# Cut out a subject with Remove Background > Use the Nodespell Remove Background Creative Tool to isolate an image subject as a transparent cutout, with edge controls for hair and soft edges. Source: https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/remove-background/ · Last updated: 2026-11-10 Remove Background is the Nodespell Creative Tool for isolating the subject of an image and removing everything behind it. You give it one image and select **Remove background**. With the default model, Silhouette, the result is a transparent cutout at the original image size, with options for hair, fur, and soft edges. The cutout is a new image take you can composite or export. ## When should I use Remove Background? Use Remove Background when you need the subject on its own, for a product shot, a composite, or a new background. | If you want to | Use | | ------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Remove the background from a still image automatically | Remove Background | | Pull a key from a green or blue screen | A Keyer node; see [Masks and keying](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/masks-and-keying/) | | Replace the background with a described scene | [Image Editor](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/image-editor/) | | Place the cutout over a new background | Remove Background, then a compositor; see [Compositing](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/compositing/) | ## Remove a background 1. Open **Create**, select **All tools**, and choose **Remove Background**. 2. Add the image under the source input with **Choose assets**. 3. Check the model card. The default model is Silhouette. 4. Open **More settings** to change the method or edges if needed. 5. Select **Remove background**. On a Graph canvas, add Remove Background from the `Tab` menu or from the **Image** section of the canvas right-click menu, and connect an image to it. See [Creative Tools on the canvas](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/on-the-canvas/). ## Remove Background inputs and controls | Control | What it does | Options or default | | --------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------------------- | | Source image | The image to cut out | Required, one image | | Model card | Chooses the model | Default Silhouette | | **More settings** | The model's own options | Collapsed | | **Generations** | Number of runs to submit | 1 to 4, default 1 (Create only) | | **Remove background** | Runs the model | Shows the credit estimate on paid plans | ## Which models work with Remove Background? The picker shows Silhouette (the default) and Bria Remove Background under **Featured**. **All models** also lists Remove Background Carve Tracer and Transparent Background. ## How do the controls change with the model? With Silhouette, you get these settings. The last three sit inside the **Edge adjustments** group: | Setting | What it does | Options or default | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Method** | How edges are treated | **General** (default) for most subjects, or **Hair & soft edges** for hair, fur, and partly transparent boundaries | | **Expand / contract** | Grows the cutout to restore clipped edges, or shrinks it to remove a thin fringe | −64 to 64 output-image pixels, default 0 | | **Feather** | Softens the cutout boundary | 0 to 64 pixels radius, default 0 | | **Remove color fringe** | Reduces background color bleeding into soft edges; may change edge colors | Off by default | Silhouette returns a cutout at the original image dimensions and re-estimates any transparency already in the input. Other models have their own settings. Transparent Background, for example, has **Format**, **Reverse** (remove the foreground instead), **Threshold**, and **Background Type**. ## Where does the cutout go? Selecting **Remove background** adds a model node to the current Level of your graph and runs it. The cutout is kept as a [take](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/takes/) on that node and shown in **Results**. Connect the node's output to a compositor to place the subject on a new background, or [export](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/export/) it. Keep a format with transparency, such as PNG, when you export. ## Common problems | Problem | What to do | | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Hair or fur is cut off | Set **Method** to **Hair & soft edges**, or use **Expand / contract** with a positive value. | | A thin line of old background around the edge | Use a small negative **Expand / contract**, or turn on **Remove color fringe**. | | The edge looks too sharp | Add a little **Feather**. | | Transparent or glass subjects lose detail | Difficult backgrounds and transparent subjects may still need manual cleanup, for example with masks in the graph. | ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Remove Background keep the original image size? With Silhouette, yes: the cutout matches the original image dimensions. Other models may differ. ### Can Remove Background work on video? No. Remove Background accepts still images only. ### What format is the cutout? The cutout has a transparent background. Keep it in a format that supports transparency, such as PNG, when you export. ### Can I fine-tune the edge after the cut? Yes. Change **Expand / contract**, **Feather**, or **Remove color fringe** and run again, or refine the matte with [masks and keying](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/masks-and-keying/) nodes. ## Related - [Compositing](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/compositing/) — place the cutout on a new background - [Masks and keying](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/masks-and-keying/) — refine edges and mattes - [Image Editor](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/image-editor/) — replace a background by instruction - [Recipe: product shot](https://docs.nodespell.com/recipes/product-shot/) — a worked example - [Export](https://docs.nodespell.com/edit/export/) — save the cutout