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

URL: https://helpcenter.readypixl.com/articles/ai-background-removal
Markdown: https://helpcenter.readypixl.com/articles/ai-background-removal.md
Section: Pipelines
Summary: 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.

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

1. Sign in (the paid AI tools need an account with credits).
2. Add **AI Background Removal** to your pipeline.
3. **Turn the tool on.** It's added switched off on purpose, because every image it processes costs credits.
4. Pick the model: **Recraft AI** (default, 15 credits) or **Ideogram** (20 credits).
5. Adjust **Transparency Cleanup** and **Auto-Trim** if you want (see below).
6. 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.

## What to read next

- **[Color Removal V2](color-removal)** — the free tool that removes chosen colors (only works as a background remover on solid-color backgrounds)
- **[Transparency Cleaner](transparency)** — clean up faint edges
- **[AI Upscale](ai-upscale)** — make small images bigger
- **[All tools at a glance](all-tools)**