Remove Image Background with Advanced Controls API

What it does

Remove Image Background with Advanced Controls API removes the background from an image and returns the cut-out subject in the format you request. Send an image by public URL or base64, and choose whether you want JSON metadata, PNG, WebP, or JPEG output.

Use crop to trim the result to the subject's bounding box, and padding to keep extra pixels around it when cropping. You can also set quality to best or fast, limit the output with max_size, and place the subject on a transparent background or a solid #RRGGBB color. JPEG output requires an opaque background, while json returns metadata plus a PNG data URI.

The response includes the output format, media_type, width, height, bytes, data_uri, quality, and foreground_ratio. It also returns the subject bbox in the original image when one is found, or null when nothing is detected.

Use it for product photos, profile images, marketplace listings, and any workflow that needs a clean foreground subject without manual editing.

POST

Remove the background

https://api.eu.apyhub.com/callable-labs/new-service-3/v1/background/remove

QUICKSTART

GUIDE

Quickstart

Remove the background from an image URL and return the result as JSON metadata.

curl -X POST "https://api.eu.apyhub.com/callable-labs/new-service-3/v1/background/remove" \
  -H "apy-token: $APY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "image": {
      "url": "https://assets.apyhub.com/samples/cat.jpg"
    }
  }'

What you'll get back

Returns a JSON object with format, media_type, width, height, bytes, data_uri, bbox, foreground_ratio, and quality.

format (string): encoding of data_uri
media_type (string): the output media type
width / height (integer): output dimensions in pixels
bytes (integer): output size in bytes
data_uri (string): a data:<media_type>;base64,… payload
bbox (object or null): subject bounding box in the original image
foreground_ratio (number): share of the original image covered by the subject
quality (string): best or fast

{
  "format": "json",
  "media_type": "image/png",
  "width": 1200,
  "height": 900,
  "bytes": 123456,
  "data_uri": "data:image/png;base64,...",
  "bbox": { "x": 120, "y": 80, "width": 900, "height": 700 },
  "foreground_ratio": 0.42,
  "quality": "best"
}

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API key

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About this endpoint

What it does

Removes the background from an input image and returns result metadata plus the processed image payload. The request accepts either a public image URL or base64-encoded image data, along with optional output and cropping settings.

Request Body

Parameter	Type	Description
image	Object	Image source. Provide one of `image.url` or `image.base64`.
image.url	String	Public http(s) URL of the image (≤ 20 MB). Private and internal addresses are refused.
image.base64	String	The image as base64 (a `data:` URI is fine), ≤ 20 MB decoded.
crop	Boolean	Crop the result to the subject's bounding box. Default: `false`.
format	ENUM	Output encoding. Allowed values: `json`, `png`, `webp`, `jpeg`. Default: `json`. `json` returns metadata plus a PNG data URI. `png` and `webp` return the image bytes. `jpeg` needs an opaque `background`.
padding	Integer	Pixels kept around the subject when `crop` is true. Default: `0`. Minimum: `0`. Maximum: `1000`.
quality	ENUM	Processing quality. Allowed values: `best`, `fast`. Default: `best`. `best` prioritizes detail. `fast` is suitable for previews.
max_size	Integer	Longest side of the output in pixels. Default: null (original size). Minimum: `64`. Maximum: `4096`.
background	String	Background color to place the subject on. Default: `transparent`. Allowed values: `transparent` or a hex color in `#RRGGBB` format.

Response

Returns a JSON object with format, media_type, width, height, bytes, data_uri, bbox, foreground_ratio, and quality fields. bbox is either an object with x, y, width, and height, or null; the other fields describe the generated output and its encoding.

Parameter	Type	Description
bbox	Object	Subject bounding box in the original image, or `null` when nothing was found.
bbox.x	Integer	X coordinate of the bounding box.
bbox.y	Integer	Y coordinate of the bounding box.
bbox.width	Integer	Width of the bounding box.
bbox.height	Integer	Height of the bounding box.
bytes	Integer	Size of the output in bytes.
width	Integer	Output width in pixels.
format	String	Encoding of `data_uri`.
height	Integer	Output height in pixels.
quality	ENUM	Processing quality used in the result. Allowed values: `best`, `fast`.
data_uri	String	`data:<media_type>;base64,…`
media_type	String	MIME type of the returned data.
foreground_ratio	Number	Share of the original image covered by the subject, from `0` to `1`.

▣ COMMON ERRORS

Errors any endpoint can return

400bad_request

Required parameter missing or malformed body.

401unauthorized

API key missing, revoked, or not authorized for this service.

429rate_limited

Your plan's per-second rate exceeded. Retry with exponential backoff.

503upstream_busy

Backend temporarily unavailable. Try again in a few seconds.

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CALLGenerate Image Foreground Mask APICallable Labs CALLRemove Background from Images APIApyHub CALLChange Background of Images APIApyHub CALLRemove Image Metadata APIApyHub

From the blog

Reads that touch this API.

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