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OpenAI previews native transparent backgrounds for GPT-Image-2 API

OpenAI has added preview support for native transparent backgrounds to its GPT-Image-2 API, enabling developers to generate reusable assets without a separate background-removal step. The feature is enabled by passing background="transparent" in image-generation requests, with PNG as the default output format. GPT-Image-2 pricing is token-based at $8 per million image-input tokens, $30 per million image-output tokens, and $5 per million text-input tokens.

read2 min views1 publishedAug 22, 2026
OpenAI previews native transparent backgrounds for GPT-Image-2 API
Image: Mlq (auto-discovered)
  • Transparent-background generation is available in preview for gpt-image-2 through the API, using background="transparent". [1] - PNG is the default output format in the documented examples; WebP is also suitable for transparency, while JPEG cannot carry an alpha channel. [2] - GPT-Image-2 pricing is token-based: $8 per million image-input tokens, $30 per million image-output tokens and $5 per million text-input tokens at standard rates.

[3] OpenAI has added preview support for native transparent backgrounds to GPT-Image-2 through its API, allowing developers to generate reusable assets without a separate background-removal step. [1]

How developers use it #

The feature is enabled by passing background="transparent" to an image-generation request using the gpt-image-2 model. OpenAI’s example requests PNG output, uses the image-generation endpoint, and checks the returned file with Pillow to confirm that it has an RGBA color mode and fully transparent pixels. [1]

OpenAI’s cookbook demonstrates the workflow with e-commerce product shots, PowerPoint charts, design elements and print-on-demand artwork. The company says prompts should focus on an isolated subject: describing a scene, backdrop or background can cause the model to generate one despite the parameter. [1]

Preview limits and cost #

The capability remains in preview, and OpenAI’s own examples call for human review of edge quality, brand fit and chart labels. The cookbook also warns that generated charts are raster graphics and that exact numerical content should be checked manually. [1]

GPT-Image-2 is available through OpenAI’s API, including image generation and editing endpoints. Standard pricing is calculated from token usage rather than a single fixed per-image rate: image inputs cost $8 per million tokens, image outputs $30 per million, and text inputs $5 per million. Larger or higher-quality images generally use more output tokens. [2][3]

Companies mentioned #

Further sources #

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