Clipping Path vs. Masking: What’s the Difference

Searching for **masking** or **clipping path** help? Lots of folks get these photo tricks confused. They might seem similar, but they’re actually very different.

Clipping path refers to the outline of an image. It is most often used for images containing many different colors and shades, like a photo of clothing or food. Masking is primarily used when you want to change the color scheme of an image. It’s also useful for pictures with soft edges or lots of tiny details like a picture of a flower.

For businesses, product photos are the most common type of image that requires either a clipping path or masking services. It may seem like a small detail. However, getting the right technique for your product photos can make a big difference in how customers receive them.

Some professional photo editing services offer both clipping path and masking services. If you’re unsure which one you need for your image, speak with the editor about their experience and the types of images they typically work with.

In this guide, we will look at the key differences between clipping path and masking to choose the right technique for your product photos.

In this guide:

• What is a clipping path?
  • Types of clipping paths
• Clipping Path vs. Masking: What’s the Difference?
• Benefits of Working with Professional Clipping Path Services

What is a clipping path?

A clipping path is a type of photo editing technique that involves outlining the shape of an image. This may be used for images with many colors and details, such as product photos or photos of clothing or food. Professional photo editors typically perform Clipping paths and are often included as part of a wider set of photo editing services, such as masking or color correction.

Types of clipping paths

These are the different types of clipping paths.

• Single-layer clipping path: This type of clipping path is used for images with simple, soft edges. It involves outlining the shape of an image using a single layer in Photoshop.
• Multi-layer clipping path: A multi-layer clipping path may be more suitable for more detailed or complex images. This technique uses multiple layers to create a precise outline around the image, which can be more time-consuming than a single-layer clipping path.
• Chroma key: A chroma key is a type of clipping path that involves selecting a specific color in an image and making it transparent. This technique is commonly used for images that will be superimposed on another image or background, such as product photos on a website or print materials.
• Multilayer clipping path: A Multilayer clipping path is a more advanced photo editing technique that uses multiple layers to create a precise outline around the image. This technique is often used for more detailed or complex images, as it can be more time-consuming than a single-layer clipping path.
• Illustrator clipping path: An illustrator clipping path is created using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator. This technique is used for images with clean lines and shapes, such as logos or illustrations.

Clipping Path vs. Masking: What’s the Difference?

A clipping path is a technique in photo editing used to remove the background from an image. This may be done for a variety of reasons, such as to focus on the product itself or to make the image look more polished and professional.

Some common scenarios where you may need clipping path services to include:

• Product photos for use on a website or print materials
• Photos of jewelry, clothing, or other items that need to look professional and polished
• Photos for advertisements or marketing materials
• Images for photo editing services such as masking, color correction, and retouching

For example, if you’re a car dealer, clipping path services can remove the background from product photos so that customers can more clearly see and focus on the car itself.

Jewelers find clipping path services essentially helpful in editing images of their precious diamonds and gems. Clipping path services can be used to remove the background from these images, making them look more polished and beautiful.

This is also important, especially for clothing retailers, and you want to use product photos for your website or print materials. A clipping path can be used to remove the background from the image so that customers can focus on the products without distractions from the background.

On the other hand, image masking is the process of isolating a particular object in a photograph. This can be done using various tools like pen, lasso, Quick Selection, etc., in Photoshop to retain the desirable content while erasing the background. The result is similar to that of the clipping path, but masking is used for photos with complex structures.

Masking services are generally used for the following:

• Complex images with soft edges or small details
• Changing the color scheme of an image
• Removing unwanted elements from an image
• Adding new elements to an image
• Creating image collages

For example, if you’re a florist, masking services can be used to remove the background from images of flowers so that customers can see the bouquet more clearly. Masking can also be used to change the color of the flowers in an image or add new elements like ribbons or bows.

Masking can also be used in generating image collages. This is especially helpful for businesses who want to create marketing materials or advertisements with multiple images.

So, which technique should you use?

The best way to determine whether a clipping path or masking is right for your image is to speak with a professional photo editor about your project. They will be able to assess the image and recommend the best technique based on their experience and expertise.

For businesses looking to improve the quality of their product photos, professional clipping path service providers can get the look and feel that you want to achieve.

Ultimately, choosing between clipping path and masking will depend on your individual business needs, as well as the type of image you’re working with. By understanding the key differences between the two, you will be able to effectively hire a service that suits your needs without the extra cost.

Benefits of Working with Professional Clipping Path Services

While it is tempting to do your own clipping paths, it is often best to leave this work to the professionals.

Some of the common mistakes in doing clipping paths include:

• Missing small details on the images that are critical to your business.
• Not having the right tools and software to do the job correctly.
• Not being familiar with image editing techniques, such as masking and opacity.
• Incorrectly removing image backgrounds, resulting in a messy or uneven appearance
• Not fully understanding the guidelines for creating clipping paths leading to errors and imperfections

Any of these mistakes can be avoided by choosing to work with professional photo editing services. Outsourcing can also help you save money as some mistakes can get costly and time consuming to repair as compared to getting it done correctly the first time.

Benefits of working with professional clipping path services include:

• Expertise and experience: A professional photo editor will have years of experience in using the right techniques and tools for different types of images. This can help you achieve better results, faster, and with less frustration than if you were to attempt the process yourself.
• Save time and money: Professional photo editors have access to high-quality tools, which can help you save time and effort on your project. In addition, most services offer competitive rates for their work, so working with a professional clipping path service may be more affordable than you think.
• Peace of mind: When you work with a professional, you can be confident that your project is in good hands. At Pixel by Hand, we will give you the peace of mind you need, knowing that you will get top quality results each and every time.
• Improved image quality: A professional clipping path service will have the tools and software needed to create high-quality product photos. This means that your images will look more polished and professional, helping you to improve your brand image.

If you need reliable and fast clipping path services for your business, contact us today. You can also use our chatbox below to learn about our image editing process. Our team of experienced photo editors is ready to assist you with all your clipping path needs.

Clipping Path Services by Pixel By Hand

In conclusion, there are many different photo editing techniques that can be used to improve your product photos. While clipping path and masking are commonly used to remove the background from images, they each have their unique benefits and drawbacks.

Pixel By Hand is one of the leading providers of clipping path services, with years of experience in the industry. We provide businesses with a range of image retouching and editing services, including single-layer and multi-layer clipping paths, to help you achieve the perfect results for your product photos.

Whether you’re looking to remove the background from your images, change the color scheme, or adjust other elements, our experts can help. Contact us today or use the chatbox below to learn more about our services. You can also get started with a FREE trial. Simply signup for an account and we can edit your first batch of photos for FREE.