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How Do I Make a Clipping Path in Photoshop?

Last updated on January 24, 2023 @ 11:26 am

If you’re a graphic designer, sooner or later you’ll need to learn how to make a clipping path in Photoshop. A clipping path is an outline created around an image that tells Photoshop which part of the image to keep and which to discard. Clipping paths are essential for removing background elements from photos and for isolating objects in images.

Creating a clipping path is actually quite simple, but it does require a little bit of precision. In this article, we’ll show you how to make a clipping path in Photoshop so that you can start isolating objects in your images.

How to Make a Clipping Path in Photoshop

First, open your image in Photoshop. Then, select the “Pen Tool” from the toolbar on the left side of the screen. The Pen Tool allows you to draw precise paths around objects in an image.

Next, zoom in on the area of the image that you want to isolate. Then, begin drawing a path around the object with the Pen Tool.

As you draw, anchor points will appear. These anchor points mark the beginning and end of your path.

PRO TIP: When creating a clipping path in Photoshop, it is important to be careful not to create a path that is too complex. A complex path can be difficult to edit and can result in unpredictable results. It is also important to make sure that the path is closed before attempting to clip the image.

To create a straight line segment, click once with the Pen Tool to create an anchor point. To create a curved line segment, click and drag with the Pen Tool to create an anchor point. You can always go back and adjust your path by adding or removing anchor points.

Once you’ve drawn your path, make sure that the “Paths” layer is selected in the Layers panel. Then, go to Select > inverse. This will select everything outside of your path.

Finally, press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+I (Mac) to inverse your selection. Then, press Ctrl+X (Windows) or Cmd+X(Mac) to cut out the object that you’ve isolated with your clipping path.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Now you know how to make a clipping path in Photoshop.

This simple technique can be used to isolate objects in images so that they can be removed or placed on a new background. With a little practice, you’ll be able to master this essential graphic design skill in no time!

Drew Clemente

Drew Clemente

Devops & Sysadmin engineer. I basically build infrastructure online.