What is the Difference Between Clipping Path Vs Mask? [2021]

Clipping path and image masking are both photo editing techniques that are used to remove background from image. Photoshop has quite a few techniques of isolating images from the backdrop. Clipping path service and image masking are two of them. The main difference between clipping path vs mask is the way in which we isolate the subject from its background.

There may be one question that if both these techniques do the same task, then why do both still exist. Clipping path service and masking do the same task but the scenario is different. I will explain the difference between clipping path vs mask in this article. But before that let’s have a peek at the definitions.

Table of Contents

1. What is Clipping Path?

2. What is Image Masking?

3. Clipping Path Vs Mask

What is Clipping Path?

Clipping path, as I have mentioned, is a way of removing background from photo. You have to do clipping path using photoshop pen tool. This requires expert hands to create a flawless path. We need this for hard and sharp edges like boxes, bottles, watches, ornaments, etc.

Though clipping path is a time-consuming process, professionals use it for accuracy. You gotta know the secret of doing an accurate clipping path. The technique is zooming in the image to get a clear vision of the edges.

With Clipping Path service, professionals create a shape or a close vector path. Through this shape or vector path, you can cut out a portion of an image. For this, you have to use the Pen Tool. This is the most professional way of removing background from an image.

You can do other things than removing the background with the help of a clipping path. Through the Clipping path, you can crop out a portion of an image. You can also change only a small region in the image. It also allows to change colors and create shadows in the picture. Clipping Path lets you draw a path around an image using Pen Tool easily. On the contrary, we can also use the Clipping Path to do much more complex things. For instance, we can split an image into different parts and use each part separately in an image. To sum up, you should use clipping path techniques to remove bg from photos to have a professional result.

What is Image Masking?

Image masking is a way of removing a photo background as well, like Clipping Path. Experts create image masking using a few tools in Photoshop. Background Eraser Tool, Magic Eraser Tool, and color separation technique, for instance, are major among those.

We need image masking when the image has complex lines and fuzzy edges. Furry sweaters, fur on a stuffed animal, or hair on a model, for instance, are a few among those. A mask is most useful to keep the details of the furry lines.

There are few factors on which the image masking process depends. You may need to use more than one mask from time to time. If the image has shadows or multiple background colors, for instance, you may need to use multiple masking.

There are two types of masking. They are clipping masks and layer masks. A clipping mask controls the visibility of another Layer. The clipping mask uses content and transparency to control visibility. On the contrary, a layer mask shows and hides different parts of the layer uses black and white colors.

To conclude, Image masking is a process of eliminating image background using software like Photoshop. This is best to hide some portions of an image and to reveal some portions. Masking is a non-destructive, efficient, and creative process of image editing.

Clipping Path Vs Mask

There are multiple variances between the Clipping Path vs Mask. As I mentioned before, they both do a similar type of editing but the way is different. Experts use both of these processes basing on the subject. It is related to the image category and the working style as well. Therefore, it is essential to know the differences between these two for better editing. Let’s have a look at the differences between them. The discussion will be on the following-

1. Edge of the subject
2. Destructive and non-destructive
3. Compatibility
4. Image type
5. Harshness and Smoothness
6. Time Consumption

Edge of The Subject:

Clipping Path is best for subjects with hard edges. You can easily make a selection of the subject by creating a path and then isolate it from the background. On the other hand, Masking is not good for images with hard edges. Because the selection of the subject with masking will consume more time and work. Therefore, the final result may not be appropriate and satisfactory.

On the contrary, subjects with soft and thin edges are good to handle with image masking. If you use Clipping Path in the image with soft edges, you will lose the details. So, to keep details with softness, there is no substitute for Masking. However, sometimes you may have to use both Clipping Path and Masking in some images. Because sometimes an image contains both hard and soft edges.

Compatibility:

Undoubtedly, Compatibility is the most important matter while separating the subject from an image. You gotta select the right approach while editing any image. Depending on the subject type you have to select the method with expertise. Sometimes, it is hard to say which one is more effective for a few images, the Clipping Path or the Masking. Because once in a while you may have a subject that has soft edges and hard edges both. In such a case, both the Clipping Path and the Masking, are consistent. You will need Clipping Path for the hard part and Masking for the soft parts.

If you have to employ both of these, use the Clipping Path at the beginning. Use the Masking at the end because it is better that way. If you mask first and clip later, the approach will be wrong. You may need to do the masking again if you do that. As a result, you will waste time and labor.

Destructive and Non-destructive:

A clipping path is basically best for basic or simple-shaped subjects. It is also good for complex sharp edges. But the process is destructive. That means, once you make a path using the pen tool, you cannot go back to the previous form. Although there is an option of editing the points still, it is destructive.

On the other hand, in Masking, handling complex, super complex subjects are quite easy. In a word, Image masking is non-destructive. That means it is possible to go back to any step and reveal or hide any part you want image masking. Therefore, whatever you do for editing, the actual details are always safe to recover.

Harshness and Smoothness:

The images with products or models that have thin edges need Masking. For keeping the smoothness, image masking is a must. But sometimes the product images need clipping path service for straight and sharp edges for a better look.

Image Type:

Image type is the prime focusing thing. The subject of the image may have a sharp-edge, soft-edge, solid color background, or a multicolored background. If the subject has hard-edges, a clipping path is best for it. It doesn’t matter if the image background contains multiple colors, opacity, softness, and hardness. Because only Clipping Path is the best method to separate a hard-edged subject from any image.

On the contrary, if the subject has soft & furry edges and the background has busy textures, Masking is a must. It is not possible to cut out these types of subjects from their background properly with the Clipping Path method. It will look unnatural. Only masking can provide a satisfactory result.

Time Consumption:

There is a proverb that time and tide wait for none. Time is extremely essential in human life. You can’t take as much time as you need for altering an image. Because it will impede productivity. And in the end, you may lose the project. Therefore, it is very crucial to pick the editing approach cautiously. Do not attempt to force one technique to meet another one. When you require the Clipping Path method, you should not use Masking or vice versa. For the images that need both techniques, you should go for the Clipping Path first and Masking later. Because it is better in this manner.

There is no question that we need both the Clipping Path and The Masking for the altering. You just have to know both the altering techniques appropriately before using Clipping Path and Masking.

How Clipping Amazon Can Help?

Clipping Amazon is able to provide high-quality clipping path service and image masking service in contemporary times. We have a highly skilled team that focuses on their own fields. So we are fully capable of providing all kinds of image processing services around the world.

Also, we guarantee security and privacy in every photo of our customers. Time is very precious. So, we assure our clients to deliver their products on time. We also do our work at a really low cost.

For more information, you can visit our website- www.clippingamazon.com