Clipping path vs. masking - Find out which one is better

Clipping and masking both deliver the similar output for your images. But the process for both is quite different.


Posted on December 26, 2018


Both the techniques are useful for image editing to isolate a particular subject form the background. The trick lies in the method used to isolate the subject. 

What is a clipping path?

Clipping path is used the pen tool to remove the background from the images and makes transparent so that you can change the background as per your requirements. It is usually used when the theme of the image has sharp, smooth edges. This lets the clipping path to stay straight. If the clipping path is drawn poorly, then your images don’t look real. 

The images should be zoomed to up to 200% to get as close to the edge as possible. It’s very important to spend more time when creating a clipping path because it can blemish your brand and cause you to lose sales. In today’s competitive e-commerce scenario, business wants your product photos to stand out in the best possible way.

What is Image Masking?

Image masking is another method of removing the background from an image. This is done with a variety of tools in Photoshop, such as the Background Eraser Tool, Magic Eraser Tool and color separation technique. Removing the background from an image with image masking is applied only when the subject of your image has lots of fine lines and lesser details. The image masking technique depends on a few factors. 

If the image under consideration is very complex, with many shadows and more than one background colors, a combination of image masking techniques is put to action. Images with more complexity require image masking. The background can also be removed with the help of a clipping path, but for complex images, the result doesn’t seem to be more appealing as it would have been with the image masking technique. 

At times, viewers can tell, the image edited with clipping path looks unnatural. In this competitive e-commerce world, outsourcing photo editing tasks can help you grow your business quickly. You can focus on other aspects when other people take care of your editing job. Outsourcing indeed helps online retailers more. 

Many online photo editors have globally acclaimed Clipping Path and image masking professionals who have worked for many media, fashion, printing, e-commerce, photography, and other creative agencies. A team of highly knowledgeable and skilled photo editors, continuously give their best efforts for the best clipping path and image masking services.

Currently, some can even provide more than 5,000 images per day and the usual turnaround time is 24 hours for standard service. They also have express service where the turnaround time is even less than 5 hours and something close to 12 hours for rush service. Get at them soon with your requirements, and then you can wait for the designers to create magic with what they receive from you. Download the files and add them wherever you want and impress your audience to drive your sales further.