How to Remove the Background From an Image in Figma

The short answer

Figma offers three ways to remove an image background. You can use the built-in Remove background action that Figma introduced with its AI features. You can use a community plugin that does background removal. Or you can mask the subject by hand with a shape or a pen-drawn path. The built-in action is usually the quickest, but it may not be available to you. Figma's AI features depend on your plan, your organization's admin settings and the version you are running. If you can't find the action, a plugin or a manual mask will still work. To keep the transparent area after export, export the result as PNG. JPG does not support transparency.

Option 1: Use Figma's built-in background removal

• 1. Place the image on the canvas and select it.
• 2. Look for the Remove background action. Depending on your version, it may appear in the contextual toolbar for the selected image, in the right-click menu or in the Actions menu.
• 3. Apply the action and wait for Figma to process the image.
• 4. Check the result before you export (see the check step below).

Menu labels and locations change between Figma releases. If the steps above don't match what you see, check Figma's current help documentation for your version. If the action is missing or greyed out, AI features may be turned off for your account or workspace. They may also not be included in your plan.

Option 2: Use a community plugin

The Figma Community has plugins for background removal. Many of them send your image to an external service for processing, and some require an account or an API key with that service. Before you use one, read the plugin's description to find out where your image is sent and what the service charges. This matters if the image is confidential or belongs to a client. This guide cannot recommend a specific plugin, because no evidence was available to compare their quality or pricing.

Option 3: Mask the subject manually

• 1. Use the Pen tool to trace the outline of the subject you want to keep. For simple subjects, a basic shape such as an ellipse also works.
• 2. In the Layers panel, move the traced shape directly below the image. In Figma, the bottom layer of the selection becomes the mask.
• 3. Select both the shape and the image.
• 4. Choose Use as mask from the right-click menu or the toolbar.
• 5. To refine the cutout, edit the shape's points.

Masking takes longer, but it gives you exact control over edges. It is also non-destructive: the original image stays intact under the mask. Hair, fur and semi-transparent edges are hard to trace with vector paths. For those subjects, an automated method usually works better.

Check the result and export

• 1. Place a solid, contrasting rectangle behind the image temporarily. Leftover fringes and halos are easier to see against it.
• 2. Zoom in on the edges, especially around hair, fingers and thin objects.
• 3. Delete the contrast rectangle, or hide it.
• 4. Select the image or the frame that contains it. In the Export section, choose PNG and export.

Does this affect webcam audio or video calls?

No. Removing a background from a still image in Figma has no effect on your webcam microphone, your audio input selection or the quality of captured speech. You might prepare a transparent PNG in Figma for use as a virtual background or overlay in a conferencing app or virtual camera tool. Live background replacement in your webcam feed, however, is handled by that app or tool, not by Figma.

What this guide could not confirm

No verified evidence was available on which Figma plans include the built-in Remove background action, on usage limits, or on its exact current menu location. Pricing and output quality of third-party plugins could not be confirmed either. Check these details in Figma's current documentation and in each plugin's listing before you rely on them.