Shadow Remover

Three common problems, three scenes. Each pair shows the original on the left and the result from the matching scene on the right.

Signed-in users get the model named in the table. Guests run on the free Seedream 5.0 Flash model to keep the free tier affordable, which can be less exact on difficult photos, except the document scene, which uses Nano Banana 2 for everyone. Documents are routed to a model that keeps text faithful because in our own tests some models invented or altered characters under heavy shadows.

Shadow removal is done by an image model that follows a written instruction, not by a levels or curves filter. That is why it can rebuild detail inside a dark shadow, and also why the wording matters. These are the preset instructions Pixmint sends for each scene:

• Auto: Remove all cast shadows from this photo and relight the shadowed areas naturally. Keep every object, person, face, text and texture exactly the same; only remove the shadows.
• Product: This is a product photo. Remove the cast shadows and harsh shadows around and under the product so the lighting looks clean and even, while keeping the product's shape, material, color, labels and logos exactly the same. Keep a natural soft contact shadow only if needed for realism.
• Document: Remove all cast shadows from this photo of a document and relight the shadowed areas so the paper is evenly lit. Keep every character, number, line, table, stamp and signature exactly the same: do not rewrite, fix, add or remove any text.
• Portrait: This is a portrait photo. Remove the unwanted shadows on the face, neck and skin (for example hard shadows from a hat, hand, or harsh light) and even out the lighting naturally. It must remain the exact same person: same face shape, features, skin texture and expression. No beautifying, no smoothing, no makeup.

Every run also carries a rule block that tells the model to keep each person's face, identity, skin texture, expression and hair, to keep all text, numbers and logos, to keep the framing, and never to invent hidden content.

• Pick the scene that matches the subject. Using Document for a face or Portrait for a receipt wastes the tuning.
• Use the brush for stubborn spots. If a shadow survives the first run, paint over it and run again; only the painted area changes.
• Start from the original file. Heavy compression, filters and screenshots remove information the model needs.
• Expect a re-rendered image when you do not paint. Without a brush the model returns the whole picture, so compare fine details with the original.
• Do not use it to change what a document says. The tool is for lighting only, and changing a document's content is not allowed; see the content policy.

Limits: very large shadows that cover most of a subject, strongly colored light, and shadows that hide content completely cannot be recovered truthfully. The instruction tells the model never to guess completely hidden content, so you may see a softer shadow rather than an invented detail.

Shadow Remover costs 15 credits ($0.15) per run, whichever model the preset uses behind the scenes. A failed run is refunded automatically.

Free ways to use it: guests get 3 tool runs per day without an account; those runs use Seedream 5.0 Flash (except document shadow removal, which uses Nano Banana 2 for everyone), are limited to 1024 px and carry a small watermark. Signed in, your 50 first-sign-in credits cover 3 runs and the 20 daily credits cover one run every day, and your runs use the preset's stronger model.

Planned paid plans (not available yet): 500 credits for $4.90, 1,100 credits for $9.90, 2,400 credits for $19.90, or a monthly plan of 1,200 credits for $9.90. Paid plans are planned but not available yet, so nothing can be bought today (see pricing).