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Excel in Depth - Background Removal: Episode 1249

647 views · Published 21 September 2010 · 2:00 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: MrExcel.com · 2010 · Education

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Microsoft Excel Tutorial: Excel Background Removal Tool | MrExcel Podcast.

Welcome to the MrExcel podcast. In this episode, we will be diving into chapter 35 of Excel in Depth, where we will be discussing the background removal tool. This tool has been around since Excel 2007, but it didn't work very well. However, in Excel 2010, it has been greatly improved and can now be a useful feature for creating professional-looking reports and presentations.

To use the background removal tool, simply select the picture and go to the picture tools tab. Then, click on "remove background" and adjust the bounding box to encompass the area you want to focus on. This will help the tool accurately identify the parts of the picture you want to keep. For example, if you have a picture of a dog on a raft, make sure to include the raft in the bounding box.

Once you have adjusted the bounding box, the tool will automatically remove the background and leave you with just the subject of the picture. However, if there are still some areas that need to be removed, you can click on them to mark them for removal. Just be sure to click "keep changes" when you are satisfied with the result.

One thing to keep in mind when using the background removal tool is that you cannot directly select the picture with your mouse if you want to add data or words next to it. Instead, you will need to click outside the picture and use the arrow keys to navigate to the cells next to it. This can be a bit tricky, but with some practice, you can easily work around this limitation.

I hope you found this tutorial on the background removal tool helpful. Don't forget to check out our other episodes for more Excel tips and tricks. Thank you for tuning in to the MrExcel podcast, and I'll see you next time for another netcast.

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Table of Contents:
(00:00) Picture Background Removal Feature
(00:18) One Important Tweak for Using the Tool
(00:28) Adjusting the Bounding Box
(00:42) Marking and Removing Unwanted Areas
(01:10) Finalizing the Picture
(01:20) Catch: Difficulty Selecting Data Next to Picture
(01:50) Clicking Like really helps the algorithm

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The Picture Background Removal Tool has returned with more flexibility and a better quality image when your editing is completed. In Episode #1249, Bill shows you how to use the Background Removal feature in Excel 2010 to achieve the result you want!

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