Pipelines

AI Background Removal: when Color Removal V2 isn't enough

AI background removal for tricky images that the free Color Removal tool can't handle. Recraft AI (15 credits) or Ideogram (20 credits) per image. Sign-in required.

Markdown All docs for AI

AI Background Removal uses an AI model to cut out the background of tricky images — hair, fur, soft edges, gradients, and busy photos where the regular Color Removal V2 tool can't get clean. It's a paid tool: 15 credits per image with Recraft AI (20 with Ideogram), and you need to be signed in. (In the app it's labeled "AI Background Remover".)

When to use it

Photos of people, animals, or products with fine edges (hair, fur, fuzz).
Backgrounds with gradients or lots of detail, where color-based removal leaves a mess.
Anything Color Removal V2 can't clean no matter the settings.

How to use it

Sign in (the paid AI tools need an account with credits).
Add AI Background Removal to your pipeline.
Turn the tool on. It's added switched off on purpose, because every image it processes costs credits.
Pick the model: Recraft AI (default, 15 credits) or Ideogram (20 credits).
Adjust Transparency Cleanup and Auto-Trim if you want (see below).
Run it — credits are charged per image actually processed. The same settings apply to every image in the batch.

The settings

Setting	What it does
Model	Recraft AI (default, 15 credits) — clean edges and the most affordable option. Ideogram (20 credits) — a second engine to try when Recraft's result isn't right.
Transparency Cleanup (0–100%, default 5)	Cleans up faint, semi-see-through fragments left around the edges after removal. Around 30% clears leftover bits you might not even notice.
Auto-Trim (default ON)	Trims the empty edges after removal so your subject sits snug in the frame.

Cost and credits

15 credits per image with Recraft AI (about 1.5¢), 20 with Ideogram (about 2¢). Credits are $1 per 1,000 — $5 covers about 330 Recraft removals.
You're only charged when an image is actually processed.
Credits are bought separately (one-time top-ups); Pro doesn't include credits.
Your image is sent to the AI service, processed there, and sent back — that's why it's fast, and why it costs credits.

Limits

Sign-in required.
Images over 20 megapixels are skipped (for example, bigger than roughly 4500×4500). Add a Resize step before it to shrink big sources.
Upload limit per image: 50 MB with Recraft AI, 25 MB with Ideogram.

AI Background Removal vs. Color Removal V2

Color Removal V2 (free): best for flat, solid-color backgrounds. Instant, no credits.
AI Background Removal (paid): best for hair, fur, soft edges, gradients, and photos. Costs credits.

Try Color Removal V2 first; reach for AI only when it can't get clean.