Is the background removal free, and does it add a watermark?

It is part of Pluto Photos Pro, a one-time $29 purchase with a 30-day free trial. Saved cutouts have no watermark.

Does it upload my photo?

No. The model runs on your computer, so the photo never leaves it and the feature works offline.

How do I get a transparent PNG?

Remove the background, then choose PNG in the Export tab and click Save as Copy.

Photo Editor Intermediate 3 min read Updated Oct 23, 2026 Pluto Photos 2.5.2

How to Remove the Background from a Photo (Offline, One Click)

Short answer

Open the photo, go to the Effects tab and click Remove Background. The subject is cut out on your own computer in a few seconds. Fix any misses with the Restore brush, then save as PNG to keep the transparency.

Requires Pluto Photos Pro (one-time $29, no subscription). The free download includes a 30-day trial of every Pro feature.

#1. Open the photo and go to the Effects tab

Open a photo with a clear subject. This one is a camper van parked in front of trees. Click the Effects tab in the right-hand panel. Remove Background has its own section.

The Effects tab with the Portrait Blur, Vignette and Grain, and Remove Background sections — The Remove Background button is in the Effects tab. It's also in the Image menu.

#2. Click Remove Background

Click Remove Background. The first time, the editor has to load its model, so it takes a little longer. After that it normally takes a few seconds to about a minute, depending on your computer. Nothing is uploaded, because the model runs on your machine.

A photo of a blue camper van parked in front of dark trees before background removal — Before.

#3. Check the cutout

The subject now sits on a checkerboard, which is how the editor shows transparency. The Restore tool (R) turns itself on, so you can paint back any part the model cut away by mistake, like a thin antenna or a window.

The camper van cut out and shown on a transparent checkerboard background with the Restore tool active — After. The checkerboard marks transparent pixels.

#4. Save as PNG to keep the transparency

Open the Export tab, set Format to PNG, then click Save as Copy. A JPEG can't hold transparency, so it would fill the empty area with a solid color. To use the cutout in a design, paste it as a layer on another photo.

#Tips

Pick a photo with clear edges. Hair, fur and glass are the hardest parts, so check them at full zoom.
If one area is missing, paint it back with Restore. You don't need to run the removal again.
Paste a cutout onto another photo as a layer to build a poster, a thumbnail or a product shot.

#Questions

Is the background removal free, and does it add a watermark?: It is part of Pluto Photos Pro, a one-time $29 purchase with a 30-day free trial. Saved cutouts have no watermark.
Does it upload my photo?: No. The model runs on your computer, so the photo never leaves it and the feature works offline.
How do I get a transparent PNG?: Remove the background, then choose PNG in the Export tab and click Save as Copy.

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