Remove the background from any image with Trace

Using Trace - our [photo background remover](https://www.stickermule.com/trace) - requires absolutely no design experience. Upload your image and count to 5 while the technology automatically removes the background.

<Video videoKey="trace" />

## How to remove background without Photoshop

Trace was inspired by hundreds of creators who wanted to do more with their favorite photos. 

The tool cuts out the subject (pet, car, beloved relative) and puts it on a transparent background. Download the image for free or use it for custom stickers, magnets, coasters and more.

Even for an experienced designer, it can take 10 minutes to [erase a background in Photoshop](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-remove-backgrounds-in-photoshop) — now anyone can do it in less than 10 seconds.

## What are the new features of Trace? 

Trace 2.0 has officially been released and like the OG Trace you know and love, it’s decked with features that will continue to make your work easier!

### Trace multiple images on one canvas 

Now, you can remove the backgrounds of up to five images on just one canvas! This means you can include multiple photos in one cool collage! 

### Upload a custom background image, or search images from Unsplash

Before, you could just remove the backgrounds using Trace. Now, after removing the background, you can replace it with a solid color or another background! 

There are lots of background options to choose from. Upload your own custom image, or search the built-in Unsplash library, featuring over 2 million inspiring images that are free to use for your new backdrop. 

### Select traced images to move, scale, and rotate

With the new and improved Trace, you can also move your images. After the background has been removed, you can resize the object or reposition it. You can even rotate it as you like to fit in your new background! 

### Crop your traced images 

Say you have an image that you want the background removed but you also want to remove a part of the main subject. (Maybe it’s a group photo and you only want to retain yourself on the edited image!) With Trace 2.0, you can also crop out other elements in your photo! 

## How to use Trace: A guide 

Want to know how to remove background without the use of Photoshop and other editing software? Just follow these steps:

### Step 1: Create and log into your account 

Use your email to create an account or if you’re already logged into your Gmail account, just connect it to this page. 

### Step 2: Click the “Upload a photo ” button 

Once you click the photo, Trace automatically removes your background! The next thing you’ll see is your photo with the background removed! 

### Step 3: Customize your background or just download it 

If you just want to remove the background, go ahead and click that download button! And yes, you get the image for free! 

However, if you want to customize the background with a plain color or other patterns, feel free to choose from the templates. You may also upload your own background. 

## What else can you do with Trace 2.0?

If those new functionalities aren’t cool enough, you can also convert your new image into a keepsake! After downloading your new photo (for free!), you can also turn this piece of artwork into a sticker, a coaster, a magnet, a poly mailer packaging, or even as buttons! 

This is a perfect gift or giveaway for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions! 

Sounds simple, right? Are you ready to get started?

<ButtonCta text="Remove background from your image" size="large" variant="secondary"  align="center" href="https://www.stickermule.com/trace" />
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 0.9rem; line-height: 2.2rem;">Did we mention it's free?</p>

Upload your image and count to 5 while the technology automatically removes the background.

Hot sauce that kicks ass

It’s real. It tastes amazing. It’s Mule Sauce.

<WistiaVideo videoKey="mule_sauce" />

You may be asking yourself why your favorite printing company just launched your new favorite condiment. Two reasons.

First, we love hot sauce but always struggled to find that perfect, use-on-anything brand. Something with a perfect balance of heat, flavor and consistency. So we made it.

![Mule Sauce hot sauce](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/73bb442a40211daa09cc172a0730419ec72a3e89)

Reason two comes with a story. Last summer, we hosted a local “Free Burger Day” and planned to cook 10,000 free burgers for our hometown of Amsterdam, NY. We knew free burgers would attract a crowd, but we wanted to impress people with an amazing, memorable sauce. We obsessed over the recipe, until eventually, we came up with something that was worthy to be called Mule Sauce.

We never imagined releasing it to the public. But, since then, it's been in high demand, so we pushed forward and made Mule Sauce available for everyone.

![Mule Sauce being added to food](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/650c3a64f5fac6eecde07c26129f60ff903a051f)

Mule Sauce uses high grade chilis, packs a good amount of heat and tastes so good, it goes on everything. Even our most demanding taste testers, the team at Sticker Mule Italy, found themselves addicted.

<ButtonCta text="Get your bottle of Mule Sauce for $8 + free shipping!" href="https://www.stickermule.com/mule-sauce" />

It’s real. It tastes amazing. It’s Mule Sauce.

Spicy spinach frittata recipe

A spicy combo of eggs and spinach, for a quick meal anytime of the day.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="cy3WSR7ClsA?rel=0" />

## Ingredients
- 5 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups spinach
- ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce)

## Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl, whip 5 eggs until loose.
2. Season with salt, garlic powder, black pepper.
3. Add cooked spinach and stir until spinach is fully coated.
4. Stir in parmigiano reggiano.
5. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil in a large fry pan. Heat pan on medium-high heat.
6. Once the pan is hot, add the egg mix to the pan. Stir mix until it forms a nice ring around the pan. Cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes.
7. Using a spatula, transfer the frittata to a plate.
8. Add Mule Sauce until you reach your desired level of spiciness and enjoy!

<ButtonCta text="Order Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />



A spicy combo of eggs and spinach, for a quick meal anytime of the day.

Spicy broccoli pizza recipe

A classic Italian broccoli pizza recipe, but with an extra tasty kick.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="CkX21fwUfL0?rel=0" />

## Ingredients
- Flour, for mixing dough
- 16 oz pizza dough
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups cooked broccoli
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp parmigiano reggiano
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce)

## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Spread a handful of flour on cutting board. Using your hand, form the pizza dough into a flat, circular shape. Spread dough onto a pizza pan.
3. Add half of the mozzarella cheese then all of the cooked broccoli, covering the entire crust.
4. Season with pepper, salt, and garlic powder.
5. Add parmigiano reggiano and the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
6. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil of the top.
7. Drizzle Mule Sauce on top depending on desired level of spiciness.
8. Place pizza pan in the oven for 15 minutes.
9. Remove pizza from the oven. Drizzle additional Mule Sauce for added kick and enjoy!

<ButtonCta text="Order Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/hot-sauce" />


Grandma's handmade broccoli pizza recipe, but with an extra tasty kick.

Spicy frog legs recipe

Lightly breaded frog legs, with a kick that will make them jump out of the pan!

<YouTubeVideo videoId="P4ExiApsqpU?rel=0" />

## Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter
- ¼ cup honey
- [Mule Sauce](https://www.stickermule.com/mule-sauce)
- 8 frog legs
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup bread crumbs

## Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Using a frying pan, melt butter until liquidy.
3. Remove pan from heat and add honey. Stir until it is blended in.
4. Add Mule Sauce for desired level of spiciness. Stil until mixture has a red tint throughout.
5. Place frog legs into a large mixing bowl. Pour sauce directly over the frog legs into the bowl.
6. Season with garlic powder, parmigiano reggiano, black pepper, salt. Stir until frog legs are fully coated.
7. Empty everything into a baking dish, spreading the frog legs out evenly.
8. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top of the frog legs.
9. Place in oven for 25 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and allow frog legs to cool for 3-5 minutes before eating. Enjoy!

<ButtonCta text="Order Mule Sauce" href="https://www.stickermule.com/mule-sauce" />



Lightly breaded frog legs, with a kick that will make them jump out of the pan!

Introducing 100 days of giveaways

We’ve secretly been plotting the biggest event in Sticker Mule history…

<YouTubeVideo videoId="SRDfm3IhecU?modestbranding=1&rel=0" />

Introducing [100 days of giveaways](https://www.stickermule.com/100days) on Instagram!

Starting today, we are running the biggest giveaway Instagram (and possibly the Internet) has ever seen! For the next 100 days, we’ll be running a different giveaway everyday through our Instagram account ([@stickermule](https://www.instagram.com/stickermule)).

Here’s how it works:

1. We’ll make a post, announcing the prize of the day on Instagram.
2. The post will include instructions on how to enter the giveaway. Each day will be different, so read carefully!
3. We’ll randomly select the winner(s) and DM them the next day on Instagram.

We’re keeping the full prize list a secret for now, but some prizes will include vacation packages, Apple and Google products, gift cards, gaming consoles, and, of course, free [stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/custom-stickers).

The fun begins today, May 1, and runs through August 8.

Sign up for notifications and learn more at [stickermule.com/100days](https://www.stickermule.com/100days)

<ButtonCta text="Follow us on Instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/stickermule" />


We've secretly been plotting the biggest event in Sticker Mule history. Beginning on May 1, we're running a different giveaway for 100 days straight.

Introducing custom coasters 

<YouTubeVideo videoId="ZgaM2DdGIW4?rel=0" />

Not long ago, we decided to add “thank you” coasters to every order. They were an immediate hit! All over the internet, people posted their love for them and many took to collecting them. 

There was, however, one big problem. Custom coasters were incredibly difficult, even for us to buy. We knew this was something we had to fix and, today, we’re happy to announce our newest product: [custom coasters](https://www.stickermule.com/products/custom-coasters). 

We invented a brand new method for making coasters that allows us to provide custom coasters in full color and fast. Try them out by ordering 10 [coaster samples](https://www.stickermule.com/products/coaster-samples) for $9 or bulk order larger quantities of coasters. There’s nothing else like them on the Internet!

<ButtonCta text="Get custom coasters from $9" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/coaster-samples?ref=blog" />

Create custom coasters to surprise and delight customers and friends. Printed in full color with UV ink and made with a premium coaster board.

How we prioritize at Sticker Mule 

![How we prioritize at Sticker Mule](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/ba5c4d01ca146f185c128428987c56840bda9d81)

Organizations are the sum of their decisions. Those that prioritize well prosper and those that don’t falter. At Sticker Mule, prioritization is the most important thing we do. Our growth accelerates as we prioritized better, but there's always room to improve. 


## What prioritization is *not*

Most literature on prioritization is terrible. It leads you to believe prioritization is about [time management](https://hbr.org/2015/04/time-management-training-doesnt-work) or how to use to-do lists. This way of thinking neglects that priorities are what make or break businesses.

Consider that Amazon started as a bookstore in 1994 and grew to $147 million within 3 years. Today they employ 500,000 people who handle $200 billion in revenue. They picked the right projects and grew at an extraordinary pace.

Other retailers had different priorities and either failed or are much smaller. Walmart could be Amazon, but they did not prioritize the Internet and now they are worth half as much. 

## What prioritization is

Prioritization is picking the right tasks to maximize impact. That means finding high impact tasks and avoiding low impact ones. Usually the highest impact tasks are elusive. We don’t know the highest impact projects we could pursue right now.

Prioritization might sound stressful, but it’s not. Most tasks won’t affect us. Consequently, we shouldn't stress about the backlog of tasks we “need” to do. We need to keep our minds free to pursue high impact ideas, when they present themselves, by neglecting low impact ones.

## Prioritization categories

It’s unproductive to precisely categorize every task, but it’s useful to roughly classify them in your mind. Prioritization improves with practice and thinking about these categories helps us improve.

### Growth vs. costs
It’s generally better to use our time to grow revenue than reduce costs. Time is finite. Cash isn’t. 

### High vs. low impact

High impact is better, but completing lots of low impact tasks can be worthwhile if we complete them quickly.

### Enduring vs. temporary

Tasks that provide enduring value are preferable to those that deliver value temporarily.

### Definite vs. potential

It’s better to pursue improvements with definite benefits than those with potential.

### Short vs. long term results

Quick wins are preferable, but you can build competitive advantage pursuing ideas that yield results in the long term since others tend to neglect them.

### Related vs. unrelated tasks 
Sometimes related tasks are completed more efficiently when grouped together. For this reason, we often do low impact tasks that pair well with high impact ones.

### Estimated time to complete

All else equal, tasks that can be completed faster are preferable.


## Questions

Ask yourself these questions periodically to improve your ability to prioritize:

1. What’s the most impactful thing you can work on?
2. Did you correctly identify the problems you are facing?
3. Do you know the most important problem to solve next?
4. Can you replace any planned tasks with better ones?
5. Can you delete any especially low impact tasks entirely?

## Conclusion

We aim to embed a passion for prioritization into our culture. If you think similarly and want to join our global team, [we are hiring](https://www.stickermule.com/careers?ref=blog). 

At Sticker Mule, there's always room to improve. Consequently, prioritization is the most important thing we do. 

How to create a sticker cut line in Illustrator

A cut line is a path that gets placed around your design to tell us exactly how it should be cut. Most stickers feature a white border around the design – this is what the cut line creates.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="awbzbJsvHxs?rel=0&showinfo=0" />

Keep in mind that this is __completely optional__ when ordering from Sticker Mule. When ordering [die cut stickers](https://www.stickermule.com/products/die-cut-stickers) (or any custom shape product) we will automatically create a cut line to match the shape of your artwork.

*Depending on whether your artwork is [vector or raster](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/raster-vs-vector-images), the first 3 steps for creating a cut line are different.*

<h2 id="vector">How to create a cut line for vector artwork (steps 1-3)</h2>

[Skip to raster instructions.](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line#raster)

### Step 1
With your design open in Adobe Illustrator, select any strokes that are present in your design.

You can use Outline view to help you find any strokes in your design.
Mac: ⌘ + Y
PC: CTRL + Y

![cut-line-vector-step-1](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/339e8f3ad27800927295217ede788df91aa742ef)

With your strokes selected, select *Object* > *Path* > *Outline stroke*.

### Step 2
Select all the text within your design.

Then right click and select *Create Outlines*.
Mac: Shift + ⌘ + O
PC: Shift + CTRL + O

![cut-line-vector-step-2](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/8b658ecc0fa84076321edf0758efaa78776d6554)

### Step 3
In the *Layers* window, hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC), then drag the layer that your artwork is on, on top of itself.

![cut-line-vector-step-3](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/06c4e7eb6cf86a1a6de0759b9c653f02e1ae6fd9)

This will create a new duplicate layer. This is where you will create the cut line so you can lock the layer beneath.

[Skip to step 4.](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line#step4)

<h2 id="raster">How to create a cut line for raster artwork (steps 1-3)</h2>

[Back to vector instructions.](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-create-a-sticker-cut-line#vector)

### Step 1
Open your design in Adobe Illustrator.

In the *Layers* window, hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC), then drag the layer that your artwork is on, on top of itself.

![cut-line-raster-step-1](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/235769c06d38e410f92845eb3c182cdbd1bf3d24)

This will create a new duplicate layer. This is where you will create the cut line so you can lock the layer beneath.

### Step 2
With your image selected, use the *[Image trace](https://www.stickermule.com/blog/how-to-use-image-trace-in-adobe-illustrator)* window to convert your image into a vector.

Ignore colors or fine details while doing this step. All that matters is getting the perimeter of the shape to match your original design.

When it looks good, click *Expand*. This will create a vector shape.

![cut-line-raster-step-2](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/adf9a2b74ae1dd087f3732c10cf9f1a80f5d642b)

### Step 3
Illustrator will often create a white bounding box around your design – this needs to be removed.

To delete it, right click on your design and select *Ungroup*. Select the bounding box, then tap Delete.

![cut-line-raster-step-3](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/7e5518f6669ed2f1c3087e9bc90f444c14c829c7)

<h2 id="step4">How to create a cut line (steps 4-7)</h2>

*Regardless of the image format you began with, the following steps are the same.*

### Step 4
Select everything on your cut line layer.

From the *Pathfinder* window, select the *Unite* icon to transform the entire image into a single shape.

![cut-line-step-4](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/3a322f8be0b9a58b8093cf1a19ca6233f937934f)

### Step 5
With the shape still selected, select *Object* > *Path* > *Offset path*.

With the *Offset path* panel open, check the *Preview* box. Adjust the *Offset* amount until you are happy with the width of the border, then press *OK*. (At Sticker Mule, [we required a minimum border](https://www.stickermule.com/support/minimum-border-thickness) of 1/16")

![cut-line-step-5](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/f06450b2bcd8d896c70dc12f9e128d4981c7f00f)

### Step 6
Again, select everything on the cut line layer and from the *Pathfinder* window, select *Unite*.

Using the *Direct selection tool* (A) delete any unwanted holes in your shape. (At Sticker Mule, [we allow 1 internal cut](https://www.stickermule.com/support/do-you-allow-internal-cuts) of at least ¼")

![cut-line-step-6](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/aed17ac1135daaee7bea98f3c2982476c0b378c9)

### Step 7
With the shape selected, remove the fill, and give it a 1pt stroke.

![cut-line-step-7](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/d6d4d549906e0327b75068b408ea1b2e1c164946)

This is the standard format, most print shops, including Sticker Mule, will use for cut lines.

### Step 8 (optional)
If you end up with two or more cut line objects, you’ll need to bridge them together to create a single shape.

Use the *Pen tool* (P) to create a shape that overlaps the existing objects. Then with all the objects selected, from the *Pathfinder* window, select *Unite*.

![cut-line-step-8](https://storage.googleapis.com/sm-content/blog/9468f7efc7b72fb1b09cf5f40ec8adf9180a0845)

When you're done adding cut lines, simply save your Illustrator file and you're finished. You can upload your file to Sticker Mule as-is, and within a few hours you'll receive a free proof showing you exactly what your sticker is going to look like.

If you're new to sticker design, get started quickly with $10 off your first order. Just sign up by clicking the button below.

<ButtonCta text="Get $10 credit" href="https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=7980330701&ref=blog" />

Designer, Hayden Aube, shows how to create a custom cut line for your stickers or magnets.

Introducing gift cards 

Sticker Mule is the internet’s favorite place to buy custom printed products. And now with [gift cards](https://www.stickermule.com/products/gift-cards "Sticker Mule gift cards"), it’s easier than ever to share the joy of Sticker Mule with your friends, co-workers or clients.

<YouTubeVideo videoId="videoseries?list=PLoD6hr_KcilsHkR2xottv_XHByLQx0MO9&showinfo=0" />

Simply choose the number of gift cards you want, and checkout. We’ll deliver your gift cards with free shipping in 2-5 days.

After redeeming a gift card, the balance will be added to the account and can be used anytime, with no expiration date and no fees. 

[Gift cards](https://www.stickermule.com/products/gift-cards "Sticker Mule gift cards") can be used toward any custom product including stickers, magnets, buttons, labels and packaging.

Make your friends smile with a Sticker Mule gift card today.

<ButtonCta text="Buy gift cards" href="https://www.stickermule.com/products/gift-cards?ref=blog" />

With gift cards, it’s easier than ever to share the joy of Sticker Mule with your friends, co-workers or clients. 

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