---
description: Clearcut background removal api documentation. Learn how to remove image backgrounds, manage jobs and work with credits in your application.
title: Background Removal API Documentation | 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)

Developer guide / Quick start

# Quick start

From an image to a clean cutout. The editor and API use the same engine and credit balance.

Base URL: `https://clearcut.sh`

**Coming from remove.bg?** Keep your requests. Change the host from `https://api.remove.bg` to `https://clearcut.sh` and send a Clearcut key in `X-Api-Key`. [Read the API migration guide →](https://clearcut.sh/blog/migrate-remove-bg-api)

## 1\. Create your API key

[Create an account](https://clearcut.sh/account), verify your email, then create a key under API keys. Verified accounts receive 30 free credits every month, shared by the website and API: 30 Fast images or 15 Fine images. Buy more credits when needed.

## 2\. Make your first request

Send a file, image URL or Base64 data. Set `size=full` for original dimensions. Fast costs 1 credit; Fine detail costs 2.

cURLPythonNode.js

```
curl https://clearcut.sh/v1.0/removebg \
  -H "X-API-Key: $CLEARCUT_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Idempotency-Key: catalog-photo-001' \
  -F 'image_file=@photo.jpg' \
  -F 'size=full' -F 'format=png' \
  -o cutout.png
```

## 3\. Use jobs for reliable integrations

For batches or requests that may take longer, submit to `POST /api/jobs`, poll the returned job ID, then download the result. [Read the jobs reference →](https://clearcut.sh/docs/create-job)

## 4\. Keep useful defaults

Use one idempotency key per logical image request. Respect `Retry-After`. Download files within one hour. Store API keys only on your server.

Need help?

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

Background Removal API Documentation | Clearcut

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```