withoutBG Open Weights
Open weights · commercially permissiveLicense: Apache-2.0
BiRefNet DIS
Open weights · commercially permissiveLicense: MIT

withoutBG Open-Weight Model vs birefnet-dis

Quantitative comparison: 33 images scored against ground-truth mattes. Lower is better. Use the view controls on each row to switch between transparency, chroma key, and alpha matte on all outputs.

MetricwithoutBG Open-Weight Modelbirefnet-dis
MGE (Edge Quality)0.03457 ✓0.04146
MAE (Overall Accuracy)0.01317 ✓0.02280

Disclosure: withoutBG includes BiRefNet

withoutBG Open Weights and Pro Model API are routed pipelines. A classifier sends fine strands, soft detail and transparency to withoutBG's own matting model, and hard opaque objects, flat scenes and vehicles to BiRefNet (MIT license), which is part of the pipeline. On this page, 8 of 33 images went to BiRefNet, so on those images this page partly compares BiRefNet with BiRefNet. The table splits the scores by route: the first group is what withoutBG's own matting model handled.

ImagesMetricwithoutBG Open-Weight Modelbirefnet-dis
Routed to withoutBG matting (25)MAE0.00988 ✓0.01537
MGE (edges)0.03128 ✓0.03971
Routed to BiRefNet (8)MAE0.02343 ✓0.04601
MGE (edges)0.04487 ✓0.04690

Per-image averages, lower is better.

Original photo: autumn bouquet vase
Ground Truth alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07595
MAE
0.02381
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.04550✓
MAE
0.01642✓
Original photo: balcony flower planter bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03402✓
MAE
0.02906✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03604
MAE
0.22217
Original photo: balcony plant bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04621
MAE
0.01031
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03746✓
MAE
0.00662✓
Original photo: bearded man portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01697✓
MAE
0.00407✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.02634
MAE
0.01056
Original photo: bike handlebar near beach
Ground Truth alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01899
MAE
0.00660
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.01599✓
MAE
0.00271✓
Original photo: blowing dandelion seeds
Ground Truth alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04118✓
MAE
0.01690✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.07483
MAE
0.04380
Original photo: campfire flames night
Ground Truth alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01469✓
MAE
0.00695✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.02998
MAE
0.01103
Original photo: cargo ebike park tracks
Ground Truth alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.06638
MAE
0.01242
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.06026✓
MAE
0.01152✓
Original photo: compound leaf raindrops
Ground Truth alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02498
MAE
0.00460
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.01367✓
MAE
0.00334✓
Original photo: confetti sunset portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03139✓
MAE
0.00959✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.04528
MAE
0.01673
Original photo: dried flowers clay vase
Ground Truth alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03577✓
MAE
0.00660✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03743
MAE
0.00948
Original photo: elderly man running blur
Ground Truth alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01789
MAE
0.00452✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.01761✓
MAE
0.00529
Original photo: grass seed stem bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03015
MAE
0.01049
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.02320✓
MAE
0.00779✓
Original photo: hanging plant window
Ground Truth alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05026✓
MAE
0.01100✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.05630
MAE
0.01530
Original photo: messy bun cityscape
Ground Truth alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01835✓
MAE
0.00586✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.04128
MAE
0.01730
Original photo: messy hair bearded portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01551✓
MAE
0.00578✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03483
MAE
0.01725
Original photo: orange berries branch
Ground Truth alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05432✓
MAE
0.02385✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.06595
MAE
0.08214
Original photo: red flower balcony bokeh
Ground Truth alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02832
MAE
0.01777
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.01894✓
MAE
0.01032✓
Original photo: small fishing boat bw
Ground Truth alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02225✓
MAE
0.00549✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.02501
MAE
0.00841
Original photo: smiling man seaside sunset
Ground Truth alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01052✓
MAE
0.00205✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.01158
MAE
0.00369
Original photo: smiling woman seaside
Ground Truth alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02272✓
MAE
0.00521✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03759
MAE
0.01204
Original photo: spoked bike wheel
Ground Truth alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03536✓
MAE
0.00578✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03629
MAE
0.00646
Original photo: sprinter motion blur
Ground Truth alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02418✓
MAE
0.02733✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03905
MAE
0.03521
Original photo: street dancer studio pose
Ground Truth alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02203
MAE
0.00368
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.01781✓
MAE
0.00352✓
Original photo: street portrait man
Ground Truth alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01403✓
MAE
0.00312✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.02130
MAE
0.00597
Original photo: sunset field portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02054✓
MAE
0.00590✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03999
MAE
0.01427
Original photo: tabby cat portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02730✓
MAE
0.00734✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.04338
MAE
0.01665
Original photo: terrier dog mugshot
Ground Truth alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02940✓
MAE
0.01110✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.09150
MAE
0.03600
Original photo: two bikes field
Ground Truth alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07739✓
MAE
0.09324
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.07932
MAE
0.01938✓
Original photo: two gravel bikes park
Ground Truth alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.13603
MAE
0.02861
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.08536✓
MAE
0.01978✓
Original photo: windblown curly hair backpack
Ground Truth alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02353✓
MAE
0.00573✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.04881
MAE
0.01871
Original photo: windblown curly portrait
Ground Truth alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03757✓
MAE
0.01221✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.07559
MAE
0.02870
Original photo: woman street portrait glasses
Ground Truth alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
birefnet-dis alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01677✓
MAE
0.00759✓
birefnet-dis
MGE
0.03457
MAE
0.01386

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 and MAE measures pixel-level accuracy. Both are lower-is-better.
  • Scored images come from Bench v0, where every image has a ground-truth matte. The benchmark page has the full methodology and per-image scores for every model (CSV / JSON).