Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps for sharing moments instantly. Its filters, stickers, and effects make photos fun and engaging. However, sometimes your perfect snap might contain unwanted objects or people in the background. Learning how to remove these distractions can make your photos cleaner and more professional. This guide will cover every method available to remove unwanted items from your Snapchat pictures, using both mobile apps and desktop tools.
Understanding the Limitations of Snapchat’s Native Tools
Snapchat is designed for quick, fun sharing. Its built-in tools include drawing, adding stickers, and emojis. While these can cover or obscure objects, they do not remove them. For instance:
- Drawing Tool: You can draw over objects using the pencil icon. This works for small, simple areas but may look messy if the object is large or complex.
- Stickers and Emojis: Covering unwanted items with stickers or emojis is a quick fix, but it does not actually remove the object.
Because of these limitations, most users rely on additional photo-editing apps to remove objects entirely.
Option 1: Using Snapseed for Object Removal
Snapseed is a free mobile photo-editing app available for iOS and Android. It includes a powerful Healing Tool that can remove unwanted elements from your pictures seamlessly.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Open Snapseed and load your Snapchat picture.
- Tap Tools and select Healing.
- Zoom in on the object you want to remove.
- Brush over the object carefully. The app automatically blends the surrounding area to fill the space.
- Adjust as necessary to make it look natural.
- Save the image and share it back to Snapchat if needed.
Tips:
- Smaller objects are easier to remove than large, complex ones.
- Take your time brushing carefully for best results.
Option 2: Adobe Photoshop Express
Adobe Photoshop Express is another mobile app that provides more professional object-removal options. Its Spot Removal tool works well for removing small imperfections or objects.
Steps:
- Open Photoshop Express and import your Snapchat picture.
- Select Spot Removal from the editing tools.
- Tap on the object you want to remove.
- The app will replace it with surrounding pixels to blend it naturally.
- Export the edited photo and upload to Snapchat.
Option 3: PicsArt – Object Removal and Clone Tool
PicsArt is a versatile photo-editing app that allows more detailed edits. You can remove objects or even duplicate parts of the photo to cover them.
How to Remove Objects in PicsArt:
- Open your Snapchat picture in PicsArt.
- Go to Tools → Remove.
- Brush over the object to erase it.
- The app will fill in the area using surrounding pixels.
- You can refine the result using the Clone Tool for more precision.
Option 4: Desktop Tools for Complex Edits
For larger or more complex objects, desktop tools like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP offer the most precise removal methods.
Using Photoshop:
- Open the image in Photoshop.
- Use the Lasso Tool or Marquee Tool to select the object.
- Go to Edit → Content-Aware Fill. Photoshop will automatically replace the object with surrounding textures.
- Use the Clone Stamp Tool for final adjustments.
- Save your edited photo and transfer it back to your phone.
Using GIMP (Free Alternative):
- Open the image in GIMP.
- Use the Free Select Tool to outline the unwanted object.
- Apply the Clone Tool to cover the selection using nearby pixels.
- Adjust the blend to make it look natural.
- Save and share the edited image.
Tips for Better Results
- Lighting and Background Matter: Removing objects from simple backgrounds works better than busy, complex ones.
- Zoom In: Always zoom in while editing to maintain precision.
- Multiple Passes: For large objects, remove in small sections for cleaner results.
- Save Originals: Keep a copy of the original Snapchat picture in case you need to start over.
- Practice: Object removal may take a few tries to look perfect.
Alternative Methods for Snapchat
If editing outside Snapchat is not an option, you can still improve your photo directly in Snapchat:
- Reposition Subjects: Crop or reposition your photo to avoid unwanted objects.
- Filters and Background Effects: Some Snapchat filters can blur backgrounds, reducing the impact of unwanted elements.
- Reshoot: Sometimes, simply retaking the photo without distractions is the fastest solution.
Conclusion
Removing unwanted objects from Snapchat pictures has become easy with the right tools. While Snapchat’s native tools allow only simple covering, apps like Snapseed, Photoshop Express, and PicsArt offer real object removal capabilities. For professional results, desktop software like Photoshop or GIMP is ideal. The key is patience, attention to detail, and using the correct tool for the complexity of the object and background. By mastering these techniques, your Snapchat pictures can look cleaner, more professional, and visually appealing.
With practice, you can make any Snapchat image free from distractions, ensuring your photos always showcase exactly what you want to share.
