Background Removal API for E-commerce
Stop removing product backgrounds one by one. The BackgroundCut API lets you automate the entire process: upload from your server, get clean transparent PNGs back, and publish directly to Shopify, WooCommerce, or Amazon.
The Problem with Manual Background Removal
A skilled editor takes 2–5 minutes per image. At 500 SKUs, that is 16–41 hours of manual work per product launch.
Freelance editors typically charge $0.50–$2.00 per image. 1,000 product photos costs $500–$2,000 in editing fees alone.
When a supplier sends 200 new product images, you cannot afford a 2-day editing turnaround before listing them.
Automated Product Photo Workflow
The entire pipeline runs unattended. Your script watches a folder, processes each new image through the API, and outputs the result ready to upload to your storefront.
Python Batch Script for Product Photos
Drop this script into your product photo workflow. It processes all JPEGs in a directory, skips already-processed images, and stops cleanly if you run out of credits.
import requests
import time
from pathlib import Path
API_KEY = "your_api_key_here" # get from /dashboard/
INPUT_DIR = Path("product_photos/raw")
OUTPUT_DIR = Path("product_photos/no_bg")
OUTPUT_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
def remove_background(img_path: Path) -> bytes:
with img_path.open("rb") as f:
r = requests.post(
"https://backgroundcut.co/api/v1/",
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"},
files={"file": (img_path.name, f, "image/jpeg")},
timeout=60,
)
r.raise_for_status()
return r.content
images = sorted(INPUT_DIR.glob("*.jpg")) + sorted(INPUT_DIR.glob("*.jpeg"))
print(f"Found {len(images)} product images to process")
processed, skipped, errors = 0, 0, 0
for i, img in enumerate(images, 1):
out = OUTPUT_DIR / (img.stem + "_bg_removed.png")
if out.exists():
skipped += 1
continue
try:
data = remove_background(img)
out.write_bytes(data)
processed += 1
print(f" [{i}/{len(images)}] {img.name} -> {out.name}")
except requests.HTTPError as e:
if e.response.status_code == 402:
print(f"Out of credits at image {i}. Top up at https://backgroundcut.co/api/")
break
errors += 1
print(f" [{i}/{len(images)}] Error: {img.name} — {e}")
time.sleep(0.1) # stay under 200 req/min rate limit
print(f"\nDone: {processed} processed, {skipped} skipped, {errors} errors")E-commerce Specific Features
White Background Output
Amazon requires white backgrounds for product listings. Add a bg_color parameter to your request to get a flat white JPEG output ready for upload, no additional editing step needed.
Multiple Sizes in One Call
API v3 output variants let you generate a full-size transparent PNG, a square thumbnail, and a banner crop all in a single API request. Upload the supplier photo once; get three ready-to-use formats back.
Auto Crop
The auto_crop option trims the transparent border and crops tightly around the subject. Product images land pixel-perfectly centred without a manual crop step.
High Resolution Support
Supports images up to 25 megapixels. Supplier photos at full camera resolution are processed without downscaling, so you always have the source-quality file.
Cost vs. Manual Editing
| Volume | BackgroundCut API | Freelance editor (~$0.75/image) | In-house editor (60 img/hr @ $25/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 images | ~$3.30 | ~$75 | ~$42 |
| 1,000 images | ~$33 | ~$750 | ~$417 |
| 10,000 images | ~$330 | ~$7,500 | ~$4,167 |
API cost assumes 1.1 credits per image at $0.03/credit. Freelance and in-house costs are estimates.
Start Automating Product Photos
Sign up free, get 10 trial credits, and have your first product background removed in under 5 minutes.