Background Remover
API Documentation

Overview

The Background Remover API removes backgrounds from images using an advanced AI-powered pipeline. Its enhanced object detection algorithm retains small objects (like utensils, jewelry, or fine details) that standard tools miss, then applies final mask cleanup for clean edges. It supports multiple backends — a default advanced AI backend, standard AI removal, and a basic PIL-based approach — so you can pick the engine best suited to your images.

Base URL & Authentication

Base URL

https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1

Authentication

Include your API credentials in every request header. The health check endpoint does not require authentication.

X-API-Key: your_api_key
X-API-Secret: your_secret
Content-Type: application/json

Get API Keys

Follow these steps to obtain your API credentials:

Endpoints

Health Check

Health check endpoint to verify the image processing service status and available backends. This endpoint does not require authentication.

Response

{
  "success": true,
  "status": "healthy",
  "img_backends": {
    "rembg": true,
    "pil": true,
    "opencv": false,
    "bg_remover": true
  },
  "supported_formats": [".jpg", ".jpeg", ".png", ".webp", ".bmp"],
  "max_file_size_mb": 10,
  "timestamp": "2026-07-23T12:00:00"
}

Code Examples

import requests

url = "https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1/img/health"

res = requests.get(url)
print(res.json())

curl -X GET https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1/img/health

fetch('https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1/img/health')
.then(res => res.json())
.then(console.log);

Remove Background

Remove the background from an uploaded image. Upload the file as multipart/form-data.

Form Parameters

cURL Example

curl -X POST "https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1/img/remove-background" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key" \
  -H "X-API-Secret: your_secret" \
  -F "file=@image.jpg" \
  -F "backend=bg_remover" \
  --output removed_bg.png

Code Examples

import requests

url = "https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1/img/remove-background"

headers = {
    "X-API-Key": "your_api_key",
    "X-API-Secret": "your_secret"
}

with open("image.jpg", "rb") as f:
    files = {"file": f}
    data = {"backend": "bg_remover"}
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, files=files, data=data)

if response.status_code == 200:
    with open("removed_bg.png", "wb") as out:
        out.write(response.content)
    print("Background removed successfully!")
else:
    print(response.json())

const form = new FormData();
form.append('file', fileInput.files[0]);
form.append('backend', 'bg_remover');

fetch('https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1/img/remove-background', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key',
    'X-API-Secret': 'your_secret'
  },
  body: form
})
.then(async res => {
  if (res.ok) {
    const blob = await res.blob();
    const url = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
    console.log('Background removed:', url);
  } else {
    console.log(await res.json());
  }
});

Processing Backends

Select the processing engine that best matches your images using the backend form parameter.

Python SDK

Complete Python SDK covering health checks and background removal with all backends.

import requests
import os

BASE_URL = "https://api.chemhub.com/api/v1"
API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"
API_SECRET = "YOUR_API_SECRET"

headers = {
    "X-API-Key": API_KEY,
    "X-API-Secret": API_SECRET
}

# --- Health Check (no auth required) ---
def check_health():
    return requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/img/health").json()

# --- Remove background ---
def remove_background(image_path, backend="bg_remover", output_dir="."):
    with open(image_path, "rb") as image_file:
        files = {"file": image_file}
        data = {"backend": backend}
        response = requests.post(
            f"{BASE_URL}/img/remove-background",
            headers=headers,
            files=files,
            data=data
        )

    if response.status_code == 200:
        stem = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(image_path))[0]
        output_path = os.path.join(output_dir, f"removed_bg_{stem}.png")
        with open(output_path, "wb") as f:
            f.write(response.content)
        print(f"Background removed! Saved to: {output_path}")
        return output_path
    else:
        print(f"Error: {response.status_code} - {response.text}")
        return None

# --- Test all endpoints ---
if __name__ == "__main__":
    image_path = "image1.jpeg"

    print("=== BACKGROUND REMOVER API TEST ===")

    health = check_health()
    print(f"Health: {health.get('status', 'unknown')}")
    print(f"Backends: {list(health.get('img_backends', {}).keys())}")

    print("\n1. Removing background with default backend:")
    remove_background(image_path, backend="bg_remover")

    print("\n2. Removing background with rembg backend:")
    remove_background(image_path, backend="rembg")

    print("\n3. Removing background with pil backend:")
    remove_background(image_path, backend="pil")

Errors & Status Codes

Error Response Format

{
  "success": false,
  "error": "Invalid backend",
  "message": "Available backends: ['rembg', 'pil', 'opencv', 'bg_remover']"
}

Status Codes

Limitations