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How to Remove Fill Color in Photoshop?

Published in Photoshop Color Removal 4 mins read

Removing "fill color" in Photoshop can refer to different actions depending on what you mean by "fill color". It could mean removing a specific color from a raster image or removing the fill property from a shape layer or text layer. Below we cover both common interpretations, including how to remove a specific color as described in the provided reference.

Method 1: Removing a Specific Color from an Image

This method is useful when you have a pixel-based image and want to make areas of a particular color transparent or remove them entirely. It involves selecting the color and then deleting it or using a layer mask.

Based on the provided reference, here are the steps to remove a specific color:

  1. Open your image in Photoshop. Start by loading the image you want to edit into the Photoshop workspace.
  2. Next, go to Select > Color Range. This command allows you to select pixels based on their color values.
  3. Select the Eyedropper Tool and click on the color you want to remove. In the Color Range dialog box, use the Eyedropper tool to sample the color directly from your image. You can adjust the 'Fuzziness' slider to control the range of shades selected around the sampled color. Check the 'Invert' box if you want to select everything except the chosen color.
  4. Refine the Selection (Optional): Use the + and - Eyedropper tools in the Color Range dialog to add or subtract similar colors from your selection if needed. The preview window helps visualize what will be selected.
  5. Confirm the Selection: Click OK. This will create a selection marquee around the areas of the color you selected.
  6. Remove the Selected Color: With the selection active, you can now remove the color.
    • Option A (Delete): Ensure your layer is not a Background layer (double-click it in the Layers panel to convert it to a regular layer if necessary). Press the Delete key on your keyboard. This will make the selected areas transparent.
    • Option B (Masking - Non-destructive): Click the 'Add Layer Mask' button (the rectangle with a circle inside) at the bottom of the Layers panel. This hides the selected areas instead of permanently deleting them, allowing for future adjustments.

Using the Select > Color Range method is an effective way to isolate and remove specific color areas from photographs or other pixel-based artwork.

Method 2: Removing Fill from a Shape Layer or Text Layer

In Photoshop, shape layers and text layers have properties like 'Fill' and 'Stroke' that define their appearance. Removing the "fill color" in this context means making the inner area of the shape or text transparent while potentially keeping the stroke visible. This applies only to vector-based layers (Shapes, Text) and Smart Objects created from them, not standard pixel layers.

Here's how to do it:

  1. Select the Shape or Text Layer: In the Layers panel, click on the specific shape layer or text layer you want to modify.
  2. Adjust Fill Opacity:
    • Go to the top of the Layers panel.
    • Find the Fill percentage option.
    • Change the percentage from 100% to 0%.
    • (Note: This is different from the main Opacity setting. Reducing Opacity to 0% makes the entire layer invisible, including any stroke.)

Setting the Fill to 0% makes the shape or text transparent while preserving any layer styles applied, such as a Stroke, Drop Shadow, or Inner Shadow. This is the standard way to "remove" the fill color from vector or text elements in Photoshop.

Method Applies To How it Works Result Based on Reference?
Remove Specific Color Pixel Layers Selects pixels by color using Color Range Makes specific color areas transparent/removed Yes
Remove Shape/Text Fill Shape/Text Layers Changes the layer's Fill property to 0% Makes the inner area transparent, preserves styles No

Choose the method that best suits the type of layer you are working with and your desired outcome. If you are dealing with a photograph or painted image, use the Color Range method. If you're working with graphics or text created within Photoshop using the shape or type tools, adjust the Fill percentage in the Layers panel.