---
title: "Select one object"
description: "Mask or cut out a named thing."
sidebar:
  label: segment
---

{/* Generated by scripts/generate-commands.ts. Do not edit. */}

## Synopsis

```sh
motif segment [what] [image-or-video] [options]
```

## Example

The bowl alone, on transparency, at the edge it actually has.

```sh
motif segment "the bowl" shelf.jpg
```

<div class="docs-pictures docs-pictures-2">
  <figure>
    <img src="/docs/images/commands/apothecary.jpg" alt="Three amber bottles and a white bowl on a shelf" loading="lazy" />
    <figcaption>Before</figcaption>
  </figure>
  <figure>
    <img src="/docs/images/commands/bowl.png" alt="The white bowl cut out on its own" loading="lazy" />
    <figcaption>After</figcaption>
  </figure>
</div>

## Options

| Flag | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `--auto` | Segment every region without a prompt. |
| `--rle` | Return run-length encoded masks. |
| `--tier <tier>` | Trade cost against quality: fast, balanced, quality. |
| `--dry-run` | Validate and price the call without running it. |

It also takes the [common options](/docs/commands#common-options).

## Models and price

Motif picks the Model for the Tier. Prices are per image where a Model has one; any other shows how it is billed. A rate that depends on the size of the file or the length of the clip is a rate, not a total, so check it with a dry run.

| Model | Chosen at | Price |
| --- | --- | ---: |
| SAM 3 Image | Balanced | $0.005 |
| SAM 3 Video | Balanced | $0.005/16 frames of video input |
| SAM 2 Auto Segment | Balanced, with `--auto` | $0.000 |
| SAM 3 Image RLE | Balanced, with `--rle` | $0.005 |
| SAM 3 Video RLE | Balanced, with `--rle` | $0.005/16 frames of video |
| SAM 3.1 Image | Quality | $0.010 |
| SAM 3.1 Video | Quality | $0.01/16 frames of video input |

## Dry run

Check the cost before you spend. The output path is where the file would go.

```sh
motif segment "the bowl" shelf.jpg --dry-run --fields cost,costBasis,output
```

```json
{
  "cost": 0.005,
  "costBasis": "projected",
  "output": "shelf-segment.png"
}
```