Coffee shop poster, a real split: the flat image and the 11 named layers it became.
Coffee shop poster
11 layers in 100 s
AI Image Layer Separator Online for Photos, Posters and AI Images
An image layer separator is a tool that turns a flat picture into named, transparent layers. LayerGrab does it with AI and rebuilds the background behind them.
Image
Leave empty to split every element.
Sample split, free to explore: Coffee shop poster
11 layers
Split in 100s
- Background (filled)
Real splits, not mockups
Every example on this page is a real result: the original, the filled background and each named layer, exactly as the tool returned them.
Headphones product banner, a real split: the flat image and the 8 named layers it became.
Headphones product banner
8 layers in 66 s
Skincare Instagram post, a real split: the flat image and the 8 named layers it became.
Skincare Instagram post
8 layers in 80 s
AI-generated desk illustration, a real split: the flat image and the 10 named layers it became.
AI-generated desk illustration
10 layers in 100 s
Anime room illustration, a real split: the flat image and the 7 named layers it became.
Anime room illustration
7 layers in 63 s · Instruction: “girl with dark blue hair holding an open book, orange sleeping cat, monstera plant in a white pot, stack of three books, mug of coffee on a wooden tray, paper lantern lamp on a stand”
Growth report slide, a real split: the flat image and the 12 named layers it became.
Growth report slide
12 layers in 97 s
Sportswear flat-lay photo, a real split: the flat image and the 16 named layers it became.
Sportswear flat-lay photo
16 layers in 148 s
Two-person photo, a real split: the flat image and the 2 named layers it became.
Two-person photo
2 layers in 46 s · Instruction: “Separate the woman on the right”
How it works, step by step
1
Add the image
Drop, paste or upload a PNG, JPG or WebP up to 20 MB. Other formats your browser can open are converted for you.
2
Choose what to separate
Leave the box empty to split everything, or name only the parts you need, such as "only the text".
3
Wait for the split
Usually 60–100 seconds. The page shows each step and the time, and you can cancel.
4
Check and export
Hide layers to see what is behind them, then copy one layer, download PNGs, a ZIP or a layered PSD.
How it works
What you get back
An AI image layer separator takes a flat picture and splits it into a stack of editable layers, one transparent layer for each element, with the background underneath rebuilt so nothing leaves a hole. LayerGrab does this online in about a minute, free to try on samples, from the browser or inside Photoshop, Figma and Sketch.
The same kind of tool also goes by other names: layer decomposer, AI layer extractor, layer splitter. Whatever it is called, the test is the same: every element should come out on its own layer, and the hole it leaves should be filled. Keeping one subject and dropping the rest is a different job, the one a background remover does.
What each kind of image separates into
The number and kind of layers depend on the picture. These are typical results for the images people split most.
| Image | Layers you get | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Poster or flyer | Headline, sub-copy, badges, product, each decoration, filled background | The cleanest case: designed images have clear, separate elements. |
| Product banner | Product, pedestal or props, price tag, button, logo, headline | Useful for resizing an ad into other formats. |
| Photo with people | Each person you name, the photo without them | Name who you want; hair edges are softer than a hand-made mask. |
| AI-generated image | Main subject, secondary objects, text, background | Lets you move or delete one object without generating again. |
| Screenshot or UI | Cards, images and text blocks as pixel layers | Text is not editable; for real UI, a design file is better. |
Named layers, not Layer 1, Layer 2
Each layer is named from what it shows, for example “AUTUMN LATTE WEEK headline text” or “20% OFF red badge”, so a ten-layer poster is easy to find your way around.
11 layers
- Bottom event info text
- Whipped cream topping with cinnamon dust
- Pumpkin spice latte drink base
- White coffee cup with pumpkin logo
- Orange maple leaf (bottom right)
- Orange maple leaf (top right)
- Background (filled)
Take the layers anywhere
Copy one layer into Figma, Photoshop or Canva, download PNGs with transparency, or get everything as a ZIP or a layered PSD that opens in Photoshop.
- headphones-banner.psd8 named layers, in place
- headphones-banner-layers.zip8 transparent PNG files
- Black Over-Ear Headphones.pngOne layer, or copy it to the clipboard
Layer separator or something else?
Manual selection (Photoshop, GIMP)
You select each element and copy it to a layer.
Trade-off: Slow per element; the hole behind each one has to be filled by hand.
Background remover
Cuts out the main subject on transparency.
Trade-off: One subject only, and the background is thrown away rather than kept as a layer.
LayerGrab (this page)
Every element, or the ones you name, as layers over a rebuilt background.
Trade-off: Costs credits; layers are pixels, not editable text or vectors.
Open layer models (self-hosted)
Run layer decomposition on your own GPU.
Trade-off: You set up and run the model yourself, or use a free demo with a daily quota.
When not to use it
If you still have the original PSD or Figma file, open that instead: its layers keep live text, fonts and effects, which no separator can recover. If you need one subject on a transparent background and nothing else, a background remover is faster. To pull out just one thing, separate a single object and pay for two layers instead of the whole picture.
Frequently asked questions
What does an image layer separator do?
It turns one flat image into a stack of pieces, one per element, kept in their original positions over a background with those elements removed. You can then move, hide, recolour or replace any element without touching the others.
What is an AI layer decomposer?
It is another name for the same tool: an AI model that breaks a flat picture into transparent pieces, one per element. Decomposition is the research term, used by open models such as Qwen-Image-Layered; tools tend to say separator, extractor or splitter. Unlike a background remover, it keeps every element and the background instead of only the main subject.
Do I need an AI layer extractor to get the layers out of an .ai file?
No. An Adobe Illustrator (.ai) file already contains its layers: open it in Illustrator, or import it into Photoshop or Figma, and they are there. An extractor is for flat images such as JPG, PNG or a screenshot, where the layers were merged and have to be rebuilt.
Is there a free version?
You can try every feature of LayerGrab on the sample splits without an account. Working on your own image uses credits; new accounts in supported regions get 30 free credits, enough for a split of up to 3 layers. Open models such as Qwen-Image-Layered are free to download but need your own GPU.
How many layers will my image have?
It depends on the picture: a simple product shot might give 3, a busy poster 10 or more, up to 17 including the background. You pay per layer returned, and naming only what you need keeps the count down.
Can it separate text so I can edit it?
Text gets a layer of its own, but as pixels, not live type. Because the background under it is filled in, you can hide that layer and set new text in the same place.
Is this the same as a music or audio layer separator?
No. Audio "layer separators" split a song into vocals and instruments. This page is about pictures: photos, posters, banners and AI images.
Last updated 2026-10-06