Removing a background lets you place yourself on any scene, create clean overlays, or make green-screen effects. CapCut offers two methods: an automatic one for everyday footage, and a Chroma Key for green screens. Here is how to use both.
Method 1: Automatic Remove Background
Best for normal footage of a person, with no special setup.
- Add your clip and tap to select it.
- Tap Cutout on the toolbar.
- Tap Remove Background.
CapCut detects the person and cuts out everything behind them. This works as an overlay, so it shines when your clip sits on top of another background layer.
Method 2: Chroma Key (green screen)
If you filmed against a green or blue screen, Chroma Key gives the cleanest result.
- Add your background clip or image on the main track.
- Add your green-screen clip as an Overlay.
- Select the overlay and tap Cutout > Chroma key.
- Tap the colour picker and select the green in your footage.
- Adjust Intensity and Shadow until the green disappears cleanly without eating into your subject.
Put it on a new background
Either method works the same way for replacing a background:
- Put your new background on the main track.
- Put your subject clip as an overlay above it.
- Remove the overlay’s background with Remove Background or Chroma key.
Now your subject appears on the new scene.
Tips for clean edges
- Good, even lighting on your subject makes the cutout far cleaner.
- For green screens, light the screen evenly and keep your subject a step away from it to avoid green spill.
Keep going
Cutouts and overlays open up a lot of creative editing. The full CapCut course covers effects, overlays and editing from beginner to advanced, and you can start with the free lessons.