Image & Design

Cleanup.pictures for Nonprofits

Got a photobomber ruining your event photo? A distracting trash can in your facility shot? An ex-employee in your team picture? Cleanup.pictures uses AI to erase any unwanted element from your images in seconds—and intelligently reconstructs what was behind it. No Photoshop skills needed, no expensive software required. Paint over what you don't want, and watch it disappear.

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What It Does

Ever taken a great photo at your nonprofit's gala, only to notice a stranger's arm in the frame? Or needed to use a facility photo that has a random person walking through the shot? Traditionally, fixing these issues required either accepting imperfect photos or spending 15-30 minutes in Photoshop carefully selecting, cloning, and healing—assuming you have the skills and software to do so.

Cleanup.pictures eliminates this friction entirely. Using AI inpainting technology, it doesn't just delete unwanted elements—it intelligently reconstructs what was behind them. Remove a person, and the AI fills in the background wall, carpet, or landscape that would have been there. Remove a watermark, and the image looks like it never existed.

The entire process takes seconds: upload your image, paint over the area you want removed (like using a highlighter), and the AI handles the rest. There's no account required for basic use, no software to install, and no learning curve. The free tier allows unlimited images, capped at 720p export resolution—plenty for social media, newsletters, and web use. For full resolution, Pro costs just $3/month with annual billing.

Best For

Organization Size

Any nonprofit that uses photography. From small community organizations to large national charities. Especially valuable for teams without dedicated graphic design staff or Photoshop expertise.

Best Use Cases

Removing photobombers from event photos
Cleaning up facility and program photos
Removing date stamps and watermarks
Editing team photos (departed staff)
Cleaning auction and thrift item photos

Ideal For

Communications managers, marketing coordinators, social media managers, event staff, volunteer coordinators, and anyone who needs to quickly clean up photos without design expertise or expensive software.

Key Features for Nonprofits

Intelligent Object Removal

Remove any unwanted element—people, objects, signs, vehicles, clutter—by simply painting over it. The AI doesn't just delete; it reconstructs what was behind the removed element using context from surrounding pixels. Results look natural, as if the element was never there.

Text & Watermark Removal

Remove date stamps, logos, watermarks, and unwanted text overlays. Perfect for cleaning up photos with timestamps or removing watermarks from properly licensed images. The AI reconstructs the underlying image seamlessly.

Blemish & Defect Repair

Fix photo imperfections like scratches, dust spots, lens flare, and skin blemishes. Great for restoring older photos or cleaning up quick smartphone shots. Also removes power lines, stray hairs, and other distracting details.

Works on Any Image Size

Upload images of any resolution—the AI handles them all. Free tier exports at 720p (sufficient for web and social media). Pro tier ($3/month) unlocks full resolution exports for print materials and high-quality digital assets.

Zero Learning Curve

No software installation, no account creation for basic use, no tutorials needed. The interface is a single action: paint over what you want removed. Anyone who can use a highlighter can use Cleanup.pictures. Processing happens in seconds, not minutes.

Web-Based Convenience

Works entirely in your browser—no app downloads or desktop software required. Access from any device with a web browser. Edits process on their servers, so even older computers or Chromebooks work perfectly.

How This Tool Uses AI

What's Actually AI-Powered

AI Inpainting Technology

Type of AI: Deep learning inpainting model (similar to techniques used by Stability AI)

What it does: When you paint over an area to remove, the AI doesn't simply delete pixels—it analyzes the surrounding context (colors, textures, patterns, objects) and generates new content that plausibly fills the gap. If you remove a person standing in front of a brick wall, it generates matching brick texture. If you remove an object on grass, it generates grass.

How it learns: Trained on millions of images to understand visual patterns, textures, and how objects typically appear in context. The model learns what "behind" something might look like based on what's visible around it.

Practical impact: Results look natural rather than obviously edited. Unlike clone stamping (which copies from elsewhere in the image), inpainting generates entirely new content appropriate to the context—handling complex scenarios like shadows, reflections, and varying textures automatically.

Intelligent Edge Detection

Type of AI: Computer vision for boundary understanding

What it does: The AI understands where objects begin and end, allowing imprecise brush strokes to still produce clean results. You don't need to carefully trace around every edge—rough painting is fine because the AI interprets your intent.

Practical impact: Non-designers can achieve professional results without pixel-perfect selection skills. Paint roughly over a person, and the AI figures out exactly what belongs to the person versus the background.

Context-Aware Fill

Type of AI: Semantic understanding combined with texture synthesis

What it does: Goes beyond simple pattern matching. If you remove a person standing on concrete near grass, the AI understands the boundary between surfaces and fills appropriately—not creating grass where concrete should be.

Practical impact: Complex scenes with multiple surfaces, materials, and objects are handled intelligently without requiring multiple manual passes or corrections.

What's NOT AI (But Still Useful)

•Brush Tool: The painting interface itself is standard UI—you control what areas to remove.
•Export/Download: Standard file handling for saving your edited images.
•Resolution Settings: Traditional image processing for export sizing.

AI Transparency & Limitations

Known Limitations

•Complex Backgrounds: When the removed area would reveal complex patterns (detailed wallpaper, intricate architecture), results may be imperfect and require multiple passes.
•Large Removals: Removing very large areas (more than 30-40% of the image) gives the AI less context to work with, potentially producing less natural results.
•Unique Elements: If you remove something unique (a specific painting, text on a sign), the AI will generate plausible replacement content—but it can't know what was actually there.
•Fine Details: Very fine details around edges (individual hairs, delicate patterns) may sometimes show slight artifacts.

Tips for Best Results

•Paint slightly larger than the object: Include a small margin around what you're removing for cleaner blending.
•Do multiple passes for large objects: Remove in sections rather than all at once for complex removals.
•Check results at full zoom: Results may look perfect zoomed out but have minor artifacts visible at 100%.

When AI Adds Real Value vs. When It's Just Marketing

Genuinely Useful AI

Quick cleanup of event photos before posting (saves 15-30 minutes per photo)
Removing elements from photos without Photoshop expertise
Cleaning up photos when you don't have original RAW files to reshoot

AI That's Nice But Not Essential

Simple crops would solve many problems (if unwanted element is at edge)
If you have a designer with Photoshop skills already, they may prefer their existing workflow

Bottom Line: Cleanup.pictures delivers genuine AI value for photo editing tasks that would otherwise require expensive software and specialized skills. The inpainting technology is sophisticated and produces professional results. For nonprofits without dedicated design staff, this tool democratizes photo editing that was previously inaccessible.

Real-World Nonprofit Use Case

Scenario: A youth mentoring nonprofit holds an annual fundraising gala with 200+ attendees. Their communications coordinator captures 150+ photos during the event for the website, annual report, and social media. On review, 40% have issues: photobombers in the background, wait staff crossing through shots, a volunteer's ex-partner in group photos, date stamps accidentally enabled on the camera, and various distractions like exit signs and cleaning carts.

Previous approach: The coordinator would spend 2-3 hours selecting "usable" photos, settling for fewer options. For the annual report cover shot, they'd ask a board member who knows Photoshop to help—adding days to the timeline and creating a bottleneck.

With Cleanup.pictures:

Batch clean 60+ photos in under an hour (vs. 10+ hours manually)
Remove all date stamps with quick brush strokes
Eliminate photobombers from key shots without affecting subjects
Sensitively edit group photos to remove individuals who've left
Clean up background clutter (exit signs, service carts, cables)

Results: The nonprofit now uses 80% of event photos instead of 40%. Social media posts get more engagement with cleaner, professional images. The annual report goes to print on schedule instead of waiting for volunteer help. The communications coordinator estimates saving 8-10 hours per major event—time that now goes toward actually planning communications rather than technical photo editing.

Cost: Free (720p exports work fine for web/social). If they upgrade to Pro for print-quality annual report images: $36/year. ROI: Effectively infinite, as it eliminates a bottleneck and unlocks previously unusable content.

Pricing

Free Tier

Most nonprofit use cases

Unlimited images
Full AI inpainting capabilities
No account required
Export limited to 720p resolution

Pro

Full resolution exports

$3/month

(Annual billing, or $5/month monthly)

Unlimited resolution exports
High-quality refining tools
Commercial use rights
Works on mobile and desktop

ClipDrop Pro

Full AI editing suite

$11/month

(Starting price)

Everything in Cleanup Pro
Background removal
Uncrop (expand images)
Generative fill, upscaling, and more

Nonprofit Pricing

No formal nonprofit discount program, but the free tier is remarkably generous—unlimited images at 720p resolution covers most nonprofit web and social media needs. The paid tier at $36/year (Pro annual) is already one of the most affordable professional photo editing tools available.

Free tier recommendation: Start here. 720p is sufficient for social media, email newsletters, and most web use.
Upgrade trigger: Only upgrade to Pro if you need full-resolution exports for print materials (annual reports, large posters, professional publications).
Alternative: Canva is 100% free for nonprofits and includes basic object removal. Quality isn't as specialized, but it may be sufficient.

*Note: Pricing information is subject to change. Please verify current pricing directly with Cleanup.pictures at cleanup.pictures.

Learning Curve

Very Easy / Beginner

Time to first edit: 30 seconds

Time to First Value

Account setup: None required (just visit the site)
First successful edit: Under 1 minute
Proficiency: Immediate—there's nothing to learn
Advanced techniques: 5-10 minutes (multi-pass removal, brush size optimization)

Technical Requirements

No software installation
No design or photo editing skills
Works on any device with a web browser
If you can use a highlighter, you can use this tool

Quick Win: Try It in 60 Seconds

Right now, without signing up for anything:

Go to cleanup.pictures
Upload any photo from your computer or phone
Paint over something you want removed (a sign, a person, an object)
Watch it disappear in seconds
Download your cleaned image

That's it. There's no tutorial needed because the entire product is one action: paint over what you want gone. The AI handles everything else.

Integration & Compatibility

Platform Availability

Web app: cleanup.pictures works in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
Mobile: Works on mobile browsers, though desktop is easier for precision work
API: Available for developers who want to integrate object removal into other tools
ClipDrop suite: Part of broader Clipdrop ecosystem for additional AI editing tools

Workflow Integration

Cleanup.pictures is a standalone tool rather than an integrated platform. Typical workflow:

Export from photo management: Export images from Google Photos, iCloud, Adobe Lightroom, etc.
Clean up in Cleanup.pictures: Remove unwanted elements
Import to design tools: Bring cleaned images into Canva, social media schedulers, or CMS
Direct upload: Download and upload directly to social media platforms

Data Portability

Standard formats: Downloads as PNG or JPG—works everywhere
No lock-in: Edited images are completely portable standard files
No project files: Edits are not saved—download immediately after editing
Note: Keep original photos—edits can't be undone once you leave the page

Honest Pros & Cons

Pros

Zero learning curve: Literally anyone can use it—paint and done
Generous free tier: Unlimited images at 720p—no catches
Instant results: Processing takes seconds, not minutes
High quality AI: Inpainting produces natural, professional results
No account needed: Just visit and start editing
Affordable Pro tier: $3/month for full resolution is extremely competitive

Cons

Single-purpose tool: Only does object removal—not a design platform
No nonprofit discount: Standard pricing (though already very affordable)
720p free limit: Need Pro for print-quality exports
No saved projects: Must download immediately—can't return to edit later
Complex scenes: Very large removals or intricate backgrounds may need multiple passes
Internet required: Processing happens on their servers—no offline use

Alternatives to Consider

If Cleanup.pictures doesn't feel like the right fit, consider these alternatives:

Canva Magic Eraser (FREE for Nonprofits)

All-in-one design platform with object removal

Better for: Nonprofits who also need design capabilities. Canva for Nonprofits is 100% free (up to 50 users) and includes Magic Eraser plus an entire design suite—templates, social media scheduling, brand kits, and more.

Worse for: Object removal quality isn't as specialized. Works well for simple removals but may struggle with complex scenes that Cleanup.pictures handles better.

Choose Canva instead if: You need general design tools and object removal is occasional. Most nonprofits should start with Canva (free) and only use Cleanup.pictures for challenging edits that Canva can't handle.

Photoroom

Background removal and product photography

Better for: Nonprofits with product photography needs (thrift stores, merchandise). Photoroom excels at background removal, product staging, and e-commerce imagery.

Worse for: General object removal. Photoroom focuses on removing backgrounds, not arbitrary objects within photos.

Choose Cleanup.pictures instead if: You need to remove objects while keeping the background, rather than replacing the entire background.

Adobe Photoshop

Professional photo editing with Content-Aware Fill

Better for: Nonprofits with dedicated designers who need full professional editing capabilities and precise control over every pixel.

Worse for: Non-designers. Photoshop has a significant learning curve and costs $23/month. The same task that takes 30 seconds in Cleanup.pictures requires 15-30 minutes of skilled Photoshop work.

Choose Cleanup.pictures instead if: You don't have professional design staff, want faster results, or prefer not to pay $276/year for occasional photo cleanup.

Why Choose Cleanup.pictures?

Cleanup.pictures is the best choice when: You need to quickly remove unwanted elements from photos without any design expertise. The combination of zero learning curve, generous free tier, instant results, and professional AI quality makes it perfect for nonprofit communications teams handling event photos, marketing imagery, and social media content. It fills a specific gap—general photo cleanup—better than any alternative at this price point.

Getting Started

Your First 10 Minutes with Cleanup.pictures

1Visit the Site (30 seconds)

Go to cleanup.pictures. No account creation, no sign-up, no trial activation. The tool is immediately usable.

Pro tip: Bookmark the page for quick access when you need it.

2Upload a Test Photo (1 minute)

Choose a photo with something you'd like to remove—a person in the background, an unwanted object, a sign, some text. Drag and drop or click to upload.

Pro tip: Start with an easy example—a person against a simple background—to see how the AI works before tackling complex edits.

3Paint and Watch (30 seconds)

Use your cursor (or finger on mobile) to paint over the element you want removed. Be slightly generous with your painting—cover a bit more than the object itself.

Pro tip: The AI processes each brush stroke. For large objects, you can paint in sections and watch each piece disappear.

4Download Your Cleaned Image (30 seconds)

Click Download to save your edited photo. Free tier exports at 720p—check if that resolution meets your needs (it's fine for web and social media).

Pro tip: Always keep your original photo. Edits can't be undone after you leave the page.

Try These Common Use Cases

Event photo cleanup: Remove photobombers, wait staff, or unwanted guests from gala/event photos
Facility shots: Remove trash cans, exit signs, or clutter from facility tour photos
Team photos: Remove former employees from group shots you still want to use
Date stamps: Remove camera date/time stamps from older photos

Need Help with Visual Content Strategy?

While Cleanup.pictures is simple to use, having a solid visual content strategy ensures your nonprofit's photos consistently support your mission. If you'd like guidance on building efficient photo workflows, selecting the right tools, or training your team on visual communications, we're here to help.

One Hundred Nights offers strategy and implementation support for nonprofits looking to elevate their visual communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cleanup.pictures free for nonprofits?

Cleanup.pictures doesn't offer a specific nonprofit discount program. However, the free tier is generous—unlimited images with exports capped at 720p resolution. For most nonprofit use cases (social media, web), 720p is sufficient. Pro plans for full resolution start at just $3/month (annual) or $5/month (monthly), making it highly affordable.

How does Cleanup.pictures compare to Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill?

Cleanup.pictures is dramatically faster and easier to use. What takes 15-30 minutes of careful selection and iteration in Photoshop happens in seconds with Cleanup.pictures. The AI inpainting quality is comparable or better for most use cases. Photoshop requires a $23/month subscription and technical expertise; Cleanup.pictures is free for basic use with zero learning curve.

What can I remove with Cleanup.pictures?

You can remove virtually any unwanted element: people (photobombers, ex-employees from team photos), objects (trash cans, parked cars, clutter), text (watermarks, date stamps, logos), and defects (blemishes, scratches, power lines). The AI intelligently reconstructs what was behind the removed element using the surrounding context.

Is Cleanup.pictures related to Clipdrop?

Yes, Cleanup.pictures is part of the Clipdrop ecosystem. ClipDrop (formerly InitML) was acquired by Stability AI in 2023, then sold to Jasper.ai in 2024. Cleanup.pictures focuses specifically on object removal, while Clipdrop offers a broader suite of AI editing tools including background removal, uncropping, and generative fill. They share similar underlying technology.

Can I use Cleanup.pictures for commercial purposes?

Yes, but note that the free tier's terms may have restrictions for commercial use. For nonprofit fundraising materials, marketing, and organizational use, the Pro plan ($3/month annual) includes commercial rights. Also be mindful of copyright—you're responsible for ensuring you have rights to edit images, especially when removing watermarks from stock photos.

How long does it take to learn Cleanup.pictures?

There's essentially no learning curve. The entire process is: upload an image, paint over the area you want removed, and the AI handles the rest in seconds. You can create your first edited image within 30 seconds of visiting the site. No account required for basic use.