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

withoutBG Open-Weight Model vs birefnet-hrsod

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-hrsod
MGE (Edge Quality)0.03457 ✓0.04385
MAE (Overall Accuracy)0.01317 ✓0.03044

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-hrsod
Routed to withoutBG matting (25)MAE0.00988 ✓0.02574
MGE (edges)0.03128 ✓0.03828
Routed to BiRefNet (8)MAE0.02343 ✓0.04512
MGE (edges)0.04487 ✓0.06126

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-hrsod alpha matte: autumn bouquet vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07595✓
MAE
0.02381✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.07758
MAE
0.03906
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-hrsod alpha matte: balcony flower planter bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03402✓
MAE
0.02906✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.04882
MAE
0.09456
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-hrsod alpha matte: balcony plant bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04621
MAE
0.01031✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.04549✓
MAE
0.01077
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-hrsod alpha matte: bearded man portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01697✓
MAE
0.00407✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02432
MAE
0.01259
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-hrsod alpha matte: bike handlebar near beach
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01899✓
MAE
0.00660✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02960
MAE
0.01206
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-hrsod alpha matte: blowing dandelion seeds
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.04118✓
MAE
0.01690✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.05418
MAE
0.02499
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-hrsod alpha matte: campfire flames night
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01469✓
MAE
0.00695✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02189
MAE
0.00934
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-hrsod alpha matte: cargo ebike park tracks
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.06638✓
MAE
0.01242✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.08612
MAE
0.01928
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-hrsod alpha matte: compound leaf raindrops
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02498
MAE
0.00460✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02243✓
MAE
0.00553
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-hrsod alpha matte: confetti sunset portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03139✓
MAE
0.00959✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.04122
MAE
0.01428
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-hrsod alpha matte: dried flowers clay vase
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03577✓
MAE
0.00660✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.04456
MAE
0.01154
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-hrsod alpha matte: elderly man running blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01789
MAE
0.00452✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.01640✓
MAE
0.00473
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-hrsod alpha matte: grass seed stem bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03015✓
MAE
0.01049
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.03085
MAE
0.01043✓
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-hrsod alpha matte: hanging plant window
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05026✓
MAE
0.01100✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.09147
MAE
0.05514
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-hrsod alpha matte: messy bun cityscape
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01835✓
MAE
0.00586✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02829
MAE
0.01542
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-hrsod alpha matte: messy hair bearded portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01551✓
MAE
0.00578✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02339
MAE
0.01436
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-hrsod alpha matte: orange berries branch
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.05432✓
MAE
0.02385✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.07925
MAE
0.12626
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-hrsod alpha matte: red flower balcony bokeh
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02832
MAE
0.01777
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02176✓
MAE
0.00588✓
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-hrsod alpha matte: small fishing boat bw
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02225✓
MAE
0.00549✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.03982
MAE
0.01117
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-hrsod alpha matte: smiling man seaside sunset
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01052✓
MAE
0.00205✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.01176
MAE
0.00436
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-hrsod alpha matte: smiling woman seaside
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02272✓
MAE
0.00521✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.03169
MAE
0.01241
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-hrsod alpha matte: spoked bike wheel
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03536✓
MAE
0.00578✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.04629
MAE
0.00984
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-hrsod alpha matte: sprinter motion blur
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02418
MAE
0.02733✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02316✓
MAE
0.02950
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-hrsod alpha matte: street dancer studio pose
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02203✓
MAE
0.00368✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02309
MAE
0.00498
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-hrsod alpha matte: street portrait man
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01403✓
MAE
0.00312✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.01993
MAE
0.00674
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-hrsod alpha matte: sunset field portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02054✓
MAE
0.00590✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02594
MAE
0.01077
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-hrsod alpha matte: tabby cat portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02730✓
MAE
0.00734✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.06121
MAE
0.25267
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-hrsod alpha matte: terrier dog mugshot
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02940✓
MAE
0.01110✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.05816
MAE
0.04968
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-hrsod alpha matte: two bikes field
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.07739
MAE
0.09324
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.06874✓
MAE
0.03261✓
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-hrsod alpha matte: two gravel bikes park
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.13603
MAE
0.02861✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.13145✓
MAE
0.02954
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-hrsod alpha matte: windblown curly hair backpack
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.02353✓
MAE
0.00573✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.03707
MAE
0.02387
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-hrsod alpha matte: windblown curly portrait
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.03757✓
MAE
0.01221✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.05797
MAE
0.02682
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-hrsod alpha matte: woman street portrait glasses
Alpha matte
Original
Ground Truth
withoutBG Open-Weight Model
MGE
0.01677✓
MAE
0.00759✓
birefnet-hrsod
MGE
0.02328
MAE
0.01329

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).