Remove the background from an image of a car.

This “How-To” uses the file bmw.wire as an example. This file contains an image of a car and several curves that are used to remove the background.

1. Choose Layouts > Top to maximize the Top view.
2. Choose Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor to open the Canvas Layer Editor window.
3. In the Canvas Layer Editor window, double-click the bmw value, type 0.2 and press (Windows) or (Mac).

   Now you can better see the curves.

   

4. Choose Paint > Shape > Make Mask Shape .
5. Click both curves.

   Each curve should become highlighted in white and have a check mark on it.

   

6. Click Accept to create a mask using the highlighted curves.

   Masked regions are shown in red.

   

7. Choose Pick > Nothing to clear the selection.
8. In the Canvas Layer Editor window click the bmw layer.

   Its associated mask layers are highlighted in lavender in the bottom portion of the editor.

   

   In this case, there is only one mask layer for the bmw layer: MaskShape-# (where # is a number).

   bmw is an image layer (indicated by ) and MaskShape-# is a shape mask layer (indicated by ).

   An image layer contains paint (in this case, an imported image). A shape mask layer contains shapes and protects regions of an image layer.

9. Click the icon for the MaskShape-# layer.

   The icon becomes a to indicate that the mask display color is hidden.

   Notice that masked regions are no longer indicated in red. These regions are still masked, however. Whether you choose to display masked regions in red or not is based on the specific situation and on your own personal preference.

10. In the Canvas Layer Editor window, double-click the bmw layer’s value, type 1 and press (Windows) or (Mac).
11. Make sure the bmw layer is active. It should be highlighted in purple. If it is not, click it.
12. In the Canvas Layer Editor, click the button, or choose Edit > Clear layer to erase all unmasked regions.