OpenAI Adds Transparent Backgrounds to Its Image API in Preview for gpt-image-2

On August 20, 2026, OpenAI announced transparent backgrounds in preview for gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-2-2026-04-21. Set background to transparent and use png or webp output; jpeg does not support transparent backgrounds.

OpenAI image-generation API design gpt-image-2

On August 20, 2026, OpenAI announced that transparent backgrounds are available in preview for the image models gpt-image-2 and gpt-image-2-2026-04-21¹. The feature covers the Images API and the Responses API image generation tool, affecting the v1/images/generations, v1/images/edits and v1/responses endpoints¹.

To use it, set the background parameter to transparent and specify png or webp as the output format¹. The changelog states explicitly that jpeg does not support transparent backgrounds¹. Generated images can be layered over documents or interfaces without a separate background-removal step.