# Freemask > PhotoRobot background removal from a front-lit and a back-lit silhouette shot of the same angle. Also known as: free-masking, free mask. Category: Software. Freemask is a PhotoRobot background removal method. Lights flash once from the front and once from the back at the same angle; the back-lit shot gives a silhouette of the product, from which the software calculates a precise mask for the front-lit image. ## How PhotoRobot uses it PhotoRobot Controls applies the Freemask algorithm automatically after capture to remove backgrounds near-instantly. It is one of the background removal methods listed in the PhotoRobot production workflow, alongside chroma key and masking. ## See on photorobot.com - [Capture and Control: Freemask support](https://www.photorobot.com/software/capture-control) - [How to remove backgrounds from product photos](https://www.photorobot.com/tutorials/remove-background-product-photos) ## Related terms - [Background removal](https://www.photorobot.com/glossary/background-removal): Separating the product from its background so it can be placed on pure white or transparency. - [Alpha channel](https://www.photorobot.com/glossary/alpha-channel): An extra image channel that stores the transparency of every pixel. - [Chroma key](https://www.photorobot.com/glossary/chroma-key): Removing everything of one specific colour from an image, such as a green screen or a coloured stand. - [Backlight](https://www.photorobot.com/glossary/backlight): Light from behind the subject, used to brighten the background or outline the product. ## Where this term appears on photorobot.com Mentioned on 17 pages. Most relevant: - [Capturing Images with PhotoRobot - User Support Manual](https://www.photorobot.com/manuals/capturing-images): Freemask background removal is a process in which two images are captured for each frame: Main image - a standard photo of the object Mask image - a photo of the object lit from behind Freemask main… - [Product Photo Background Removal and Adjustment](https://www.photorobot.com/tutorials/remove-background-product-photos): We share how to remove the product background by level, by flood, and by freemask. - [What’s New in the November PhotoRobot Software Release](https://www.photorobot.com/blog/november-software-release): November brings the latest software release, showcasing new tools and features for freemask support, product videos, and auto tilt correction. - [Getting Started - A PhotoRobot User Support Manual](https://www.photorobot.com/manuals/getting-started): There is background removal by level, background removal by flood, and by freemasking. - [Advanced Software Tools for Image Capture & Control](https://www.photorobot.com/blog/image-capture-control-tools): Freemask is one of the quickest and most exact ways to remove the background from product photos. - [Capture And Control](https://www.photorobot.com/software/capture-control): Our freemask algorithm will then apply automatically to remove backgrounds from photos precisely and near-instantly. - [Editing Images with PhotoRobot Post-Processing Software](https://www.photorobot.com/manuals/editing-images): …or manually with 3 types of background removal functions: by level, by flood, or freemasking. - [360° Product Photography - Content Formats and Production](https://www.photorobot.com/blog/360-product-photography): Other useful post-processing automation tools include semi-automatic background removal (by level, by flood, or freemask). - [eCommerce Photography - How to Optimize Production](https://www.photorobot.com/blog/ecommerce-photography): It is also possible to remove the background by freemask, although this requires additional configuration of studio lights. - [PhotoRobot Workflow Demonstration - Video Recap](https://www.photorobot.com/videos/workflow-demonstration-recap): We also showcase advanced image post-processing features, like auto centering spin image sets, and background removal by freemasking.