Snapseed is an easy-to-use app for Android and iPhone users. It offers a wide range of editing tools, including the Healing tool. It works best with simple compositions and smaller objects. You can use it to remove not only objects but also people.
I have already mentioned this tool and included some photo examples in my previous article How to Remove Tourists from Photos. This tutorial is a step-by-step guide where I demonstrate how to remove objects and people from your photos. It also includes example images and screenshots to illustrate the process.
How to Remove an Object in Snapseed
Before you start, choose a suitable picture where you want to remove a specific object. It is better to use the Healing tool to remove something small or an object against a simple background.
Start by opening the app. Then choose a photo from your gallery, or add a new one by tapping the green Add Photo button.
Now you should be inside the photo editor interface. It has a top menu, the image you are going to edit, an adjustment menu below the image, and a bottom menu.
The adjustment menu includes the Healing tool. Tap on it.
Now you can start sliding your finger across the screen. Tap and drag over the areas containing unwanted objects.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to choose the size of your brush. However, you can zoom in and out. This makes the brush smaller relative to the image and gives you better control over specific parts of your photo.
You can also redo or undo your editing choices. When you are satisfied with your edits, simply tap the check button.
You can now tap the Export button if you don’t need to make any other changes.
How to Remove People in Snapseed
When you want to remove people in Snapseed, the process is similar to the previous example.
Start by choosing a suitable photo where the people you want to remove stand in front of a simple background. Avoid overly complicated structures such as architectural details, ornaments, or other elements with complex patterns.
Select your photo in the gallery and then tap the Healing tool inside the editor.
Zoom in on the area where you want to remove a person or people. Start tapping and dragging over the unwanted areas. You might not get a good result on your first attempt, so be prepared to spend some time experimenting with the tool. When the edit looks good, simply tap the check icon at the bottom.
If you are not completely happy with the result, follow the tips below.
Tips for Better Results
The Healing tool works best when you give it a little extra attention. Here are some tips that can help you get cleaner results when removing objects or people in Snapseed.
Zoom in before using the Healing tool
Working with a larger view gives you better control over the area you want to remove. This is especially useful when working around small details or edges.
Work in smaller sections
Avoid trying to remove a large object or person with one long stroke. Instead, work on smaller areas and check the result as you go. This can help reduce unwanted patterns and make the final result look more natural.
Try Selective and Structure after using Healing
In some cases, the Healing tool can leave a visible repeating pattern, similar to a stamp effect in Photoshop. I found that you can soften these traces by using the Selective tool after removing the object. Add a control point to the edited area, open the additional adjustment options, and lower Structure. This creates a softer, slightly blurred surface that can help hide uneven areas left by the Healing tool.
Try the Healing tool again if the first result does not look right
Sometimes the tool creates an unwanted pattern or copies an unsuitable part of the surrounding image. Undo the edit and try working on a smaller area instead.
Keep the original photo untouched
When you are experimenting with object removal, it is better to keep the original image so you can try the edit again or use another editing method later. When saving use the Save Copy which allows revert changes or Export and create a copy with permanent changes.
What to Do When Snapseed Remove Object Produces Bad Results
Sometimes the Healing tool simply cannot produce a clean result. This can happen when the unwanted object is large, covers important details, or appears in front of a complicated background.
In these situations, it may be better to use another photo editing method instead of spending too much time trying to fix the same area in Snapseed.
For travel photos, I often need more than one tool to remove unwanted people or objects. In my guide How to Remove Tourists from Photos, I show several different methods you can try, including options that give you more control over the final result.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I would give Snapseed’s Healing tool a C. It can work well for smaller objects and simple backgrounds, but I often need to spend quite a lot of time correcting the result to get something that looks precise and natural.
Compared with Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, I find the results less reliable, especially when with more complicated images. For quick edits on mobile, Snapseed can be useful, but when I need precise object removal, I would still choose one of Adobe’s programs.
If you enjoy experimenting with mobile photography, check out my Dazz Cam app review, HUJI Cam review, and Mood Camera app review. You can also explore my guide to the best free photo editing apps for iPhone.
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