> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.magichour.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Image Background Remover Tool - Magic Hour Docs

> Automatically remove backgrounds from images with precision edge detection.

export const ToolSection = ({type = "image", outputs = [], title = "", productSlug = "", apiSlug = ""}) => <>
    {outputs && outputs.length > 0 && <Tabs>
        {outputs.map((output, idx) => <Tab key={idx} title={`Example Output ${idx + 1}`}>
            <Frame>
              {type === "video" ? <video controls preload="metadata" playsInline className="rounded-lg h-80" src={`${output.src}#t=0.001`} type={`${output.src?.endsWith("mp4") ? 'video/mp4' : "video/webm"}`}>
                </video> : type === "audio" ? <audio controls preload="metadata" className="w-full" src={output.src}>
                  Your browser does not support the audio element.
                </audio> : <img height="320" className="rounded-lg h-80" src={output.src} />}
            </Frame>
          </Tab>)}
      </Tabs>}

    <CardGroup cols={2}>
      <Card title="API Spec" icon="webhook" horizontal href={`/api-reference/${type}-projects/${apiSlug}`}>
        See API details
      </Card>
      <Card title="Product Page" icon="video" horizontal href={`https://magichour.ai/products/${productSlug}`}>
        Learn more about {title}
      </Card>
    </CardGroup>

  </>;

## Overview

Image Background Remover automatically removes backgrounds from images with precision edge detection and smart object recognition. The API isolates subjects from their backgrounds, creating clean cutouts perfect for compositing and design work.

<ToolSection
  title="Image Background Remover"
  productSlug="image-background-remover"
  apiSlug="image-background-remover"
  type="image"
  outputs={[
{
  src: "/get-started/images/background-remover-diff-1.jpg",
},
{
  src: "/get-started/images/background-remover-diff-2.jpg",
},
]}
/>

## How It Works

1. **Provide an image** - Upload the image with the subject you want to isolate
2. **API processes the image** - AI detects the subject and removes the background
3. **Download the result** - Retrieve your transparent PNG

## Use Cases

* **E-commerce product photos** - Clean product images on white/transparent backgrounds
* **Profile photos** - Professional headshots without distracting backgrounds
* **Graphic design** - Isolate subjects for compositing and collages
* **Social media content** - Create cutouts for creative posts
* **Marketing materials** - Prepare images for various backgrounds

## Best Practices

### Image Quality

<Tip>
  **Clear subject separation works best** - Images where the subject is clearly distinct from the
  background produce the cleanest results.
</Tip>

* **Good contrast** - Subject should be visually distinct from background
* **Clear edges** - Sharp, well-defined subject boundaries help accuracy
* **Minimal overlapping elements** - Avoid subjects blending with background

### Subject Types That Work Well

✅ **Excellent results:**

* People and portraits
* Products on simple backgrounds
* Objects with clear edges
* Animals and pets

⚠️ **May need refinement:**

* Hair against complex backgrounds (very fine details)
* Transparent or semi-transparent objects
* Subjects that blend with background colors

### Output Format

The API returns a **PNG with transparent background**, which:

* Preserves subject with full quality
* Has alpha channel for transparency
* Can be placed on any new background
* Works in most design software

## Code Examples

### Basic Background Removal

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  from magic_hour import Client
  import os

  client = Client(token=os.getenv("MAGIC_HOUR_API_KEY"))

  result = client.v1.image_background_remover.generate(
      assets={
          "image_file_path": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png"
      },
      name="Product Cutout",
      wait_for_completion=True,
      download_outputs=True,
      download_directory="."
  )

  if result.status == "complete":
      print(f"✅ Background removal complete!")
      print(f"Downloaded to: {result.downloaded_paths}")
      print(f"Credits charged: {result.credits_charged}")
  else:
      print(f"❌ Job failed with status: {result.status}")
      if hasattr(result, 'error_message'):
          print(f"Error: {result.error_message}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  import { Client } from "magic-hour";

  const client = new Client({ token: process.env.MAGIC_HOUR_API_KEY });

  const result = await client.v1.imageBackgroundRemover.generate({
    assets: {
      imageFilePath: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
    },
    name: "Product Cutout",
    waitForCompletion: true,
    downloadOutputs: true,
    downloadDirectory: ".",
  });

  console.log(`✅ Background removal complete!`);
  console.log(`Status: ${result.status}`);
  console.log(`Downloaded to: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Batch Processing

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  # Process multiple images
  images = [
      "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
      "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
      "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png"
  ]

  for i, image_url in enumerate(images):
      result = client.v1.image_background_remover.generate(
          assets={
              "image_file_path": image_url
          },
          name=f"Product Cutout {i+1}",
          wait_for_completion=True,
          download_outputs=True,
          download_directory="."
      )
      print(f"✅ Downloaded: {result.downloaded_paths}")
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  // Process multiple images
  const images = [
    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/runshouse/Sample_Assets/main/tomcruise.png",
  ];

  for (let i = 0; i < images.length; i++) {
    const result = await client.v1.imageBackgroundRemover.generate({
      assets: {
        imageFilePath: images[i],
      },
      name: `Product Cutout ${i + 1}`,
      waitForCompletion: true,
      downloadOutputs: true,
      downloadDirectory: ".",
    });
    console.log(`✅ Downloaded: ${result.downloadedPaths}`);
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Pricing

| Output               | Credits   |
| :------------------- | :-------- |
| 1 background removal | 5 credits |

<Tip>
  **Try this in our Google Colab Cookbook:** [Run this API with sample
  code](https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1NTHL_lr_s-qBJ-mSecSXPzRLi9_V5JiU?usp=sharing). Just
  add your API key.
</Tip>

## API Reference

<Card title="Image Background Remover API Reference" icon="webhook" href="/api-reference/image-projects/image-background-remover">
  View full API specification
</Card>

## Related Tools

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="AI Image Generator" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/tools/image/image-generator">
    Create images from text descriptions
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Image Upscaler" icon="arrow-up" href="/tools/image/image-upscaler">
    Enhance image resolution
  </Card>
</CardGroup>