What is Clipping Path? A Beginner’s Guide to Types, Benefits, Tools, and Pricing

A Clipping Path is a closed vector path created by using the Photoshop pen tool. It precisely outlines an object in an image, allowing you to “cut out” from its background – for manipulation or in another design. There are 8 types of clipping paths: basic, simple, medium, compound, complex, super complex, multiple, and illustrator.

Photoshop clipping paths are used to create product catalogs, combine images in a composite, remove unwanted elements, and so on. This photo editing method is useful for sharp, well-defined edges like clothing, jewelry, electronics, etc. Clipping paths are used in different industries: e-commerce, fashion, real estate, photography, etc.

Different tools are used to clip paths, such as direct selection, path selection, convert point, magnetic pen, and others. However, different clipping paths demand different pricing; for example, a simple clipping path starts at $0.23, whereas a complex clipping path initially costs $5.60. So, before outsourcing clipping path services from a reputed photo editing agency or individuals, check out the pricing structures.

What is Clipping Path in Photoshop?

Clipping path or deep etching in Photoshop is an image editing technique that precisely cuts out an object or item digitally from the background or photo by outlining a vector path with a pen tool.

This edge-by-edge photo editing technique is useful when you have a product against a complex or multicolored background. It is a versatile and precise method for creating vector-based paths or shapes around objects within an image. A clipping path is used when the image’s subject has straightforward edges. For example, electronics, simple accessories, garments, ornaments, etc.

When to Use a Clipping Path?

A clipping path or cutout image technique removes the background from an object or item and creates professional-looking product images, graphic design, hard-edged effects, and more. Here, we’ve highlighted key instances where image clipping paths are useful:

• When you want to display your product against a plain or white background.
• You want a transparent background to showcase product details.
• When you need to place your product in a composite photo with several other products.
• When you want to change a product color or a portion of a product (useful for product collections in multiple colors).
• When you need to isolate your product from the other parts of the photograph.
• As a retoucher, you want the clipping path to fix specific spots in a photo.
• As a photo editor, you want clipping paths for image manipulation.
• Clipping paths are essential in web design to optimize images for online use.

What are the Different Types of Clipping Paths?

There are 8 different types of clipping paths: basic, simple, medium, compound, complex, super complex, multiple, and illustrator clipping path. These categories are defined by two factors: image types and editing complexity.

1. Basic Clipping Path

A basic clipping path is a fundamental image editing technique that is applied on a closed vector path or outline created around a specific object or subject to cut out from the background. Anything outside the path is “clipped out” or hidden to place the object on a different background. It works best for simple shapes (i.e., books, phones, shoes, bags, etc.), clear boundaries, and objects without intricate curves, holes, or complex edges.

Industries that need basic clipping paths: Online retailers, photography, ad agencies, marketing firms, fashion, and apparel require basic clipping path services.

2. Simple Clipping Path

A simple clipping path involves creating a clean, precise outline around a subject with simple, smooth edges, using a pen tool in Adobe Photoshop. This editing technique works best for straight edges, smooth curves, and minimal details like books, furniture, apparel, electronics, etc.

Industries that need simple clipping paths: Fashion industry, manufacturing, packaging, graphic design, etc. 

3. Medium Clipping Path

A medium clipping path is applied when isolating objects with moderately complex shapes or objects with multiple curves and edges. It requires more detailed work compared to a simple path. For example, toys with detailed edges or small parts, cameras, pendants, decorative elements, etc.

Industries that need medium clipping paths: Electronics and technology, food and beverage, automotive industry, etc.

4. Compound Clipping Path

A compound image clipping path is an advanced image editing technique used to create sub-paths or multiple paths within a single image. Basically, it isolates or edits specific parts of an image, keeping other areas intact. For example, editing a fashion model’s outfit, a coffee mug with a separate lid and handles, a bag’s zippers, straps, and so on.

Industries that need compound clipping paths include home decor, electronics, fashion items, art, and printing. 

5. Complex Clipping Path

A complex clipping path is another photo editing technique that creates a highly detailed and precise path around an object. It is applied to complicated shapes, multiple holes, or fine details, such as fur, jewelry photographs, trees, chains, apparel textures, and so on.

Industries that need complex clipping paths: Real estate, industrial and manufacturing, automotive, etc. 

6. Super Complex Clipping Path

A super complex clipping path is used for complex edges like fine hair, lace, transparent objects, etc. Unlike simple or basic clipping paths, super-complex editing techniques represent showcase products or services details. It is an important photo editing technique when multiple objects overlap and must be isolated individually.

Industries that need super complex clipping paths: Apparel industry, jewelry products, architecture photographs, indoor photography, etc. 

7. Multiple Clipping Path

Multiple clipping paths are an advanced photo editing technique that allows you to edit different parts of an image by creating multiple vector paths within the same image. This method is useful for individual adjustments such as color correction, background changes, brightness, contrast, or selective editing. 

Industries that need multiple clipping paths: Web design and development, online advertising, photo editing, etc.

8. Illustrator Clipping Path (Vector Path)

The Illustrator clipping path is creating vector-based paths (resolution-independent) using vector points and curves to create scalable and smooth edge outlines. This editing technique is ideal for high-quality graphic design, logos, illustrations, and print media. It is ideal for complex shapes and designs.

Industries that need Illustrator clipping paths: Printing companies, manufacturing companies, photo studios, drawings, art studios, individual professions, etc.

What are the Benefits of Creating a Photo Clipping Path?

The benefits of the photo clipping path are enhancing image quality with clean edges, improving product presentation in e-commerce and marketing, creating transparent backgrounds, color correction, and so on.

Professional Photographers

For professional photographers, high-quality images are a game-changer in their photography industry. Clipping path service helps photographers get clear, well-composed images without any distractions, making it easier for people to navigate and interact with content. It also helps them to build a professional photography portfolio. Using professional photo clipping path services, photographers get the following advantages:

• Provides flexibility to swap backgrounds or create composite images.
• Enhance subject focus by isolating the main elements.
• Maintain consistency across photo series or portfolios.
• From portraits to product shots, we deliver polished, professional-quality photos that fulfill client needs.
• Saves photographers’ time by investing in their expertise.

E-commerce Retailers

The 3 key factors for e-commerce business success lie in customer experience, effective marketing and branding, and a smooth and secure shopping experience. Clipping path services not only provide uniform backgrounds for product listings and product catalogs but also meet versatility across multiple platforms (websites, social media, and print catalogs). Here are some core reasons why online store owners, product manufacturers, and others require clipping path services:

• Improves product presentation.
• Eliminate distractions & display product key features.
• Fulfills e-commerce platform requirements (i.e., Amazon, eBay, etc.).
• Increases click-through rates with professional-looking product shots.

Advertising and Marketing Agency

The quality of a product image is “very important” in selecting and purchasing the product. Top-notch clipping path services fulfill advertising companies’ commercial goals and convey brands’ professionalism. Here are some key reasons why advertising and marketing agencies use photo clipping paths:

• Provides creative freedom (different backgrounds, overlays, and effects).
• Saves time and resources. 
• Ensure consistency across print, digital, and social media ads.
• Get captivating visuals that align with brand messaging and marketing strategies.

Real Estate Companies

High-quality property images in the best possible light instantly attract viewers, enticing them to explore more property listings. Photoshop clipping path service boosts your real estate company sales by showcasing unique features, architectural details, natural light, spaciousness, and desirable amenities that differentiate it from competitors. Other benefits are:

• Replace dull skies with vibrant ones, remove distracting objects, and so on.
• Highlight the property’s key features, both interior and exterior.
• Allows buyers to visualize the space, leading to quicker property sales.

Social Media Managers

Regarding your business or brand’s social media marketing, high-quality photos and videos help create a positive first impression. Clipping paths help social media managers attract more likes, shares, and comments by isolating subjects and adding creative backgrounds or effects. Other benefits are mentioned below:

• Helps create scroll-stopping content with bold subject isolation.
• Repurpose images across different platforms by applying unique backgrounds.
• Ensures uniform branding through cohesive visual storytelling.

Fashion and Apparel Brands

In the sea of endless fashion brands, the way products are shot and displayed is an essential purchase driver. High-resolution and perfectly cut-out images build people’s engagement and reduce returns rates. From on-model photography to product close-up shots with feature details, clipping path service offers:

• Versatility in marketing (i.e., catalogs, websites, social media, and print ads).
• Consistent branding.
• Excellent product presentation (remove mannequins or ghost mannequin effect, color correction, and more).

How Does Image Clipping Path Work?

An image clipping path in Photoshop works by creating a closed path or vector shape around a specific object or subject. Anything inside the path is visible, while outside will be hidden or “clipped”. The path works as a mask or boundary to remove backgrounds, place images within frames, and so on. Below, we’ve highlighted a step-by-step guide on how clipping paths work:

Select the Subject or Object

The clipping path working process starts by identifying an object or subject within the image that you want to isolate from the backgrounds. This object can be a product, a person, an animal, or others.

Choose a Tool

In the Adobe Photoshop image editing software, you’ll find Pen Tool to create the clipping path. This tool is effective in drawing precise paths with anchor points and handles. If you wish, you can choose other Photoshop tools like direct selection tool, magnetic pen tool, etc.

Create the Path

We use the pen tool to trace the outline of the selected object. So, to do this, click to create anchor points and use the handles to adjust the curvature of the path as needed. Remember, the path encloses the entire object, following its contours accurately.

Close the Path

When you’re done and reach the starting point of your path, close the path by connecting it to the initial anchor point. Now, you’ll notice a boundary around the object.

Convert to a Selection

You can convert the path into a selection to mask the object from the background. To do so, right-click on the path in the Paths Panel and choose “Make Selection.”

Apply the Clipping Path

When the selection is active, you can apply the clipping path effect, which involves copying the selected object to a new layer with a transparent background or applying a mask to hide the background.

Edit as Needed

After applying the clipping path, you can further edit the image, adjust the object, or replace the background.

Save or Export

The most important part is to save or export the edited image in the desired format like PNG, JPEG, or any other.

What Photoshop Tools are Used in Creating a Clipping Path?

The Pen Tool (P) is used to make a clipping path in Photoshop. Other effective tools are the Path Selection tool (A), Direct Selection tool (A), Convert Point tool, Add Anchor Point tool, Delete Anchor Point tool, Quick Selection tool (W), and others. Here’s a breakdown of different Photoshop tools that are used in creating a clipping path or deep etching:

Pen Tool (P)

The pen tool is an important tool for creating clipping paths. It allows you to draw vector paths with anchor points and handles, ensuring smooth edges and precise cutouts. 

How to use it:

• Click the “P” letter from the keyboard to access the pen tool. 
• Use Ctrl/Cmd + Click to adjust anchor points around the subject. 
• Hold Alt/Option to convert smooth points to corner points. 
• Also, use click-and-drag to create curved paths for rounder edges.
• Close the path by connecting the last anchor point to the first.

Direct Selection Tool (A)

Whenever you’ve done path creation using the pen tool, the direct selection tool lets you refine and adjust the anchor points and handles the path perfectly.

How to use it:

• Select the Direct Selection tool from the same tool group as the path selection tool. 
• Click on an anchor point to handle to adjust its curvature or position.

Path Selection Tool (A)

This tool is effective in selecting and moving entire paths rather than individual anchor points or adjusting anchor points after creating a path.

How to use it

• Select the Path Selection Tool from the toolbar.
• Click on the path to select it, and move or adjust it as needed.

Convert Point Tool

This Photoshop tool is used to convert smooth anchor points to corner points and vice versa.

How to use it

• Select the Convery Point Tool hidden under the Pen tool. 
• Click on an anchor point to convert it from smooth to sharp.

Magnetic Pen Tool (Optional)

The tool automatically selects the edges of the subject, making it easier to create paths. 

How to use it

• Select the Freeform Pen Tool from the toolbar.
• Enable the Magnetic option from the toolbar. 
• Click and drag along the edges of the subject. 

Other effective tools are

• Add & Delete anchor point tool: Both tools are part of the pen tool, which allows you to add new anchor points to the path or remove unnecessary anchor points. 
• Quick Selection tool: This tool is used to make rough selections, for more complex or fuzzy edges. Faster; may require more refinement later.

What is Image Masking?

Image masking is another image background removal technique involving various Photoshop tools, such as the Background Eraser tool, Magic Eraser tool, and color separation technique. Masking is a non-destructive editing that hides or reveals certain parts of an image, enabling selective editing and manipulation. Masks are applied on layers and are useful for more complex lines like hair, fur, etc.

Creating a Photoshop clipping mask requires at least 2 layers: a clipping layer that will be clipped and the base layer that determines the mask shape. Image masking is useful in both the raster and vector layers.

What are the Key Differences Between Clipping Path and Photo Masking?

The key difference between clipping path and image masking lies in image background removal techniques. In post-production editing photography, both are applied in a single image and are often interchangeable to enhance and refine images.

Clipping Path

Clipping paths is a vector-based image editing technique where a closed path is drawn around the object and everything outside the path is hidden. This editing method is ideal for complex edges like bottles, jewelry items, and so on. However, clipping paths are less effective for soft or semi-transparent edges. You can apply the clipping path in e-commerce product photography, logo design, print media, and so on.

Photo Masking

Photo masking is a pixel-based editing technique that uses masks to hide or reveal parts of an image. It used selection tools like Layer Masks, Quick Selection Tool, Magic Wand, or Channel Masking to create a mask – defining the visible and transparent areas. This editing method is ideal for complex edges – portrait retouching, fashion photography, and advertising. 

How Much Does Photoshop Clipping Path Services Cost in New York, USA?

The cost of Photoshop clipping path services in New York, USA starts at around $0.50-$0.79 for simple images and can range up to $5.60-$9.80 for complex images, depending on the path complexity, quantity, and clipping path service provider expertise level. Here’s a detailed overview of different factors related to clipping path services pricing:

1. Clipping Path Pricing Based on Types 

Different clipping paths demand different pricing based on editing techniques, bulk image edits, and the types of clipping path services in the USA. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of potential pricing: 

Basic Clipping Path

Basic clipping path costs $0.089 per image. The basic clipping path is applied to remove the backgrounds and create transparent or white backgrounds for selling products on different e-commerce marketplaces, sharing social media platforms, and so on.  

Simple Clipping Path

Simple Clipping Path costs $0.23 per photo. A simple clipping path or photo cutout service deals with a few curves and edges in products or items. For example,

• Simple jewelry accessories
• Vehicles
• Simple clothing item
• A simple item of clothing
• Single furniture items
• Handbags, cups, etc. 

Medium Clipping Path

Medium Clipping Path costs $1.19. The medium image clipping path is applied for objects with complicated edges and multiple-hole objects. Expert photo editors use manual methods to ensure every path cutout is precisely done around the item. For example, 

• A grouping of simple items
• Shoes
• Items of clothing with more complex shapes and curves
• Bicycle wheels cut out, and others.

Compound Clipping Path

Compound Clipping Path price starts from $2.05. A compound clipping path refers to creating a complex, multi-shaped mask combining multiple paths into one, effectively cutting out areas from an image or layer using a single, compound shape. For example,

• Multiple cutout furniture
• Mesh or net objects
• Chains, or more others. 

Complex Clipping Path

Complex Clipping Path cost starts at $5.60. A complex cutout is applied to objects with complicated edges compared to medium ones, multiple holes, and possibly multiple objects or varied levels of transparency. It requires advanced-level clipping path experts and is time-consuming too. For example, 

• Multiple clothing items
• Furniture sets
• Stollers, and many others.

Super Complex Clipping Path

Super Complex Clipping Path price starts at $9.88. Photoshop experts applied a super complex clipping path to remove backgrounds, and objects from images, creating complex shapes, soft edges, and more. Item lists are:

• Jewelry 
• Furry dolls
• People in groups
• Furniture
• Clothing, and more others. 

Multiple Clipping Path

Multiple Clipping Path price costs $$10.50. Multiple Photoshop clipping paths involve creating multiple separate paths within a single image using the pen tool. Here, to give a product or item a natural, realistic look with perfect finished editing. Item lists are:

• Multiple cutout furniture
• Mesh or net objects
• Complex jewelry or chains, more.

Illustrator Clipping Path

Illustrator Clipping Path’s cost starts at $11.50 per image. An illustrator clipping path is a vector shape or path that graphic experts use to create precise cutouts or define areas for special effects in your product designs. They convert image pixel information to geometric objects to vectorize your raster images. For example,

• Product vector design
• Vector illustration drawing
• Billboard, logo vector design, and leaflet
• Converting JPG and bitmap into vector format, and more.

2. Different Clipping Path Pricing Structure

The renowned post-production industry offers different clipping path pricing structures considering:

Hourly Paid Rate

The approximate hourly rate is $2.07 to $55 or more, depending on image complexity, customized requirements, and Photoshop skills. If you outsource from an entry-level or freelancer who has limited photo editing expertise, the price will be lower, but you might not get professional editing. By outsourcing from a renowned photo editing agency, you’ll get several pricing rates, such as Clipping Path Studio offers:

Clipping Path Types	Hours	Rate
Simple	12 hours	$0.41
	24 hours	$0.29
	48 hours	$0.23
Medium	12 hours	$2.09
	24 hours	$1.49
	48 hours	$1.19
Complex	12 hours	$9.80
	24 hours	$7.00
	48 hours	$5.60

Flat Rate Pricing Structure

In clipping path services, the flat rate pricing structure refers to a fixed, predetermined price charged for each image, regardless of complexity or time spent. This offers clients a simple and predictable cost. So, contact the company to get an idea about their flat rate pricing plans. 

Project Fees Pricing

From basic to complex clipping paths or retouching rates depend on image volume, editing complexity, and companies’ pricing policies. So, it’s ideal to consult with your chosen agency, before assigning your bulk or small photo editing projects. 

Service Packages 

When you outsource from a reputed photo editing company with in-house Photoshop experts, you’ll get different service packages, such as Clipping Path Studio Offers 3 packages for clipping path services:

• Simple ($0.41): 12 hours
• Medium ($1.49): 24 hours
• Complex ($5.60): 48 hours

However, in this pricing structure, you’ll notice several options and upgrades too. 

3. Bulk Image Order Pricing

Clipping path pricing for bulk orders varies from company to company. There are different factors the company counts before offering discounts, such as:

• Volume-based discounts
• Fixed rates per image
• Percentage discounts (on the total cost) and 
• Long-term contracts

4. Additional Associated Cost

Sometimes, you may require other services, such as color correction or shadow creation, to give your product image a polished and professional look. On the other hand, some photo editing agency charges additional revisions with different photo editing requirements and some offer 5 revisions free. So, contact your outsourced photo editing agency for in-depth information.

Final Overview

Here is a summary of what the clipping path article has covered so far.

• Image clipping path or deep etching is a photo editing technique that cuts out a subject from an image by outlining a vector path with the Adobe Photoshop pen tool. It is useful for precise image manipulation, background removal & replacement, creating transparent PNGs and GIFs, color correction, and so on.
• There are 8 types of clipping paths based on editing complexity: basic, simple, medium, compound, complex, super complex, multiple, and illustrator.
• Industries that need image-clipping path services are e-commerce retailers, professional photographers, real estate companies, advertising and marketing agencies, social media managers, and fashion brands.
• Clipping paths requires expert hands and experience with different Photoshop tools, including pen, direct selection, path selection, convert point, magnetic pen, and so on.
• The pricing structure of Photoshop clipping path services is based on clipping path types, hourly paid rates, service packages, bulk image ordering, and other additional costs.