BiRefNet General vs u2net

37 examples, 37 with ground truth. Lower is better. Use the view controls on each row to switch between transparency, chroma key, and alpha matte on all outputs.

MetricBiRefNet Generalu2net
MGE (Edge Quality)0.06476 ✓0.08658
MAE (Overall Accuracy)0.05694 ✓0.09592
Connectivity0.05636 ✓0.09659
Original photo: autumn bouquet vase
Ground Truth alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.05164✓
MAE
0.01051✓
Conn.
0.00860✓
u2net
MGE
0.14817
MAE
0.08168
Conn.
0.07480
Original photo: balcony flower planter bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.06089✓
MAE
0.03207✓
Conn.
0.03135✓
u2net
MGE
0.06877
MAE
0.22670
Conn.
0.22636
Original photo: balcony plant bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.06130✓
MAE
0.01128✓
Conn.
0.01096✓
u2net
MGE
0.09186
MAE
0.03166
Conn.
0.03260
Original photo: bearded man portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01673✓
MAE
0.00895✓
Conn.
0.00713✓
u2net
MGE
0.03869
MAE
0.01973
Conn.
0.01905
Original photo: bike handlebar near beach
Ground Truth alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.02841✓
MAE
0.00747✓
Conn.
0.00708✓
u2net
MGE
0.06671
MAE
0.01464
Conn.
0.01372
Original photo: blowing dandelion seeds
Ground Truth alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.04911✓
MAE
0.01525✓
Conn.
0.01362✓
u2net
MGE
0.06582
MAE
0.03665
Conn.
0.03550
Original photo: campfire flames night
Ground Truth alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.03878✓
MAE
0.01145✓
Conn.
0.01170✓
u2net
MGE
0.04791
MAE
0.03034
Conn.
0.02973
Original photo: cargo ebike park tracks
Ground Truth alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.08066✓
MAE
0.01395✓
Conn.
0.01311✓
u2net
MGE
0.17918
MAE
0.06845
Conn.
0.06826
Original photo: compound leaf raindrops
Ground Truth alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.02619✓
MAE
0.00475✓
Conn.
0.00359✓
u2net
MGE
0.07237
MAE
0.13475
Conn.
0.13908
Original photo: confetti sunset portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.03370✓
MAE
0.01148✓
Conn.
0.01015✓
u2net
MGE
0.04635
MAE
0.02696
Conn.
0.02612
Original photo: cyclist motion blur field
Ground Truth alpha matte: cyclist motion blur field
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: cyclist motion blur field
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: cyclist motion blur field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.07350✓
MAE
0.01472✓
Conn.
0.01452✓
u2net
MGE
0.07853
MAE
0.05804
Conn.
0.05806
Original photo: dried flowers clay vase
Ground Truth alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.04902✓
MAE
0.00965✓
Conn.
0.00845✓
u2net
MGE
0.09396
MAE
0.02581
Conn.
0.02504
Original photo: elderly man running blur
Ground Truth alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01263✓
MAE
0.00370✓
Conn.
0.00266✓
u2net
MGE
0.02439
MAE
0.00664
Conn.
0.00580
Original photo: grass seed stem bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.04433✓
MAE
0.00942✓
Conn.
0.00934✓
u2net
MGE
0.07351
MAE
0.03236
Conn.
0.03230
Original photo: hanging plant window
Ground Truth alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.07464✓
MAE
0.01590✓
Conn.
0.01520✓
u2net
MGE
0.17534
MAE
0.08887
Conn.
0.08183
Original photo: messy bun cityscape
Ground Truth alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01940✓
MAE
0.00869✓
Conn.
0.00767✓
u2net
MGE
0.04106
MAE
0.02709
Conn.
0.02729
Original photo: messy hair bearded portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01867✓
MAE
0.01305✓
Conn.
0.01152✓
u2net
MGE
0.03037
MAE
0.02389
Conn.
0.02320
Original photo: orange berries branch
Ground Truth alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.08035✓
MAE
0.02283✓
Conn.
0.02099✓
u2net
MGE
0.15361
MAE
0.29991
Conn.
0.30067
Original photo: red flower balcony bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.02727✓
MAE
0.00459✓
Conn.
0.00401✓
u2net
MGE
0.08811
MAE
0.08399
Conn.
0.08391
Original photo: rocky coast bush foreground
Ground Truth alpha matte: rocky coast bush foreground
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: rocky coast bush foreground
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: rocky coast bush foreground
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.34795✓
MAE
0.46062✓
Conn.
0.47012✓
u2net
MGE
0.36906
MAE
0.49662
Conn.
0.49381
Original photo: small fishing boat bw
Ground Truth alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.03023✓
MAE
0.00675✓
Conn.
0.00548✓
u2net
MGE
0.08350
MAE
0.03646
Conn.
0.03522
Original photo: smiling man seaside sunset
Ground Truth alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01159✓
MAE
0.00830✓
Conn.
0.00688✓
u2net
MGE
0.02279
MAE
0.01494
Conn.
0.01388
Original photo: smiling woman seaside
Ground Truth alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01939✓
MAE
0.00754✓
Conn.
0.00501✓
u2net
MGE
0.03563
MAE
0.01357
Conn.
0.01171
Original photo: spoked bike wheel
Ground Truth alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.05645✓
MAE
0.00930✓
Conn.
0.00850✓
u2net
MGE
0.11694
MAE
0.14235
Conn.
0.14190
Original photo: sprinter motion blur
Ground Truth alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.03070✓
MAE
0.01848✓
Conn.
0.01790✓
u2net
MGE
0.04061
MAE
0.04257
Conn.
0.04324
Original photo: street dancer studio pose
Ground Truth alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01599✓
MAE
0.00337✓
Conn.
0.00219✓
u2net
MGE
0.03951
MAE
0.00866
Conn.
0.00741
Original photo: street portrait man
Ground Truth alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01045✓
MAE
0.00402✓
Conn.
0.00262✓
u2net
MGE
0.02356
MAE
0.00781
Conn.
0.00698
Original photo: sunset field portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.02125✓
MAE
0.00843✓
Conn.
0.00666✓
u2net
MGE
0.03873
MAE
0.02657
Conn.
0.02619
Original photo: tabby cat portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.05709✓
MAE
0.02184✓
Conn.
0.02052✓
u2net
MGE
0.05847
MAE
0.03169
Conn.
0.02987
Original photo: terrier dog mugshot
Ground Truth alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.08856
MAE
0.06629✓
Conn.
0.06887✓
u2net
MGE
0.08435✓
MAE
0.10608
Conn.
0.10761
Original photo: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Ground Truth alpha matte: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.45101
MAE
0.90677
Conn.
0.91173
u2net
MGE
0.07771✓
MAE
0.50717✓
Conn.
0.55527✓
Original photo: two bikes field
Ground Truth alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.12912✓
MAE
0.08314
Conn.
0.08233
u2net
MGE
0.12928
MAE
0.05263✓
Conn.
0.05262✓
Original photo: two gravel bikes park
Ground Truth alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.12194✓
MAE
0.02224✓
Conn.
0.02147✓
u2net
MGE
0.23941
MAE
0.11418
Conn.
0.11428
Original photo: white chess pieces tournament
Ground Truth alpha matte: white chess pieces tournament
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: white chess pieces tournament
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: white chess pieces tournament
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.06271✓
MAE
0.21489✓
Conn.
0.21447✓
u2net
MGE
0.09599
MAE
0.28013
Conn.
0.28259
Original photo: windblown curly hair backpack
Ground Truth alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.03058✓
MAE
0.00983✓
Conn.
0.00802✓
u2net
MGE
0.05608
MAE
0.07193
Conn.
0.07367
Original photo: windblown curly portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.04706✓
MAE
0.01840✓
Conn.
0.01632✓
u2net
MGE
0.07628
MAE
0.24791
Conn.
0.24912
Original photo: woman street portrait glasses
Ground Truth alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
BiRefNet General alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
u2net alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
BiRefNet General
MGE
0.01689✓
MAE
0.00690✓
Conn.
0.00444✓
u2net
MGE
0.03078
MAE
0.02948
Conn.
0.02515

Methodology

  • Alpha mattes are grayscale masks encoding per-pixel foreground probability. They capture fine edge detail (hair, fur, semi-transparent regions) that binary masks discard.
  • Metrics are computed by comparing predicted mattes against a ground-truth reference: MGE measures edge sharpness, MAE measures pixel-level accuracy, and Connectivity penalises fragmented foreground regions. All three are lower-is-better.
  • Scores are shown as ? when no ground-truth matte is available for that image. See the alpha matting evaluation benchmark for details on the evaluation methodology.