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Clipping Path
Single, multiple and complex vector paths cut by hand in Photoshop — the outline every other edit is built on, and the one step that decides whether the rest of the batch holds up.
- From $0.30 per image
- Typical delivery 24–48h
- Revisions included in the rate
- Layered files kept intact
What clipping path is
A clipping path is a vector outline drawn around a subject so it can be separated from its background at any resolution, without the soft or pixelated edge a raster selection leaves behind. It is stored inside the file, so the same path can be reused for a cut-out, a shadow, a colourway variant or a print separation.
We draw paths with the pen tool at full resolution, placing anchor points deliberately rather than letting a tool scatter hundreds of them along an edge. Fewer, better-placed points produce a cleaner curve, a smaller file and an outline your team can actually edit later.
Where a product has internal openings — a handle, a buckle, the gap between a strap and a bag — those become additional subpaths in the same file, so the background drops out of every opening rather than just the outer silhouette.
Who it is for
- Studios that need one reusable outline serving cut-outs, shadows and print separations.
- Apparel and accessory brands with handles, straps, buckles and internal openings in every shot.
- Print and packaging teams who need vector-accurate edges at large output sizes.
- Agencies whose retouchers want an editable path handed over, not a flattened cut-out.
Path complexity, priced honestly
Single path
One closed outline around a simple, well-defined product. Fast and the lowest rate.
Multiple path
Separate subpaths for internal openings, or per-component paths for later colour work.
Complex path
Intricate subjects — jewellery chains, wireframe furniture, dense hardware — drawn point by point.
Editable delivery
The path stored in the PSD or TIFF so your team can reuse or adjust it at any point.
See this work in context
A clipping path is invisible by design — you see its result in every cut-out, shadow and colourway on this site rather than the path itself. The background removal and shadow examples in our portfolio all began as hand-drawn paths.
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.
- Sector-relevant samples on request
- NDA signed before anything is exchanged
- Free trial on your first ten images
Four steps, every time.
Upload
Send files by Dropbox, Drive, WeTransfer or straight to your shared folder.
Share instructions
Add the spec once. We turn it into a style guide and reuse it on every batch.
We edit
Assigned editors work the batch, with an internal QA pass before it leves.
Review & delivery
Typically 24–48 hours, in your formats, with revisions included.
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
What you can hold us to.
Rush slots available on request for campaign deadlines.
Included in the rate, not billed as a second pass.
Layered files kept intact and delivered on request.
No monthly commitment, no retainer required.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a clipping path and image masking?
A path is a hard vector outline, ideal for products with defined edges. Masking handles soft or semi-transparent boundaries — hair, fur, smoke, sheer fabric — where a hard edge would look cut out. Complex subjects often need both, and we combine them on the same file where that is what the image calls for.
Do you deliver the path inside the file?
Yes. The path is saved into the PSD or TIFF and named, so your team can load it as a selection, adjust an anchor point or reuse it for a different treatment without redrawing anything.
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 clipping path priced?
Per image, starting from $0.30, 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.
Often ordered together
Send ten images. See the clipping path.
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