withoutBG Open-Weight Model vs BiRefNet Lite

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.

MetricwithoutBG Open-Weight ModelBiRefNet Lite
MGE (Edge Quality)0.070630.06471 ✓
MAE (Overall Accuracy)0.06432 ✓0.07023
Connectivity0.06406 ✓0.06953
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 Lite alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.11187
MAE
0.02393✓
Conn.
0.02366✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.09405✓
MAE
0.05412
Conn.
0.05286
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 Lite alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07491
MAE
0.20595✓
Conn.
0.20605✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.06966✓
MAE
0.22546
Conn.
0.22514
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 Lite alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07847
MAE
0.01629
Conn.
0.01623
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.05811✓
MAE
0.01380✓
Conn.
0.01352✓
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 Lite alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01863
MAE
0.00476✓
Conn.
0.00413✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.01603✓
MAE
0.00675
Conn.
0.00448
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 Lite alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04704
MAE
0.00841
Conn.
0.00826
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02569✓
MAE
0.00423✓
Conn.
0.00388✓
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 Lite alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04385✓
MAE
0.01141✓
Conn.
0.01000✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.05057
MAE
0.02603
Conn.
0.02438
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 Lite alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03629
MAE
0.01250
Conn.
0.01173
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02148✓
MAE
0.00553✓
Conn.
0.00531✓
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 Lite alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.12069
MAE
0.01999
Conn.
0.01970
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.09089✓
MAE
0.01577✓
Conn.
0.01505✓
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 Lite alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04500
MAE
0.00749
Conn.
0.00713
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02300✓
MAE
0.00515✓
Conn.
0.00363✓
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 Lite alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02821✓
MAE
0.00834✓
Conn.
0.00806✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.03349
MAE
0.01220
Conn.
0.01098
Original photo: cyclist motion blur field
Ground Truth alpha matte: cyclist motion blur field
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: cyclist motion blur field
Alpha matte
BiRefNet Lite alpha matte: cyclist motion blur field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.06872
MAE
0.01673
Conn.
0.01649
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.06227✓
MAE
0.01513✓
Conn.
0.01492✓
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 Lite alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.06195
MAE
0.01177
Conn.
0.01189
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.04786✓
MAE
0.00988✓
Conn.
0.00881✓
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 Lite alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02073
MAE
0.00482✓
Conn.
0.00464✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.01651✓
MAE
0.00767
Conn.
0.00683
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 Lite alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.06311
MAE
0.01859
Conn.
0.01844
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.04112✓
MAE
0.00958✓
Conn.
0.00951✓
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 Lite alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.11979
MAE
0.02627
Conn.
0.02612
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.09596✓
MAE
0.02129✓
Conn.
0.02087✓
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 Lite alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02311
MAE
0.00796✓
Conn.
0.00769✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02104✓
MAE
0.00978
Conn.
0.00873
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 Lite alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01507✓
MAE
0.00650✓
Conn.
0.00573✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.01566
MAE
0.00924
Conn.
0.00709
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 Lite alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.09111✓
MAE
0.01771✓
Conn.
0.01754✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.13572
MAE
0.28887
Conn.
0.28794
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 Lite alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05274
MAE
0.02840
Conn.
0.02826
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02964✓
MAE
0.00516✓
Conn.
0.00458✓
Original photo: rocky coast bush foreground
Ground Truth alpha matte: rocky coast bush foreground
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: rocky coast bush foreground
Alpha matte
BiRefNet Lite alpha matte: rocky coast bush foreground
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.37456✓
MAE
0.49888
Conn.
0.49455
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.38143
MAE
0.49054✓
Conn.
0.48684✓
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 Lite alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05988
MAE
0.01390
Conn.
0.01386
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.03789✓
MAE
0.01105✓
Conn.
0.00982✓
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 Lite alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01330
MAE
0.00272✓
Conn.
0.00254✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.01218✓
MAE
0.00823
Conn.
0.00688
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 Lite alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02282
MAE
0.00565✓
Conn.
0.00489
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02048✓
MAE
0.00721
Conn.
0.00483✓
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 Lite alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07366
MAE
0.01213
Conn.
0.01216
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.06244✓
MAE
0.00997✓
Conn.
0.00914✓
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 Lite alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03789
MAE
0.02922
Conn.
0.03011
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02690✓
MAE
0.01743✓
Conn.
0.01636✓
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 Lite alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02475
MAE
0.00395
Conn.
0.00373
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.01948✓
MAE
0.00387✓
Conn.
0.00284✓
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 Lite alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01271
MAE
0.00301✓
Conn.
0.00277
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.00986✓
MAE
0.00333
Conn.
0.00184✓
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 Lite alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02503
MAE
0.00752✓
Conn.
0.00688
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.02136✓
MAE
0.00763
Conn.
0.00590✓
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 Lite alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03017✓
MAE
0.00736✓
Conn.
0.00695✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.05747
MAE
0.04569
Conn.
0.04453
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 Lite alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04226✓
MAE
0.01824✓
Conn.
0.01716✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.04755
MAE
0.02372
Conn.
0.02280
Original photo: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Ground Truth alpha matte: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Alpha matte
BiRefNet Lite alpha matte: trigonometry notes whiteboard
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.28577✓
MAE
0.93281
Conn.
0.93738
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.34229
MAE
0.92167✓
Conn.
0.93601✓
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 Lite alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.11198
MAE
0.02944
Conn.
0.02949
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.11147✓
MAE
0.02414✓
Conn.
0.02336✓
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 Lite alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.17475
MAE
0.02962
Conn.
0.02905
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.12671✓
MAE
0.02217✓
Conn.
0.02146✓
Original photo: white chess pieces tournament
Ground Truth alpha matte: white chess pieces tournament
Alpha matte
withoutBG Open-Weight Model alpha matte: white chess pieces tournament
Alpha matte
BiRefNet Lite alpha matte: white chess pieces tournament
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.11440
MAE
0.29795
Conn.
0.29837
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.06813✓
MAE
0.21584✓
Conn.
0.21544✓
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 Lite alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03113
MAE
0.00814✓
Conn.
0.00763✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.03082✓
MAE
0.01021
Conn.
0.00890
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 Lite alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03992✓
MAE
0.01483✓
Conn.
0.01451✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.04995
MAE
0.02004
Conn.
0.01839
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 Lite alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01719✓
MAE
0.00674✓
Conn.
0.00642✓
BiRefNet Lite
MGE
0.01926
MAE
0.01031
Conn.
0.00875

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.