After
Before
Home / Services / Image Editing / Image Masking
Image editing service
Image Masking
Hair, fur, layer and alpha masking for subjects a hard path cannot handle — soft edges, fine detail and semi-transparency preserved rather than cut away.
- From $0.50 per image
- Typical delivery 24–48h
- Revisions included in the rate
- Layered files kept intact
What image masking is
Masking is what you use when a hard outline would destroy the subject. Flyaway hair, fur, feathers, sheer fabric, netting, smoke and glass all have edges that are partly transparent — a path cuts straight through them and leaves a subject that looks stamped onto its new background.
A mask records how opaque every pixel is rather than simply whether it is in or out. Strands of hair keep their softness, a chiffon sleeve stays translucent, and the subject sits on the new background convincingly at full resolution.
The work that makes this look right is colour decontamination: removing the fringe of the old background that clings to every soft edge. Skip it and a model shot against green will keep a green rim on every hair no matter how good the mask is. We handle it as part of the job.
Who it is for
- Fashion and beauty studios with model shots that need a new background.
- Agencies compositing people or products into campaign artwork.
- E-commerce teams selling anything transparent — glassware, eyewear, bottles, sheer fabric.
- Pet, textile and homeware brands where fur and weave detail carry the product.
- Anyone who has received cut-outs with a visible halo and had to send them back.
What we provide
Masking by edge type
Hair & fur masking
Strand-level separation with colour decontamination, so no rim of the old background survives.
Layer masking
Non-destructive masks on layered files, editable by your team after delivery.
Alpha & transparency
Glass, liquid, netting and sheer fabric kept genuinely translucent against the new background.
Background replacement
White, transparent, brand colour or a supplied lifestyle scene, matched for light direction.
Examples
Before and after
After
Before
Drag the divider to compare. This is real production output, not a demonstration file — the same standard every batch is measured against.
Most of what we produce is delivered white-label and published under our clients’ names, so only cleared work appears in the public portfolio. If you need to see something closer to your own sector, ask — we can usually share a relevant example privately, under NDA if you prefer.
Our workflow
Four steps, every time.
01
Upload
Send files by Dropbox, Drive, WeTransfer or straight to your shared folder.
02
Share instructions
Add the spec once. We turn it into a style guide and reuse it on every batch.
03
We edit
Assigned editors work the batch, with an internal QA pass before it leves.
04
Review & delivery
Typically 24–48 hours, in your formats, with revisions included.
Production capability
A short, professional toolchain.
No novelty software. The industry standard, used properly, with layered files kept intact so your team can pick the work back up at any point.
Editing & finishing
- PsAdobe PhotoshopRetouching · masking · compositing
- LrAdobe LightroomBatch colour · exposure · consistency
- AiAdobe IllustratorVector paths · raster-to-vector
- CrAdobe Camera RawRAW conversion · exposure recovery
Files & handoff
- DbDropboxShared production folders
- GDGoogle DriveReview & approval rounds
- WtWeTransferOne-off bulk delivery
- FTPYour FTP / DAMWe work inside your system
Quality, turnaround & revisions
What you can hold us to.
Turnaround
24–48h
Rush slots available on request for campaign deadlines.
Revisions
Included
Included in the rate, not billed as a second pass.
Formats
JPG · PNG · TIFF · PSD
Layered files kept intact and delivered on request.
Minimum order
1 image
No monthly commitment, no retainer required.
Why Fix The Subject
What working with us actually looks like.
Reliable workflow
A named contact, a documented spec per client and a predictable 24–48 hour cycle.
Clear pricing
Per-image rates that scale with volume, quoted per account after a test batch.
Support that answers
Overlapping cover across North American, European and Asian hours.
Secure file handling
NDA on request, white-label output and free storage for up to six months.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Will the new background look believable?
That depends on matching light direction and colour temperature, not just on the mask. We check the subject against the destination background and adjust the edge and colour so it sits in the scene rather than floating on it. Send the background you intend to use and we will match to it.
Can you rescue a shot taken against a difficult background?
Usually. Busy or low-contrast backgrounds make the job slower rather than impossible, and that shows in the tier rather than in a refusal. Send a representative frame and we will tell you honestly what it will cost and what the result will look like.
How long does a batch take?
Typical delivery is 24–48 hours, depending on image quantity, complexity, resolution and quality requirements. Larger catalogue drops are booked into a scheduled slot so you get a committed date rather than an estimate, and rush work can usually be accommodated if you tell us the deadline up front.
How is image masking priced?
Per image, starting from $0.50, adjusted for complexity and volume. Recurring accounts are quoted after a test batch so the rate reflects your actual files rather than an average. Send a representative sample and we will tell you which tier your work falls into before you commit.
What do you need from me to start?
The files, the output you need, and any reference. If you have approved finals from a previous shoot, send two or three — we will match those rather than applying our own defaults, and we write what we derive into a style guide reused on every batch that follows.
Are revisions included?
Yes. If a file did not match the written spec, correcting it is our cost, not a second charge. Revisions are part of the rate.
Need more clarity?
Ask us anything about the work, the process or the commercials — you will get a straight answer from a person, not a sales sequence.
Related services
Often ordered together
Send ten images. See the image masking.
A free trial on your first order, no card required. If the output isn’t at your standard, you owe us nothing.
- NDA on request before you send a single file · typical delivery 24–48h