Photo to Silhouette Converter

Upload a portrait photo and turn it into backlit silhouette art — entirely in your browser. Your photo is never uploaded to any server.

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Click to choose a photo — or drag & drop
Portrait, person, or any subject with a clear outline works best
Loading background removal model…
🔒 100% private — background removal runs via WebAssembly in your browser. Your photo never leaves your device.

How it works

1
AI removes background The MediaPipe SelfieSegmentation model (via TensorFlow.js) runs a neural network entirely in your browser using WebGL. It segments the person from the background and returns a per-pixel confidence mask — no server, no upload.
2
Subject becomes solid black Once the subject is isolated (alpha mask), the Canvas API fills every non-transparent pixel with solid black. This creates the classic silhouette cutout effect.
3
Composite over sunset gradient The silhouette is composited over your chosen background (sunset, golden hour, dusk, or a dramatic gradient) using canvas drawImage. The result is a backlit portrait art image, ready to download as PNG.

Tips for best results: use a photo where the subject is clearly separated from the original background (outdoors, plain wall). Portraits, full-body shots, and profiles all work well. The silhouette art style forgives imprecise edges — artistic flair outweighs pixel-perfect cutouts here.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of photos work best for silhouette conversion?
Portraits and photos where the subject is clearly distinguishable from the background give the best results. Front-lit subjects against a plain or blurred background are ideal. Profile shots (side-on) are particularly striking as silhouettes because the outline of a face is instantly recognisable. The AI works on any subject — people, pets, objects — but portrait photos tend to produce the most dramatic backlit art effect.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. The entire process runs inside your browser using WebGL via TensorFlow.js and MediaPipe. The segmentation model is downloaded once (a few MB, cached for repeat use) and then runs locally on your device using your GPU. Your photo data never leaves your machine — there are no analytics or server logs capturing your images.
Why does it take a moment the first time I use it?
The first time, your browser downloads the TensorFlow.js and MediaPipe model files. These are cached by your browser, so subsequent conversions on the same device are much faster — typically just a few seconds. Processing time after that depends on your photo size and device speed; most portraits complete in 2–8 seconds.
Can I use the silhouette art commercially or print it?
The tool produces images from your own uploaded photos. You own the output. The background gradients are generated entirely by canvas code — no third-party images are used. As long as you own or have permission to use the original photo, the resulting silhouette art is yours to use as you wish — print, share, or use in personal and commercial projects.