A Quick Guide to Clipping Paths in Adobe Photoshop

The Path to Glory

As a full-time graphic designer now for more than a decade, I've learned and polished multiple skills in manipulating digital photographs. In desktop publishing and design, I often get asked to create a clipping path. Clipping paths allow for the user to isolate a specific portion of an image or photograph. How many times have you seen a print ad for a local car dealer where the man or woman who lends their name to the dealership is seen seen popping out of a star in the top corner, usually from the waist up? That effect is done through the use of a clipping path.

Though there are probably numerous online tutorials on the subject, I would like to offer my method that I find to be not only fast and easy, but also capable of producing superb results.

First, you want to find a photo or section of a photo that you would want to isolate. Essentially, the clipping path is used to mask out the remainder of the photo. In my experience, I have created clips of a single person. Sometimes, a client might want to showcase just their head.

Next, zoom in on the section you want to clip. Select the pen tool and click on a section of the image. A good place to start is either on a flat or open area of a non-organic shape (ie; plate of food, vitamin supplement) or a point/corner on an organic shape (ie; human head). By clicking on the image, you have created an anchor point.

Working from your initial anchor point, you are essentially going to "trace" the perimeter of the section you want to clip. From the initial anchor point, you want click-and-hold the (left) mouse button on a nearby section and while holding the (left) mouse button, use the mouse to draw an accurate curve from Point A to Point B.

When you are comfortable with the curve, release the (left) mouse button. To begin working on Point C and beyond, first hold down the Option key and click the (left) mouse button on the most recent anchor point. This allows the user to lock in the previous curve so when working on each curve/anchor point to follow, the previous curves and anchor points remain intact.