How to Make a Silhouette from a Photo (Free, 3 Steps)

To make a silhouette from a photo, remove the background to get the subject on a transparent layer, fill that subject with solid black, and place it on the background you want. A free background remover does the first step and any editor that can lock transparency does the second.

Quick Facts
Step 1	Remove the background (transparent PNG)
Step 2	Fill the subject with solid black (lock transparency, then fill)
Step 3	Place it on a sky, sunset, white or colored background
Best source photos	Clear outline, side profile, subject against a contrasting background
Cost	Free: imgmend (3 per day) plus a free editor such as GIMP

Step 1: Cut the Subject Out

1. Open imgmend.com/remove-background and upload a JPG, PNG or WebP photo.
2. Wait about 10–30 seconds for the AI to remove the background.
3. Download the transparent PNG.

imgmend does not turn the subject black by itself; it gives you the clean cutout that makes the next step easy. The free download carries a small watermark that Pro removes, and very large photos are scaled down to about 2 megapixels first.

Step 2: Fill the Subject with Black

In GIMP (free):

1. Open the PNG and choose Layer → Transparency → Alpha to Selection.
2. Set the foreground color to black.
3. Choose Edit → Fill with FG Color, then Select → None.

In Photoshop: click the lock-transparent-pixels icon on the layer, set the foreground to black, and fill the layer (Alt/Option + Delete). Only the subject's pixels change, so the outline stays crisp.

Step 3: Add a Background

Put a new layer behind the black subject and fill it with a gradient sunset, a sky photo, or a flat color. Silhouettes read best against a bright, simple background with strong contrast.

Picking a Photo That Makes a Good Silhouette

• A clear, recognisable outline. Side profiles and full-body poses work better than a face looking at the camera.
• Separated limbs. Arms tight against the body merge into one blob.
• Contrast with the background. The AI finds the edge more reliably, and you avoid ragged outlines. If the edge looks rough, see how to clean up cutout edges.

Uses for a Silhouette

• Logos, icons and profile graphics
• Posters, cards and invitations
• Cut files for crafts (export the shape, then use the cutting machine's own software)
• Privacy, when you want to share a pose without a recognisable face

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn a picture into a silhouette for free?

Remove the background with a free tool like imgmend, then lock the transparent pixels in a free editor such as GIMP and fill the subject with black.

Can I make a silhouette on my phone?

Yes for the cutout, since imgmend runs in a phone browser. For the black fill, use a mobile editor that can fill or recolor a transparent PNG, or finish on a computer.

Why does my silhouette have a ragged outline?

The cutout edge was rough, usually from a low-contrast or blurry photo. Start from a sharper photo or clean the edge before filling it black.

Does imgmend make the silhouette automatically?

No. imgmend removes the background and gives you a transparent PNG. The black fill is done in an editor.

Cut out your subject free — the first step to a silhouette →

Related: how to make a picture background transparent · turn a photo into a sticker