Removing the background from a picture on LinkedIn can help make your profile stand out and look more professional. With the right tools and techniques, it’s easy to remove backgrounds from photos to use on LinkedIn.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to easily remove photo backgrounds on LinkedIn, including:
Why Remove the Background?
There are a few key reasons you may want to remove the background from a photo to use for your LinkedIn profile:
- Makes you stand out – A photo with a clean, solid background draws more attention to you rather than distracting backgrounds.
- Looks more professional – Photos intended for business profiles tend to look crisper and more polished without busy or cluttered backgrounds.
- Puts focus on you – Cropping out the background keeps the focus entirely on your headshot.
- Allows consistency – You can use the same background for all your LinkedIn photos to maintain a consistent, professional look.
Removing distracting or messy backgrounds from your photos can give your profile a more polished, put-together aesthetic.
How to Remove the Background in LinkedIn
Luckily, LinkedIn has built-in tools that make it easy to remove photo backgrounds right within the website. Here are two ways to do it:
Option 1: Use the LinkedIn Photo Editor
The easiest way is to use LinkedIn’s free photo editing tool:
- Click the “Me” icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and go to your profile.
- Hover over your profile photo and click the camera icon to open the Photo Editor.
- Click “Edit photo” to open editing options.
- Click “Background” then select a solid color to replace your original background.
- Adjust the Boundary Smoothness slider as needed to control the edge.
- Click “Save” and confirm the change.
This method lets you quickly swap out the background for a solid color of your choice. You can experiment with different colors to find one that complements your photo best.
Option 2: Upload an Image with Background Removed
For more control over the end result, you can use photo editing software to remove the background before uploading to LinkedIn:
- Open the photo in image editing software like Photoshop, GIMP, Pixelmator, etc.
- Use the Select Subject or Background Erase tool to isolate the subject and remove the background.
- Save a new copy of the photo with a transparent background.
- Go to your LinkedIn profile and click “Change photo.”
- Upload the background-removed image file.
This gives you precision when cutting out the background and allows for soft, natural edges around your subject. Some tips for best results:
- Use high resolution photos for crisp details.
- Refine edges to blend seamlessly into transparent background.
- Save image as PNG to preserve transparency.
Photo Editing Software Options
Here are some of the best photo editing applications for removing backgrounds:
| Software | Platform | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | Windows, Mac | Industry standard editing tools, Background Eraser, Select Subject, clean edges |
| GIMP | Windows, Mac, Linux | Powerful selection tools, Foreground Select tool, Layer Masks |
| Pixelmator | Mac | Background Erase, ML Super Resolution, easy to use |
| Remini | Android, iOS | One tap subject isolation, fast and easy |
Adobe Photoshop is the industry leading premium software with extremely accurate background removal. GIMP and Pixelmator are free, open source options with solid selection tools. For mobile, Remini makes it easy to quickly erase backgrounds with one tap.
Tips for Great LinkedIn Photos
Once you’ve removed the background from your LinkedIn profile picture, here are some additional tips for getting the best photo:
Try Multiple Options
Take a few different photos and backgrounds to choose the overall best look for your profile.
Get Good Lighting
Proper lighting removes shadows and make details clearer.
Use a Clear Subject
Make sure you are the only subject in focus without clutter behind you.
Wear Professional Attire
Dress professionally as you would for an interview.
Look Friendly and Approachable
Warm, natural smiles photograph best.
Get a Quality Camera
Use a DSLR camera or at least an 8+ megapixel smartphone camera.
Take Portrait Orientation Shots
LinkedIn photos display best in vertical portrait format.
Conclusion
Removing distracting backgrounds from your LinkedIn profile photo is simple using built-in editing tools or photo editing apps. Just a few clicks can give your photo a clean, professional look that puts the focus on you.
Taking a few minutes to retouch your photo with a solid background color or transparent background will make your profile stand out and leave a great impression.
With these tips, you can easily remove any background from your photos before uploading them to LinkedIn. A profile picture that looks crisp, polished, and distraction-free can make a world of difference as you network and job search!