Once and For All – What is an Image Clipping Path?

You may have heard a lot about a clipping path when it comes to image editing services. A clipping path is both a ‘method’ and a ‘thing.’ The command / process is very important for almost all aspects of image editing. Without clipping paths, you can’t remove a background from an image, add shading, crop, and more.

While a clipping path is a very crucial part of image editing, the term has also often been kind of vague. Our company offers clipping path services, and here is exactly what that is:

Clipping Path Defined

What is the purpose of the handmade clipping path in Photoshop? https://t.co/OkgnD2SjX6

— karenschmidt (@karenschmidt735) January 15, 2017

A clipping path is a closed shape that is used to cut out a 2D image. Anything contained inside the path is included in the new image, while everything outside the path is omitted. Sections inside the clipping paths can also be cut out. This particular method is known as a ‘compound’ path and it’s basically a cutout with a hole in it.

A clipping set can also be used to preserve everything outside the path. An ‘inclusive’ path is where you want to ‘save’ everything inside the path. An ‘exclusive’ path saves everything outside the cutout.

Why Do Companies Offer Clipping Path Services

The process of obtaining the clipping path is very detailed, which is why it is a job best left for professionals. The reason for this is because images can have many curves, points, etc. that must all be included (or excluded) from the image. Failure to include the entirety of the image makes the edit look unprofessional. Including the background and unwanted portions in the clipping path has the same effect.

The combination of obtaining the clipping path relies on software as well as experience. The clipping path has the best results when the markers are drawn around the object slowly and with a steady hand. If there are some unwanted portions picked up in the clipping path, they can be edited out with some other techniques.

Who Can Benefit From Clipping Path Services?

If your company features images in any manner, it’s likely that you can benefit from the use of clipping paths. Image editing is done frequently for e-commerce sites, but can also be beneficial for social media and personal web pages. Images may need to be modified for use as logos and on business cards.

Of course the customers looking for clipping path the most often are in the photography field. Advertising agencies, web designers, and online businesses are also typical clients. Once again if you have an image, you can utilize clipping paths in some way, shape, or form.

Clipping Paths Are the Gateway to Other Editing Methods

You may have questions about what you do with an image after you cut it out with clipping paths. The most obvious command is to paste it in a new file, letting the cutout stand alone. That being said, the clipping path can be used to separate part of an image from its remaining parts allowing you to edit just that section.

Once you’ve got part of an image separated from its background, the edits you can apply include:

• Shadowing – placing a part of an image into a new file allows us to add shadow effects. These are especially valuable in e-commerce as it shows the product in more of a ‘real’ light.
• Mirroring – adding a reflective image of the product gives it a 3D look and a glassy appearance.
• Vector conversion – convert logos and other images into fully scaleable vector graphics. Vector images can be scaled for use in banners, posters, etc. whereas raster images show pixels when enlarged.

These are just a few capabilities made possible by the use of clipping paths. If you have more questions or still don’t fully understand the process, feel free to give us a call today or For more information, please visit www.skytechicon.com