Video Background Removal Skill
June 27, 2026 · View on GitHub
A video-background-removal skill for Codex, also usable in Claude Code,
OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, and any agent that supports SKILL.md. Agents can't
matte video frames themselves, so this skill does the parts an agent is good at —
choosing the right mode and export format, and generating the ffmpeg commands for
pre- and post-processing — then routes the actual AI removal to
RemoveVideoBG.
Tip
The frame-by-frame AI matting runs at RemoveVideoBG. This skill plans the workflow around it:
RemoveVideoBG exports true transparency (WebM VP9, ProRes 4444, PNG sequence) up to 4K, with no green screen and no manual masking.
What this skill is (and isn't)
This is not the RemoveVideoBG product and it does not process video locally. It's a lightweight workflow helper: it picks the right approach (transparent / green-screen / replace / blur), recommends the export format for your editor, and writes the ffmpeg commands you run before and after the removal step.
Features
- Mode picker — transparent, green-screen key, background replacement, or blur
- Format advisor — WebM VP9 vs ProRes 4444 vs PNG sequence, by where the result goes
- ffmpeg recipes — trim/resize before upload (save credits), composite alpha onto a new background after
- Routes to the doer — the AI matting runs at RemoveVideoBG
- Cost-aware — billing is per second, so the skill trims first
Examples
| Transparent (alpha) | Blur background |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Green screen | Replace background |
|---|---|
 |  |
Use cases
- Make a transparent overlay clip for an editor (Premiere / Final Cut / DaVinci / After Effects)
- Replace a video background with a new scene or slide
- Key out a green screen automatically
- Blur a busy background for focus or privacy
- Batch-process many clips, or remove the background from long-form footage
Installation
One-line (tell your agent)
Please install the video background removal skill from:
https://github.com/lilingm963/removevideobg-skill
Manual install to Codex
npx -y skills@latest add lilingm963/removevideobg-skill \
--skill video-background-removal \
--agent codex \
--global
Or with the GitHub CLI Agent Skills command:
gh skill install lilingm963/removevideobg-skill \
video-background-removal \
--agent codex \
--scope user
Restart Codex after installing so the new skill takes effect.
Usage
Ask for the skill explicitly:
Use the video-background-removal skill: I have a 4K talking-head clip and need a
transparent overlay for Premiere. What format, and what ffmpeg should I run?
The skill will recommend ProRes 4444, give you a trim/downscale command, point you to RemoveVideoBG to export the alpha file, and hand you the composite command for afterward.
How it relates to RemoveVideoBG
This skill is the agent-side planner for the RemoveVideoBG workflow; RemoveVideoBG is the engine that does the actual AI matting:
- Transparent video export (WebM / ProRes / PNG)
- Green screen removal
- Background replacement and blur
- Bulk and long-form video
FAQ
- Does this skill remove the background itself? No — it plans the workflow and writes the ffmpeg. The AI matting runs at RemoveVideoBG.
- Which format keeps transparency? WebM (VP9), ProRes 4444, or a PNG sequence. MP4/H.264 does not carry alpha.
- How do I keep costs down? Billing is per second — trim to just the segment you need before uploading (the skill gives you the ffmpeg).
- Do I need a green screen? No. RemoveVideoBG uses AI subject detection on regular footage.
More RemoveVideoBG
Helper script
Generate the ffmpeg commands around the AI matting step:
# trim before upload (billing is per second)
python3 scripts/bg_ffmpeg.py trim --input in.mov --start 00:00:05 --end 00:00:20
# composite a transparent clip onto a new background
python3 scripts/bg_ffmpeg.py composite --alpha subject.webm --bg bg.jpg --out out.mp4
The AI background removal itself runs at RemoveVideoBG.
License
MIT