Clipping Path vs Image Masking: Which Do You Need?
Choose by the edge: sharp edges get a path, soft or see-through edges get a mask.
Updated
| Clipping path | Vector outline, hard edges, smallest files, cheapest |
|---|---|
| Image masking | Pixel-level, keeps soft and semi-transparent edges |
| Use a path for | Bottles, boxes, shoes, electronics, furniture |
| Use a mask for | Hair, fur, lace, glass, smoke, fine fabric edges |
Clipping path
A path is a vector outline drawn around the subject. Everything inside stays, everything outside goes. The edge is crisp, which is exactly right for rigid products and what most marketplaces want.
It is the faster and cheaper option, and the outline can be saved with the file for later changes.
Image masking
A mask works on individual pixels and keeps partial transparency. That preserves the strands of hair, the fuzz on a knit, the see-through part of a glass bottle.
It takes longer, so it costs more per image. Using a path on these subjects leaves a cut-paper look that buyers notice.
How to decide
Zoom into the edge of the product. If it is a clean line, a path is enough. If you see wisps, fibres or transparency, you need a mask. Mixed batches are normal: we price each image by its own complexity.
Questions
Is masking always better than a clipping path?
No. For hard-edged products a path is cleaner, cheaper and faster. A mask on a hard edge adds cost without improving the result.
Can I send both types in one batch?
Yes. Send the whole batch and we choose the method per image. The free trial shows which tier your images fall into.