Multiple subjects · 5 min

Remove the background. Keep more than one subject.

Multiple-subject selection works when the segmentation system returns separable foreground instances. The source photo determines whether that is possible.

Published August 3, 2026

How instance selection works

A foreground mask can describe everything in front as one combined region or identify separate instances within that region. When the app receives separate instances, the Subjects panel lists them individually. You can keep one, several, or all.

This is useful for a person and pet, two people with space between them, or several separated objects. It can also let you omit an unwanted foreground item without manually erasing its entire silhouette.

Why “Subject 2” may not appear

The app cannot force every visual item to become a distinct instance. Subjects may be combined when they overlap, touch, share similar appearance, are small in the frame, sit far in the background, or read as one group. Two visible subjects to a person do not always equal two returned instances.

This is content-dependent behavior.If the panel says “1 of 1,” the production Vision request returned one selectable foreground instance for that photo. It does not mean the subject-selection control is disabled.

Choose a photo that separates the group

  • Leave visible space between people, pets, or objects.
  • Avoid one subject blocking most of another.
  • Use a frame where each subject has a meaningful size.
  • Look for contrast not only from the background but between adjacent subjects.
  • Prefer sharp frames without heavy motion blur.

Select and refine

Open Subjects and deselect any instance you do not want. The preview updates to the combined mask for the kept instances. Then refine the combined edge. Restore and Erase operate on the current result, so make subject choices before detailed brush work.

When a combined instance is still useful

If two people are returned as one instance and you want both, the combined result may be exactly right. Separate instances are necessary only when you want to remove one foreground item or adjust the selection at an object level. For a group portrait, one coherent foreground mask can be simpler.