Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") apply to the ClearCut website at clearcutbg.com, including the Background Remover, the Image Converter, the Image Compressor and the articles on our blog. We've tried to keep them short and in plain English. Please read them together with our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using ClearCut, you agree to these Terms. If you don't agree with them, please don't use the website or its tools.

If you use ClearCut on behalf of a business or another organisation, you confirm that you're allowed to accept these Terms for them.

2. Use of ClearCut

ClearCut offers free online image tools. You don't need an account to use them. You may use ClearCut as long as you follow these Terms and the law that applies to you.

We provide the tools as they are, and we may change how they work over time. Using ClearCut doesn't give you any ownership of the website, its design, its code or its content.

3. Image Uploads and User Responsibility

You're responsible for every image you upload to or process with ClearCut. Before you use an image, make sure you have the necessary rights, permissions or licences to use and edit it. This applies whether you took the photo yourself, received it from someone else or found it online.

In particular, please only use images that:

• you own, or have permission to edit and use in the way you intend;
• don't show other people in a way they haven't agreed to;
• don't contain other people's private or sensitive information without their consent.

Please don't upload images containing sensitive personal information, such as identity documents, unless you're comfortable sending them to an online service.

4. Copyright and Intellectual Property

Using ClearCut doesn't change who owns an image. Removing a background, converting a file or compressing it doesn't give you ownership of a third-party image, and it doesn't give you permission to use a copyrighted image that you weren't already allowed to use.

ClearCut doesn't claim ownership of the images you process or the files the tools produce from them.

The ClearCut name, logo, website design, text, illustrations and code belong to ClearCut. Please don't copy or reuse them without permission. Other brand names, logos and trademarks mentioned on the website belong to their owners.

5. Prohibited Uses

Please don't use ClearCut to:

• process images that are unlawful, or that infringe someone else's copyright, trademark, privacy or other rights;
• create content intended to harass, deceive, defame or impersonate someone;
• attempt to disrupt, overload or gain unauthorised access to the website or its processing service;
• send large volumes of images through automated scripts, bots or scrapers without our permission;
• copy, resell or rebrand the website or its tools as your own service;
• break any law or regulation that applies to you.

6. Image Processing and Tool Limitations

ClearCut's tools work differently depending on the task. Some processing happens on a server and some happens in your browser, as explained in the next two sections.

All the tools have limits. They accept JPG, PNG and WebP images only. The Background Remover accepts files up to 5 MB. The Image Converter and Image Compressor accept files up to 25 MB and images up to 16 megapixels. Very large images may not work on every device or browser. We may change these limits over time.

7. Background Remover Processing

The Background Remover removes backgrounds on a server, not inside your browser. When you use it, your image is uploaded to ClearCut's processing service. The service removes the background, and the result is sent back to your browser.

The processing service runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Optional background colours (white, black or a custom colour) are added afterwards in your browser. We don't currently publish a retention period for uploaded images, and these Terms make no promise about how long uploads or results are kept. Our Privacy Policy explains how uploads are handled.

8. Image Converter and Compressor

The Image Converter and Image Compressor work in your browser. They use your browser's built-in image features to open, convert and compress images on your own device. These two tools don't upload your images to ClearCut's servers.

Because the work happens on your device, the results can vary slightly between browsers. Some browsers can't create every format. Some can't create WebP files, for example, and the tools tell you when this happens.

9. Accuracy and Output Quality

We work to make the tools useful, but we can't promise that every result will be perfect or suitable for your purpose.

• Background removal is done automatically by an AI model. It can miss parts of the subject, leave parts of the background, or struggle with hair, fur, glass and fine detail.
• Converting and compressing save the image again. Lossy formats and lower quality settings reduce detail. Transparent areas are filled with a colour when saving as JPG. Details such as camera information and location data aren't kept.
• Target file sizes in the Image Compressor are approximate. The final size depends on the image, the format and your browser, and some targets can't be reached.

Always check a result before you use it, and keep a copy of your original file.

10. Third-Party Services

The website relies on services provided by other companies. These include our hosting provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS) for background removal, Google Fonts, Formspree for the contact form, Google AdSense for advertising, and social networks if you use an article's share links. These services have their own terms and privacy policies, and we aren't responsible for how they operate. The Privacy Policy describes them in more detail.

11. Website Availability

We try to keep ClearCut available, but we can't guarantee that the website or any tool will always be available, uninterrupted or error-free. Parts of the website may be unavailable during maintenance, updates, outages or periods of heavy use. We don't commit to any particular level of availability or processing speed.

12. Disclaimer of Warranties

ClearCut is provided free of charge, "as is" and "as available". To the extent the law allows, we don't give any warranties about the website or its tools. This includes warranties that they'll be fit for a particular purpose, accurate, reliable or free from errors. Our Disclaimer explains this in more detail.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, ClearCut isn't liable for any loss or damage that arises from using the website, from not being able to use it, or from relying on its results or content. This includes loss of data, business, income or reputation.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that can't be excluded or limited under applicable law.

14. Changes to the Website and Terms

We may change, add or remove features, tools or content at any time. We may also update these Terms, for example when we change how a tool works. When we do, we'll post the new version on this page and update the date at the top. If you keep using ClearCut after a change, you accept the updated Terms.

15. Termination or Restriction of Access

We may limit, suspend or block access to ClearCut, or to any tool, if we reasonably believe someone is breaking these Terms, misusing the service or putting it at risk. We may also stop offering the website or any tool at any time.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws that apply to the operator of ClearCut, and any dispute will be handled by the courts that have jurisdiction under those laws. Nothing in these Terms takes away rights you have under the consumer protection laws of the country where you live, if those laws apply to you.

17. Contact Information

If you have a question about these Terms, please get in touch using our contact form.