Lift Subject from Image Background in macOS 13

With macOS 13 Ventura, Apple introduced a built-in feature powered by machine learning that allows you to instantly isolate and lift a primary subject from an image's background. This guide explains how to quickly extract subjects using native Mac apps—including Photos, Preview, Finder, and Safari—and transfer the isolated cutouts into documents, messages, or other photo editing tools without relying on third-party software.

Method 1: Using the Photos App

  1. Open the Photos app and double-click the image containing the subject you want to isolate.
  2. Right-click (or Control-click) directly on the subject.
  3. Click Copy Subject.
  4. Open the destination app (such as Messages, Mail, Pages, or Notes) and press Command + V to paste the cutout with a transparent background.

Alternatively, you can click and hold the subject until a glowing white outline appears around it, then drag and drop the subject directly into another open app or folder.

Method 2: Using Quick Actions in Finder

  1. Open Finder and locate the image file.
  2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the image file.
  3. Hover your cursor over Quick Actions in the contextual menu.
  4. Select Remove Background.

Finder will automatically duplicate the image and save a new PNG file containing only the extracted subject with a transparent background directly in the same directory.

Method 3: Using the Preview App

  1. Double-click an image file to open it in Preview.
  2. Click Tools in the top menu bar.
  3. Select Remove Background (or press the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + K).
  4. If prompted to convert the image to PNG to support transparency, click Convert.
  5. Save the file by pressing Command + S, or copy the resulting cutout to paste elsewhere.

Method 4: Using Safari

  1. While browsing the web in Safari, locate an image with a clear subject.
  2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the image.
  3. Select Copy Subject from the menu.
  4. Paste the cutout into any application that supports transparent PNG images using Command + V.

Requirements and Tips

  • Hardware Compatibility: This feature relies on the Apple Neural Engine and requires a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, or later) or an Intel-based Mac with an Apple T2 Security Chip.
  • Image Clarity: The tool works best when there is clear contrast between the foreground subject (people, pets, plants, or objects) and the background.