> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://pixelcut.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Make your first request and save the resulting image.

To begin using the Pixelcut API, you'll need an API key. This key allows you to authenticate your requests and access our services.

## 1) Get an API key

Generate an API key in the developer dashboard.

<Card title="Get an API key" icon="key" href="https://www.pixelcut.ai/developer-settings" />

## 2) Call an endpoint (Remove Background)

This example requests `application/json` and returns a `result_url` you can download.

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -sS "https://api.developer.pixelcut.ai/v1/remove-background" \
    -H "X-API-Key: <YOUR_API_KEY>" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "Accept: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "image_url": "https://cdn3.pixelcut.app/product.jpg"
    }'
  ```

  ```js Node.js theme={null}
  const response = await fetch('https://api.developer.pixelcut.ai/v1/remove-background', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'X-API-Key': '<YOUR_API_KEY>',
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      'Accept': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      image_url: 'https://cdn3.pixelcut.app/product.jpg',
    }),
  });

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data.result_url);
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import os
  import requests

  resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.developer.pixelcut.ai/v1/remove-background",
    headers={
      "X-API-Key": "<YOUR_API_KEY>",
      "Accept": "application/json",
    },
    json={"image_url": "https://cdn3.pixelcut.app/product.jpg"},
  )

  resp.raise_for_status()
  print(resp.json()["result_url"])
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## 4) Download and store the output

Result URLs are time-limited, so download and store the file in your own storage.

```bash theme={null}
curl -L "$RESULT_URL" -o output.png
```

## Prefer a binary response?

Some endpoints support `Accept: image/*` to return the image bytes directly.

```bash theme={null}
curl -sS "https://api.developer.pixelcut.ai/v1/remove-background" \
  -H "X-API-Key: <YOUR_API_KEY>" \
  -H "Accept: image/*" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"image_url":"https://cdn3.pixelcut.app/product.jpg"}' \
  -o output.png
```

<Card title="Request formats (JSON vs multipart)" icon="code" href="/developer-guide/core-concepts/request-formats" />