Turn a photo into an emoji

Photos make great emoji once the background is gone and the subject fills the square. Here's how.

Pick a good photo

Choose one clear subject, well lit, facing the camera. A plain background makes the cutout much cleaner. Only use photos you have the right to use, and avoid other people's faces without their permission.

Step by step

1. Upload the photo. On a plain background, the subject is cut out automatically.
2. If the cutout misses, open Adjust and set Background to Keep or Remove. With Remove on, raise or lower Strength until the edges look right.
3. Set Framing to Fill and keep Padding low so the subject fills the square. Crop tight to the face or object. A whole body or room is too small to see.
4. In Tune, raise Contrast, Saturation and Sharpness a little, and adjust Brightness if the photo is dark.
5. Add a motion if you like, then choose Slack or Discord and export.

Make it read at 22 px

Slack and Discord show emoji at about 22 px in messages. At that size, soft photos turn to mush. Tight framing, a bit of extra contrast and sharpness, and a transparent background do more than any other change.

Motions that suit photos

Photos have more colors than cartoons, so animated versions are heavier. The export trims colors and frames until the file fits, and the animated emoji guide explains how to keep more detail.

Turn a photo into an emoji →