diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79114a1..c5edd60 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -105,9 +105,17 @@ svgsmith convert input.png \
 | `--quality FLOAT` | `0.9` | Target fidelity in `[0,1]` (SSIM vs the original). Drives the verify loop. |
 | `--max-iters INT` | `4` | Max verify/refine iterations before returning the best result so far. |
 | `--editable` / `--no-editable` | on | Editable grouped/simplified SVG, or the raw traced output. |
+| `--smooth` / `--no-smooth` | on | Curve-refit color contours into smooth, sparse Béziers (Schneider least-squares). |
+| `--solid-background` | off | Isolate the subject and repaint the background as one clean solid color — removes texture/grain/specks while keeping subject detail. |
+| `--uniform-outline` | off | Force an even-width outline band (outlined illustrations only; would add a wrong border on line art). |
 | `--out PATH` | `<input>.svg` | Output SVG path. |
 | `--report {off,json}` | `off` | Print a JSON report to stdout (the only thing on stdout). |
 
+> **Composable for agents.** svgsmith is meant to be driven by an AI agent that maps a
+> user's intent to flags. *"Detailed character on a clean flat background"* →
+> `--solid-background`; *"crisp logo"* → `--mode binary`; *"keep the raw look"* →
+> `--no-smooth`. The [`vectorize` skill](skills/vectorize/SKILL.md) encodes this mapping.
+
 ### Exit codes
 
 | Code | Meaning |
diff --git a/skills/vectorize/SKILL.md b/skills/vectorize/SKILL.md
index b452485..450de1b 100644
--- a/skills/vectorize/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/vectorize/SKILL.md
@@ -26,6 +26,15 @@ Choose `--mode` and `--quality` from what the user asked for. When unsure, use `
 | "pixel art", sprite, low-res blocky image | `--mode pixel` |
 | anything unspecified / "vectorize this" | `--mode auto` |
 
+Then add **refinement flags** based on what the user wants out of it (these compose):
+
+| User wants | Add flag |
+|---|---|
+| "clean / flat / solid background", "remove the background texture", "just the subject on a plain color", "isolate the cat/logo/person" | `--solid-background` |
+| "keep maximum detail on the subject" | (default already preserves detail; `--solid-background` also helps by not spending the palette on background noise) |
+| "even / consistent outline", "uniform line weight" (only for art that already has a dark outline) | `--uniform-outline` |
+| "keep the raw / rough / hand-drawn look", "don't smooth it" | `--no-smooth` |
+
 Always pass `--report json` and a sensible `--out` (default: input path with `.svg`).
 
 ## Step 2 — Run the CLI
diff --git a/src/svgsmith/cli.py b/src/svgsmith/cli.py
index b282130..1a71258 100644
--- a/src/svgsmith/cli.py
+++ b/src/svgsmith/cli.py
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ def _convert(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
         editable=args.editable,
         smooth=args.smooth,
         uniform_outline=args.uniform_outline,
+        solid_background=args.solid_background,
         out=args.out,
     )
 
@@ -162,6 +163,15 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
             "border on line art."
         ),
     )
+    convert.add_argument(
+        "--solid-background",
+        action="store_true",
+        default=False,
+        help=(
+            "Isolate the subject and repaint the background as one clean solid "
+            "color, removing texture/grain/specks while keeping subject detail."
+        ),
+    )
     convert.add_argument(
         "--out",
         default=None,
diff --git a/src/svgsmith/pipeline.py b/src/svgsmith/pipeline.py
index 9d31656..defc7ff 100644
--- a/src/svgsmith/pipeline.py
+++ b/src/svgsmith/pipeline.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class ConvertOptions:
     editable: bool = True
     smooth: bool = True  # curve-refit color output (Schneider Bezier fit) for smooth contours
     uniform_outline: bool = False  # opt-in: force an even outline band (outlined art only)
+    solid_background: bool = False  # opt-in: isolate subject, repaint background one solid color
     out: str | None = None
 
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:
@@ -104,6 +105,8 @@ def convert(input_path: str, opts: ConvertOptions | None = None) -> tuple[str, R
     pre_opts = _preprocess_opts(classification.mode)
     if opts.uniform_outline and classification.mode == "color":
         pre_opts = replace(pre_opts, uniform_outline=True)
+    if opts.solid_background:
+        pre_opts = replace(pre_opts, solid_background=True)
     prepared = preprocess(image, pre_opts)
 
     svg, result = run_loop(
diff --git a/src/svgsmith/preprocess.py b/src/svgsmith/preprocess.py
index 28a04e3..0bdead2 100644
--- a/src/svgsmith/preprocess.py
+++ b/src/svgsmith/preprocess.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class PreprocessOptions:
     quantize: bool = True
     palette_size: int = 16  # target palette; T3 preset can inform this
 
+    solid_background: bool = False  # replace the background with one clean solid color
+    subject_threshold: int = 60  # per-channel distance from bg color to count as subject
+
     uniform_outline: bool = False  # force a constant-width outline band (opt-in)
     outline_width: int = 8  # band half-width in px, used when uniform_outline is on
 
@@ -103,6 +106,47 @@ def quantize_colors(img: Image.Image, palette_size: int) -> Image.Image:
     return quantized
 
 
+def solid_background(img: Image.Image, threshold: int, min_fraction: float = 0.01) -> Image.Image:
+    """Isolate the subject and repaint everything else as one clean solid color.
+
+    Detects the subject as the significant connected regions that differ from the
+    dominant corner (background) color, then replaces all non-subject pixels with
+    the median background color. Removes texture, grain, streaks, and stray specks
+    so the background becomes a single flat fill — while the subject is untouched,
+    so its detail is fully preserved. Small specks below ``min_fraction`` of the
+    image are absorbed into the background rather than kept as noise.
+    """
+    from scipy import ndimage
+
+    rgb = np.array(img.convert("RGB"))
+    height, width = rgb.shape[:2]
+    corners = [
+        tuple(rgb[0, 0]),
+        tuple(rgb[0, -1]),
+        tuple(rgb[-1, 0]),
+        tuple(rgb[-1, -1]),
+    ]
+    background = np.array(max(set(corners), key=corners.count), dtype=int)
+    far = np.abs(rgb.astype(int) - background).max(axis=2) > threshold
+
+    labels, count = ndimage.label(far)
+    subject = np.zeros((height, width), dtype=bool)
+    if count:
+        min_pixels = min_fraction * height * width
+        sizes = ndimage.sum(np.ones_like(labels), labels, range(1, count + 1))
+        for index, size in enumerate(sizes, start=1):
+            if size >= min_pixels:
+                subject |= labels == index
+        subject = ndimage.binary_fill_holes(subject)
+        subject = ndimage.binary_closing(subject, iterations=2)
+
+    out = rgb.copy()
+    bg_pixels = rgb[~subject]
+    if bg_pixels.size:
+        out[~subject] = np.median(bg_pixels, axis=0).astype(np.uint8)
+    return Image.fromarray(out, "RGB").convert(img.mode)
+
+
 def uniform_outline(img: Image.Image, width: int, bg_tolerance: int = 18) -> Image.Image:
     """Paint a constant-width band of the darkest color around the silhouette.
 
@@ -184,12 +228,15 @@ def remove_background(img: Image.Image, tolerance: int) -> Image.Image:
 def preprocess(image: ImageInput, opts: PreprocessOptions | None = None) -> Image.Image:
     """Run the enabled preprocessing steps in order and return an RGBA image.
 
-    Order: tiny-input upscale → denoise → quantize → background removal.
-    Background removal runs last so the cleared alpha is not quantized away.
+    Order: solid background → tiny-input upscale → denoise → flatten → quantize →
+    outline band → background removal. Solid-background runs first so the subject
+    is detected from the original colors before any flattening/quantization.
     """
     opts = opts or PreprocessOptions()
     img = load_image(image, "RGBA")
 
+    if opts.solid_background:
+        img = solid_background(img, opts.subject_threshold)
     if opts.upscale:
         img = upscale_tiny(img, opts.min_dimension)
     if opts.denoise:
diff --git a/tests/test_pipeline.py b/tests/test_pipeline.py
index 18627f9..3024a16 100644
--- a/tests/test_pipeline.py
+++ b/tests/test_pipeline.py
@@ -113,3 +113,13 @@ def test_uniform_outline_is_opt_in_and_color_only():
     # The flag runs without error and still produces a valid color SVG report.
     assert on.mode_used == "color"
     assert on.svg.paths >= 1
+
+
+def test_solid_background_is_opt_in_and_runs():
+    on = convert(
+        str(FIXTURES / "illustration.png"),
+        ConvertOptions(max_iters=1, solid_background=True),
+    )[1]
+    # Off by default elsewhere; on, it still yields a valid color SVG report.
+    assert on.mode_used == "color"
+    assert on.svg.paths >= 1