Remove Video Backgrounds

Scenario has two dedicated models for removing backgrounds from video. Pixelcut Video Background Removal is the recommended default: it cuts the subject out of any clip with flicker-free, frame-to-frame consistency and returns it on a transparent, preset, or custom-color background, with no green screen needed. Video Foreground Extractor (BiRefNet v2) is the specialist option: it lets you pick between five extraction models (general, high-resolution, heavy, matting, and portrait), raise the operating resolution, and export the black-and-white mask alongside the cutout.

With just a few clicks, you can remove distracting backgrounds, create transparent assets for compositing, and streamline your video editing workflow. This is perfect for creating product videos, character animations, and more.

Which Model Should I Use?

Start with Pixelcut Video Background Removal: it has the fewest settings and keeps the cutout steady from frame to frame. Switch to Video Foreground Extractor when you need a specialist model (Matting or Portrait), a 2048 x 2048 operating resolution, or a separate mask for compositing.

Need something other than a full background cutout? SAM 3.1 Video (model_meta-sam-3-1-video) tracks and masks specific objects you name in a text prompt, and Video to Layers (model_scenario-video-layers-extractor) splits a clip into separate subject layers plus a clean background plate. Both have their own guides.

Pixelcut Video Background Removal

Pixelcut Video Background Removal, from Pixelcut, isolates the main subject of a video and removes everything behind it, without a green screen. It is built for temporal consistency: the edge of the cutout stays stable from one frame to the next, so the result does not flicker around hair, clothing, and moving limbs. Upload a clip, pick the background you want, and choose an output format.

It works on live-action footage and on generated or animated clips alike, which makes it a natural next step after any video model in Scenario: generate a character shot, then pull the character out for compositing, a game UI, or a social overlay.

How to Access Pixelcut Video Background Removal

1. Go to the model page: https://app.scenario.com/models/model_pixelcut-video-background-removal and click “Use this model”.

2. From the main “Create” menu, go to Videos and select Pixelcut Video Background Removal.

3. Or add it as a step in a Workflow to cut out the output of a video generation model automatically.

Examples (Pixelcut Video Background Removal)

Every result below was produced by Pixelcut Video Background Removal. The source videos on the left were generated in Scenario with Veo 3.1 Lite. For transparent results, the web preview shows the removed background as black; the downloaded file keeps the real alpha channel.

A witch and her goblin sidekick pulled off a busy, sign-covered street and placed on a solid green background, ready for chroma-key in any editor.

Two animated characters on a green background · Open on Scenario

A mid-air dance move against a dark graffiti wall. The beaded dreadlocks and loose laces stay attached to the subject as she moves, with a transparent background exported as WebM VP9.

Fast motion and flowing hair on a transparent background · Open on Scenario

A fisherman mending a net on a boat. The model keeps the main subject and the fibers in his hands, and removes the sea, the boat, and the dog behind him.

Live-action style footage with fine fibers, transparent background · Open on Scenario

A four-character pirate crew cut out in a single pass, with the ship, sky, and island removed. Note the small leftover of the sail behind the raised sword: large props that touch the subject can be kept as part of the foreground.

Multi-character group shot, transparent background · Open on Scenario

Parameters (Pixelcut Video Background Removal)

Pixelcut Video Background Removal has only a handful of settings. The defaults (transparent background, WebM VP9) are the right choice for most compositing work.

video

Required. The clip you want to cut the subject out of. All four examples above used a single video input and no other required settings.

background

What sits behind the subject in the result. Transparent (default) keeps a real alpha channel. Black, White, Green, Blue, and Magenta fill the background with a solid preset color (green and blue are handy for chroma-key workflows, as in the witch and goblin example). Custom uses the three color channels below.

backgroundColorRed / backgroundColorGreen / backgroundColorBlue

The red, green, and blue values (0 to 255, default 255 each, which is white) of a custom solid background. They are only used when Background is set to Custom, for example to match a brand color.

outputFormat

The file format of the result. WebM VP9 (default) and MOV ProRes 4444 both keep full alpha transparency: use WebM for the web and lightweight overlays, ProRes 4444 for professional editing and compositing tools. MKV VP9 is an alternative container for the same codec, and GIF is useful for quick previews and stickers but has limited color and transparency.

What is Video Foreground Extractor?

Video Foreground Extractor is a state-of-the-art deep learning model designed for high-precision video foreground extraction. It excels at identifying and separating the main subject of a video from its background, even in complex scenes with fine details like hair or semi-transparent objects.

Key Features

How to Access Video Foreground Extractor

You can access Video Foreground Extractor in a few different ways:

1. Go to the model page: https://app.scenario.com/models/model_birefnet-v2-video and click on “Use this model”

2. From the main “Create” menu, go to Videos and select Video Foreground Extractor

3. Or go directly to https://app.scenario.com/videos/new?modelId=model_birefnet-v2-video

When to Use Background Removal

You should consider using Background Removal when:

• You need to isolate a subject from its background for compositing or other editing tasks.

• You want to create a video with a transparent background.

• Your video has a distracting or unwanted background.

• You are creating assets for animations or motion graphics.

Configure Video Foreground Extractor Settings

When you open the Background Removal dialog, you’ll see the following settings:

Model

Choose the model that best fits your video or image:

• General Use (Light): The default model recommended for most use cases. It offers a balanced trade-off between speed and accuracy, making it ideal for general background removal tasks.

• General Use (Light 2K): A higher-resolution variant of the Light model trained on 2K images. It delivers improved detail and sharper edges, especially useful for high-resolution videos or intricate scenes.

• General Use (Heavy): A slower but more accurate model designed for projects that demand maximum precision. It handles complex scenes, fine details, and subtle transitions between foreground and background with greater fidelity.

• Matting: Specifically trained for image matting, this model focuses on delicate structures such as hair, fur, and semi-transparent regions. It provides cleaner edges and smoother blending for detailed subjects.

• Portrait: Optimized for human subjects, this model excels in portrait or talking-head videos. It enhances edge handling around hair and shoulders, producing natural and polished results.

Recommended: For most workflows, General Use (Light) provides the best balance between speed and quality.

Operating Resolution

Select the processing resolution. 1024 × 1024 is the default and works well for most videos, while 2048 × 2048 delivers higher accuracy for high-resolution footage.

Output Mask

Enable this option to export the black-and-white mask used during background removal. The mask can be useful for compositing or custom post-processing.

Refine Foreground

Enable this setting to apply an additional refinement pass to the foreground, producing cleaner edges and improved subject definition. It is on by default.

Video Quality

Choose your desired output quality: Low, Medium, High, or Maximum, depending on your workflow and export requirements.

Video Write Mode

Select the encoding mode that best balances processing speed and file size. Options include Fast, Balanced, and Small.

Video Output Type

Choose the file format of the result. VP9 (.webm) (default) and ProRes 4444 (.mov) keep the alpha channel, so the background is truly transparent. X264 (.mp4) has no alpha channel, and GIF (.gif) supports only limited transparency.

Tip: Experiment with short clips to find the best combination of model and settings for your specific needs.

Results & Examples (Video Foreground Extractor)

After applying Background Removal, your video will have a clean, transparent background, with the subject accurately isolated. This allows for seamless integration into other scenes or projects.

In the video below, you can see the video generated without the background, as well as the mask that is generated when you select the “Output Mask” option. This allows you to choose the option that you think is best.

Tips for Better Results

1. Start with Pixelcut Video Background Removal. Its defaults give a stable, flicker-free cutout on most clips; move to Video Foreground Extractor only when you need a specialist model or a mask.

2. Keep the subject clearly separated from the background. Both models look for the main subject of the shot. Clips where the subject stands out by position, lighting, or color give the cleanest edges.

3. Pick the output format for where the clip is going. WebM VP9 for web and overlays, ProRes 4444 (.mov) for editing and compositing software. MP4 cannot carry transparency.

4. Use a solid green or blue background for chroma-key tools. If your editor or streaming tool expects a keyable color instead of alpha, set the Pixelcut Background to Green or Blue.

5. Use Matting or Portrait for fine detail. In Video Foreground Extractor, Matting handles hair, fur, and semi-transparent regions, and Portrait is tuned for people and talking heads.

6. Test on a short clip first. Trim a few seconds with Video Cut to check the result before running a long clip.

7. Chain it after generation. Add a background-removal step to a Workflow right after a video model to get cut-out characters or products in one run.

Known Limitations

• Fully automatic subject selection. Neither model lets you choose which subject to keep. In the fisherman example, the dog in the background was removed along with the scene. To isolate a specific object by name, use SAM 3.1 Video instead.

• Props touching the subject can stay in the cutout. Large objects that overlap the subject, like the sail behind the pirate’s sword, may be kept as foreground. Crop or reframe the source if this matters.

• Transparent previews look black in the browser. The in-app and web preview is an MP4, which has no alpha channel, so removed areas appear black. Download the result to get the real WebM or ProRes file with transparency.

• No manual touch-ups. There is no brush or mask-editing step. For frame-level fixes, export the mask from Video Foreground Extractor and refine it in your editing software.

• MP4 and GIF cannot carry full transparency. Choose WebM VP9 or ProRes 4444 whenever you need a real alpha channel.

Conclusion

Pixelcut Video Background Removal is the quickest route to a clean, flicker-free cutout from any clip, with transparent, preset, or custom-color backgrounds and alpha-ready formats.

Video Foreground Extractor brings professional-grade background removal to your creative workflow, combining speed, precision, and flexibility in a single tool. With its range of specialized models, customizable resolution, and refinement options, it adapts easily to different types of footage, from portraits and product shots to complex scenes with fine details. Whether you’re preparing transparent assets, compositing elements, or enhancing video quality, Video Foreground Extractor helps you achieve clean, high-quality results with minimal setup and maximum efficiency.