You need to stop
Stop is a state, not a failure. Images not reached are marked stopped, not failed, and Resume continues where you left off. If you stop during export, Sweepcut reports the number it wrote, such as “Stopped — exported 40 of 300”.
Batch
Remove backgrounds from a whole folder at once, on your Mac
Drop in a folder of photos. Sweepcut finds images in its subfolders, removes each background on your Mac, and lists the results so you can check them before export. Then save them together, sized for your shop and named as they were. Nothing is uploaded, and after activation it works with Wi-Fi turned off.
20,000images in one scan
8.0 sfor 20 full-size photos, exported twice*
0photos uploaded
* Release build on the developer's Mac: 20 real photographs from 7 to 49 MP (average 22 MP), each exported twice as a transparent PNG and an Etsy-sized JPEG. Smaller photos are faster; times depend on your Mac.
The workflow
How a batch works, step by step.
- 1
Drop in the folder
Sweepcut looks through subfolders for images. Hidden files and its own Cutouts folder are skipped. It asks you to confirm before adding 500 or more images.
- 2
Cut-outs stay on your Mac
Apple's Vision subject detection removes each background locally. No image data is uploaded.
- 3
Review the list
Rows with no detected subject are flagged with Retry and Remove. Images that need enlarging are labelled, for example “upscaled 2.5×”.
- 4
Set options once
Choose background, size, format and padding for the batch. Override settings on an individual image when needed.
- 5
Select and export
Tick images or Select All. Files go to a Cutouts folder with their original names; taken names are numbered, not overwritten.
When something goes wrong
Stopped, skipped, or already there?
A batch should tell you what happened rather than silently treating an incomplete result as finished.
No clear subject was found
Flat graphics or scattered small objects can be declined by Apple's model. The row says “No subject detected”, with Retry and Remove. It is not exported as an unchanged photo. For logos and flat artwork, try the colour key method.
A file with that name exists
The new export is numbered instead of replacing the existing file. Your original images are not overwritten.
You dropped in a very large folder
At 500 or more images, Sweepcut asks you to confirm. One scan stops at 20,000 images and tells you, rather than quietly leaving some out.
Sized and named for your shop
One batch, consistent output.
Pick an export preset and each image is cut out, framed and sized the same way. Use Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Pinterest and social sizes from square to story, or set a custom size up to 8,000 pixels. Keep your original filenames, which often carry your SKU.
Read the specific requirements for Etsy, Amazon, Shopify and eBay. Compare every marketplace in the product image size cheat sheet. See also the white background photo guide and transparent PNG guide.
Export as PNG, JPEG, HEIC, AVIF or TIFF. JPEG has a solid background; the other formats support transparency. AVIF appears only where macOS can encode it. Choose transparent, white, grey, black or a custom background colour.
Folder comparison
How the options compare for 300 photos.
| Sweepcut | Finder Quick Action | Canva | Photoroom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photos per run | Whole folder, including subfolders; up to 20,000 images per scan | Images you select | Up to 50 images per folder, one folder at a time | Batch; each image counts as one export |
| Photos uploaded | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Output size | Original size, marketplace presets or custom up to 8,000 px | Transparent PNG; about 12.5 MP for large photos in our test | Results over 10 MP downscaled to 10 MP | Web Batch exports up to 2,048 × 2,048 px |
| Background colour | Transparent, white, grey, black or custom colour | Transparent only | Not checked | Not checked |
| Filenames | Original names kept; conflicts numbered | Adds “Background Removed” | Not checked | Not checked |
| Cost | $19 once | Free with macOS | Paid Canva plan | Monthly export limit by plan |
Finder’s filename and output-size details come from our test, checked 26 October 2026; see Sweepcut vs Preview. Canva details were checked 27 October 2026 in our Mac background remover comparison. Photoroom’s web Batch size and plan limits were sourced 22 October 2026 in the Photoroom comparison. “Not checked” means we could not confirm that detail; it does not mean the feature is absent.
Offline and private
Works offline, and here is how to tell.
Lots of apps say they do not upload photos. Here is what Sweepcut does and what you can check yourself.
- One network request: license activation. When you activate, Sweepcut sends your license key to Gumroad to check it. No image data is sent. After activation, processing works the same with Wi-Fi turned off.
- Built with limits. Sweepcut runs in the macOS App Sandbox. The build fails if another web host appears in the source, if sandboxing is missing, or if the app has a server-network entitlement. This describes the build checks, not an independent audit or certification.
- Metadata removed from exports. Camera EXIF, XMP and GPS location are removed from every export. The automated self-test checks that they are gone.
- No account. No sign-in, usage limits or analytics.
Test it yourself: activate, turn Wi-Fi off, and run a batch. For the full policy, read the Sweepcut privacy policy.
Scope
What Sweepcut doesn't do.
- No folder watching. It does not process new photos automatically as they arrive. Drop them in when you are ready.
- No API or command line. Sweepcut is a Mac app, not an automated pipeline.
- No brush touch-up. Edges come from Apple's model, with a Feather slider. For manual edits, use another image editor.
- Mac only. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later; it is built for Apple Silicon and runs more slowly on Intel.
Questions
Batch and offline questions
How many photos can Sweepcut do at once?
A single scan can find up to 20,000 images. Sweepcut asks you to confirm before adding 500 or more. You can export all ready images or tick only the ones you want.
How long does a batch take?
On the developer's Mac, 20 full-size photos from 7 to 49 megapixels (average 22 MP) took 8.0 seconds, including two exports each. Smaller photos are faster. Your time depends on your Mac; Apple Silicon is recommended.
Can I stop a batch and carry on later?
Yes. Stopping is a state, not a failure. Images not reached are marked as stopped, and Resume picks up where the batch stopped. If you stop an export, Sweepcut reports how many files it wrote.
What happens to photos Sweepcut cannot cut out?
They are marked “No subject detected”, with Retry and Remove, and are not exported unchanged. For logos and flat artwork, try the colour key method.
Does Sweepcut need the internet?
Only to activate your license with Gumroad. After activation, background removal and export work with Wi-Fi turned off. No photo is uploaded.
Will Sweepcut overwrite my original images?
No. Exports go to a Cutouts folder with the original filenames. If a filename is already in use there, the new export is numbered instead of replacing it.
Can Sweepcut watch a folder and process new photos automatically?
No. Sweepcut does not watch folders. Drop in new photos when you are ready.
Which Macs does Sweepcut run on?
Sweepcut needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It is built for Apple Silicon and runs more slowly on Intel Macs.
Your whole folder, cut out on your Mac.
Secure payment by Gumroad · macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple Silicon recommended · Back to Sweepcut