What is clipping path?

October 24th, 2009, 4:56 am

What is clipping path?

Clipping Path is a Vector Masking technique in many Image Manipulation softwares like: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, CorelDraw, etc. Clipping Path creates a virtual outline around the desired image that needs be isolated or extracted from the rest of the unwanted pixels or bitmaps. Clipping Path never becomes a part of the original image or changes any pixel in the image. It creates a mask around the image to make the unwanted pixels transparent. Clipping Path is a special type of Photoshop Path that helps the image to clip-out the unwanted pixel. In Photoshop, the Paths are drawn with Pentool and then the Photoshop Path is saved as Clipping Path with desired Flatness.

Why Clipping Path is better?

There are many options in Photoshop and other Image Manipulation software to create transparent background, like: Extract Filter, Magic Wand, Quick Mask, etc. None of this these options can provide the crispy outlook of cutout images other than Clipping Path. Moreover, for complex images, some of the other options can take more time. However, in terms of quality of cutout, the is no match for hand-drawn Clipping Path in Photoshop.

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