUDIO
01BOTANICAL SOAP
Before · busy background
STUDIO
01BOTANICAL SOAP
After · transparent PNG concept

FreeStack example output · illustrative, not a provider screenshot or a tested export.

Jump to a step
01

Choose an image worth cutting out

Pick a photograph where the product is sharp and its outline is visible. Avoid starting with motion blur or an object that disappears into the background. Keep the original untouched and make a working copy. Write down the destination: a shop tile, a presentation or a social post.

02

Select the background

Open the file in Photopea. Its official tutorial uses Magic Wand to select areas of similar colour. Adjust the selection and inspect gaps around the object. A simple background is faster to select; textured edges may need more patient manual work.

03

Remove and inspect

Clear the selected background and examine the edge at a useful zoom. Look for leftover patches, clipped corners and halos. Temporarily place light and dark colours behind the cutout to make mistakes visible. Keep a layered working file so corrections are possible later.

04

Export the actual deliverable

Export as PNG to retain transparency. Reopen the export and place it in the real layout before calling it finished. Check scale, cropping and legibility on a phone. Keep the editable file alongside the exported image.

THE BUILD AT A GLANCE

Your workflow, connected.

Follow the steps and carry the output into the next stage. These are suggested handoffs, not automatic integrations.

  1. 01Choose the source
    Start with a plan
    Working copy
  2. 03Check the edge
    Clean silhouette

Provider information

Check current plans and documentation before committing to a workflow.

A couple of useful questions

Why not JPEG?

JPEG cannot store transparent pixels. Use PNG for this delivery goal.

Will every photograph take a few seconds?

No. Hair, glass, motion blur and busy backgrounds can require considerable manual work. Choose a simpler source when you can.

What would you try?

Share your result or ask a specific question about this workflow.

Join the conversation
SPONSORED · THE DIGITAL ACADEMYSearch your site. See what you might need.

Start with a TDA website audit to find your next useful improvement.

Find something good. Make something great.© 2026 FreeStack