---
description: Clearcut create an image job. Learn how to remove image backgrounds, manage jobs and work with credits in your application.
title: Create an image job | Clearcut
image: https://clearcut.sh/og/docs.png
---

GUIDES

[Quick start](https://clearcut.sh/docs)[Authentication](https://clearcut.sh/docs/authentication)[Credits & billing](https://clearcut.sh/docs/credits)[Limits & retries](https://clearcut.sh/docs/limits)[Examples](https://clearcut.sh/docs/examples)[Errors](https://clearcut.sh/docs/errors)

API REFERENCE

[POSTRemove a background](https://clearcut.sh/docs/remove-background)[GETremove.bg account info](https://clearcut.sh/docs/removebg-account)[POSTCreate an image job](https://clearcut.sh/docs/create-job)[GETGet a job](https://clearcut.sh/docs/get-job)[GETList images](https://clearcut.sh/docs/list-jobs)[DELETEDelete an image](https://clearcut.sh/docs/delete-job)[GETDownload a result](https://clearcut.sh/docs/download)[POSTExport an edited image](https://clearcut.sh/docs/export)[POSTUpload a background](https://clearcut.sh/docs/background)[POSTExport a ZIP batch](https://clearcut.sh/docs/batch-export)[POSTCopy a batch background](https://clearcut.sh/docs/batch-background)[POSTSmart Brush](https://clearcut.sh/docs/smart-brush)[POSTGenerate a scene](https://clearcut.sh/docs/generate-scene)[GETCredit balance](https://clearcut.sh/docs/account)[POSTRetry a failed image](https://clearcut.sh/docs/retry-job)[GETRecent usage](https://clearcut.sh/docs/usage)[Download OpenAPI](https://clearcut.sh/openapi.json)

API reference / Create an image job

# Create an image job

Queue an image and return immediately. API keys always use credits. The browser editor uses credits first; at zero balance, Fast processing can use the five-per-day free allowance. Files expire after one hour.

POST`/api/jobs`

Authenticate with `X-API-Key`. Keep your key on your server; never embed it in a public website.

## Request parameters

`image_file`binary

JPG, PNG or WebP file, up to 22 MB. Choose exactly one input source.

`image_url`string

Public HTTP or HTTPS image URL. Private hosts, credentials, non-standard ports and unsafe redirects are rejected.

`quality`stringdefault: fast

Fast uses 1 credit. Fine detail (quality) uses 2\. Output resolution is independent of quality.

`fast` `quality`

## Response

202 · Success

{
  "id": "image_id",
  "name": "photo.jpg",
  "status": "queued",
  "quality": "fast",
  "credits": 1,
  "created": 1789052400,
  "expires": 1789056000,
  "original_url": "/api/files/image_id/original.png"
}

Errors use a structured `error.code` and `error.message`. [See error handling →](https://clearcut.sh/docs/errors)

## Example request

Recommended for applications and batches. There is no long-lived upload request.

cURLPythonNode.js

```
# Submit once. Save the returned id.
curl https://clearcut.sh/api/jobs \
  -H "X-API-Key: $CLEARCUT_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Idempotency-Key: catalog-photo-002' \
  -F 'image_file=@photo.jpg'

# Poll every 2 seconds until done or error.
curl https://clearcut.sh/api/jobs/IMAGE_ID \
  -H "X-API-Key: $CLEARCUT_API_KEY"

# Download when done.
curl https://clearcut.sh/api/files/IMAGE_ID/cutout.png \
  -H "X-API-Key: $CLEARCUT_API_KEY" -o cutout.png
```

[More examples →](https://clearcut.sh/docs/examples)

Need help?

Prefer email? [support@clearcut.sh](mailto:support@clearcut.sh)

Create an image job | Clearcut

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://clearcut.sh/#organization","name":"Clearcut","url":"https://clearcut.sh","logo":"https://clearcut.sh/apple-touch-icon.png","email":"support@clearcut.sh","description":"An independent image background removal service operated by chern0.dev.","contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","email":"support@clearcut.sh","contactType":"customer support"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://clearcut.sh/#website","url":"https://clearcut.sh","name":"Clearcut","description":"Remove image backgrounds with Clearcut. Get 30 free credits every month for the website and API. Full-resolution downloads, no watermark. Packs from $3.","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@id":"https://clearcut.sh/#organization"}}]}
```