Clipping Paths, Masks

Importing Photoshop files into Illustrator can be frustrating if you're trying to retain Photoshop's transparency. But it's easy once you know...

Chris from Washington using XP Pro, Photoshop 7 and Illustrator 9 writes:

Hello, This is sort of an illustrator question: I need the transparency of a bitmap I'm working on in Photoshop 7 to be transparent in illustrator. When I place a .psd in illustrator, all i get is a white sillouette of my image. very frustrating. Any help would save me hours and hours :) Thank you for your time

We'll just CLIP that white...

TWO ways to do this. No matter which however, you'll need need a "Clipping Path" or a "Clipping Mask"

Hopefully your image has "hard" edges. If it does not have hard edges, you'll need to emulate/ match the background you're placing the image over.
That requires different instructions.

For hard edged subjects:

Make a "Path" for the image, using the tools available for selections, or directly using the pen tool.

"Outline" the object to be 'masked' ... everything outside of the 'path' will be transparent once placed
in the illustrator file.

Use the Pop-out menu in the upper right of the paths palette to pull down to "Clipping Path"

The name of the path in the palette should be outlined indicating it is a clipping path.

Now save the image as a TIFF or EPS.

Now... here's a better one.

Make a clipping path in Illustrator.

Use the pen tools, to carefully outline the object, and then select the path AND the image behind it...
then select:

Object > Clipping Mask > Make

presto!

See our
Paths Seminar (It's for an older version of Photoshop, but the principle is the same.)

Other references which may be helpful:

• * Photoshop Shadows


• * Clipping Tips


• * Masking Tips

See past cases:
http://www.graphic-design.com/Photoshop/Tips/index.html
Or post a new emergency:
http://www.photoshop911.com/emergency.html

Comments

[Rofiqul I. Molla]

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[Clipping path services]

SBL ( www.sblgraphics.com ) is an ISO 9001 quality certified IT enabled service provider specialized in cost-effective quality Web designing, Graphics & Image editing services. SBL's Graphics services include:

*Clipping path and masking services
*Album design
*Banner design
*Logo Designing
*Flash designing
*360 Degree Panorama creation (Panorama Albums-virtual tour)
*Photo Retouching and Restoration Services
*Image manipulation
*Image Enhancement
*Animation & Modelling
*Package design
*Flyer design
*poster designing

Regards,
Image clipping
shehna@sblinfo.com

[savitharaj]

Dear Sir/Mam

This is Savitha Raj from India. i think i could help your business We provide high quality image/photo editing services.
Am working as a freelance Photo shop Designer since last 10 yrs, I have a good knowledge about all Photo shop tools. I have a small team of Eight Photo shop experts, who are working hard to fulfill our clients requirements, we offer best quality, fast service in a very low price
(Price starts from .30 $ per Image) , also have a discount system for large volume of work and long term customers.
We offer these services
* Clipping
* Removing objects, backgrounds, persons etc.
* Photo Retouching
I look forward for a favorable response from you,You can avail the offer of 3 test pictures by sending us email .

With Thanks and Regards,
Savitha R
imageeditingworld@yahoo.com
Skypee :image_editingworld
Mob : +919742901399
India

[savitharaj]

Dear Sir/Mam

This is Savitha Raj from India.i think i could help your business We provide high quality image/photo editing services.
Am working as a freelance Photo shop Designer since last 10 yrs, I have a good knowledge about all Photo shop tools. I have a small team of Eight Photo shop experts, who are working hard to fulfill our clients requirements, we offer best quality, fast service in a very low price
(Price starts from .30 $ per Image) , also have a discount system for large volume of work and long term customers.
We offer these services
* Clipping
* Removing objects, backgrounds, persons etc.
* Photo Retouching
I look forward for a favorable response from you,You can avail the offer of 3 test pictures by sending us email .

Thanks for taking time to read the above, and have a nice time

With Thanks and Regards,
Savitha Raj

[ClippingImages.com]

Nice discussion though. :) You can try www.ClippingImages.com . We are leading in this industry and ISO 9001:2008 certified graphic service provider.

Have a try with our Free trial service.

Thanks
Fuad Ahasan Chowdhury
fuad@clippingimages.com

[SBL clipping path services]

SBL has been specialized in clipping path and image masking for past 5 years and as far as we have a long list of satisfied clients because of high quality work and affordable prices.
Regards,
SBL Graphics
gayathri@sblinfo.com

[Mchilly]

We do clipping path and image masking, if you need some help we can do that for you.

[Parveen Kumar]

I am a freelancer.
If you have images for clipping path in photoshop, i am ready to do so.

mail me if you have some images and we'll start soon.

Thank You
Parveen Kumar
eyegalaxy@gmail.com
+91 9811456394

[Tiffany and Kit]

We have a school project and we need some creative ways to use clipping masks??? ANY HELP

[Hugdg]

Quote: "I have an image of a tinsle bag that needs to be clipped. it is ver hard as the tinsle is too thin and there are plenty of them do u knw and easy way to remove the Background?"

You can try magic wand tool, color range selection. and delete background. but in most case, you still need erase some detail spot. The object edge is not smooth. even can't save time. I'm prefer hand made clipping path. With clipping path image, saved as eps, tiff even jpeg, put it in Quark, Indesin, import mode as "inbed clipping path" will be perfect. Actually I give clipping path job to proknockout.com, they do professional job.their price is fare only charge ten dollar per hour. I do more creative work.

[Juavenita]

I have an image of a tinsle bag that needs to be clipped. it is ver hard as the tinsle is too thin and there are plenty of them do u knw and easy way to remove the Background?

[Adrian]

Is there a way to change the color of the clipping path outlines. So when you are outlining the object you can see the lines.