Video: Apple's Coolest iOS 16 Feature Lets You Drag Subjects Right Out of Images

With iOS 16, Apple introduced a curious new feature that's kind of like instant Photoshop, as you can use it to pull the subject out of any image or photo, pasting it into another photo or using it as a sticker in the Messages app. It's nifty enough that we thought we'd show it off in our latest YouTube video.


Apple calls this feature "Lift subject from background," and it is part of the Visual Look Up suite of functions. To use it, you just long press on any image and then you can drag it out into a different app or copy it.

It works in Photos, Screenshot, Quick Look, Safari, and even videos, and it is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. There's not a lot of practical use for it, but it is certainly impressive and fun to use. Make sure to check out our video to see it in action.

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Top Rated Comments

rickpoet Avatar
37 months ago
Since 90% of my life is spent removing my friends out of photos and putting them in weird situations in other photos (plus adding mustaches) this is a life-changing feature.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KaplanMike Avatar
37 months ago
As a graphic artist, I can’t tell you how many thousands of hours I’ve spent carefully outlining the subjects of photos. Adobe rolled out a similar feature a couple of years ago on their high-priced apps. Yea for Apple for baking it into the new versions of their (free) OSes!
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ruggy Avatar
37 months ago

As a graphic artist, I can’t tell you how many thousands of hours I’ve spent carefully outlining the subjects of photos. Adobe rolled out a similar feature a couple of years ago on their high-priced apps. Yea for Apple for baking it into the new versions of their (free) OSes!
And that's why I find it a little bit terrifying Mike. We've gone from hours for a skilled professional to a couple of clicks by a complete idiot.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orbital~debris Avatar
37 months ago
This should be useful to create new memes on the forums ?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
erikkfi Avatar
37 months ago
Ain't no drag. Papa's got a brand new bag.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stromos Avatar
37 months ago
Probably M1 only ?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)