Remove Background from Image
Remove the background from a photo automatically with AI that runs in your browser: the photo is never uploaded. Pick a photo and the background is gone in a few seconds; save it as a transparent PNG, or swap in a white, colour, blurred or picture background. Erase and restore brushes fix edges around hair.
Result
Your photo stays on this device.
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Three ways to remove a background
| Mode | Method | Download | Licence | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (AI) | MODNet | About 7 MB, one time | Apache-2.0 | Portraits, selfies, people in product shots; hair |
| Object (AI) | BiRefNet-lite | About 115 MB, needs WebGPU | MIT | Products, cars, pets, logos, any subject |
| Plain background | Flood fill from the edges | No download, instant | – | White or single-colour backdrops, screenshots, logos |
Example: a product photo for Shopee
You photograph a handbag on a table. Choose Object mode (on a computer with Chrome), or Plain background if the table is one colour, then the White background, tick Crop to subject and download a JPG. The result is the handbag on clean white, cropped tight with a 2% margin, ready for an online shop.
How it works
- Segmentation: the AI model (MODNet or BiRefNet-lite) predicts, for every pixel, how much it belongs to the subject: 0 background, 255 subject, values in between for soft hair edges.
- Refine: edge strictness sets the threshold, grow/shrink dilates or erodes the mask, and soften edges blurs it slightly.
- Brush: Erase strokes lower the mask to 0 and Restore raises it to 255, with a soft edge.
- Composite: each pixel = subject × mask + new background × (1 − mask), or the alpha channel for a transparent PNG.
Download formats
| Format | Transparent | File size | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Yes | Largest | Stickers, logos, Canva designs, online shops |
| WebP | Yes | About 30% smaller | Websites and blogs |
| JPG | No (white behind) | Smallest | Form uploads, prints, WhatsApp |
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Tips for the best result
- Contrast: a subject that differs in colour from the background gives the cleanest edge.
- Hair: keep Soften edges at 1 to 2 px; higher values leave a halo.
- Passport photos: use the Passport Photo Maker, which removes the background, places the head to the official size and lays out a 4R print sheet.
- WhatsApp stickers: download a transparent PNG, then pack it with the WhatsApp Sticker Maker.
Sources
- Xenova/modnet (Apache-2.0) and the MODNet paper
- BiRefNet_lite-ONNX (MIT) and the BiRefNet paper
- Transformers.js: runs the models in the browser with WebGPU or WebAssembly
Note: Only use photos you have the right to use. AI models can miss parts of a subject that matches the background colour; check the edges before using the result.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove the background from a picture for free?
Choose, drop or paste a photo above. People mode removes the background automatically in a few seconds; the first time, an AI model of about 7 MB downloads once. Pick a new background or keep it transparent, then press Download.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. The AI model is downloaded to your browser and the photo is processed on your own device. Only the model files (from Hugging Face) and the Transformers.js library (from jsDelivr) are downloaded; your picture is never sent anywhere.
Which mode should I choose?
People for portraits, selfies and product shots with people in them, including hair. Object for products, cars, pets and logos; it needs WebGPU (Chrome or Edge on a computer) and a model of about 115 MB. Plain background for photos on a white or single-colour backdrop; it is instant with no download.
How do I make a transparent PNG or a white background for Shopee?
For a transparent PNG, pick the Transparent background and the PNG or WebP format. For Shopee or Lazada product photos, pick White, tick Crop to subject and download the smaller JPG.
The edges around hair or shoulders are rough. How do I fix them?
Use the Edge strictness slider to remove leftover background, Grow/shrink to thicken or thin the subject, and Soften edges at 1 to 3 px. For specific spots, choose the Erase or Restore brush and paint on the picture; Undo reverses each stroke.
How large a picture can it handle?
Pictures are processed up to 2,048 pixels on the longest side; larger ones are scaled down first so it stays fast on phones. The download keeps that size, or the subject's area when Crop to subject is ticked.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. People and Plain background modes work on Android phones and iPhones in a recent browser; the first photo takes longer while the model downloads. Object mode needs WebGPU and works best on a computer.
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