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Everything You Need to Know about Clipping Path Services

Ok, I admit, clipping path is one of the most boring and time consuming jobs in the world. So whether you are a photographer, designer or catalog manager, if you find yourself frowning at the thought of clipping paths (possible symptoms also include increased heart rate, perspiration, shortness of breath, muscle pain, nausea, etc.), consider it nature’s way of telling you it’s time to outsource this arduous task. Your first step? Read this article.

Clipping Path 101

I know there are many technical definitions of clipping path out there, but let’s keep it simple and to the point here: a clipping path is a hand-drawn outline used to cut out part(s) of a digital image in image editing software. It allows a certain part of the image to be precisely isolated from its surroundings without any alternation to its original shape. The most common (and usually the default) application of clipping path is background removal. This is a widely used image processing procedure in various industries such as graphic design, print media, advertising, photography, and retail.

An Overview of Clipping Path Services

There are about a million reasons why clipping path outsourcing can be beneficial; and if you are reading this article, you can probably come up with a couple of your own. The truth is, clipping path service is the kind of businesses that just make sense, because:

Background removal is a necessary and routine image processing procedure in the graphic industry, and in some cases, like catalog management for example, clipping path works are often needed in very large quantities.
The process of clipping path is extremely labor intensive and largely repetitive; moreover, the non-creative nature of this procedure makes it easily deliverable and closely controlled.
Like everything else, the bottom line here is that outsourcing can help reach optimum cost efficiency – often cutting the image processing cost by over 50%, as compared to hiring in-house or contractor graphic personnel.
As a lot of clipping path companies offer round-the-clock service, the time saved in the outsourcing process is often significant as well.

Most clipping path services are based in Asia, with a concentration in South Asia, namely Bangladesh and India. The list below summarizes the workflow of most of these services:

The client uploads images and instructions (through an upload form, file hosting service, or FTP).
The clipping path company processes the images and returns a download link when they are finished,
The client is billed for the service. (Some companies request payment upfront or before they deliver the results.)

The cost of a clipping path job can vary greatly from $0.25 to over $10. Fortunately, a lot of companies do offer free trials and quotes, so you can test the quality of service and control the cost before you make a purchase.

Things to Know Before Outsourcing

Sounds good so far? Then let’s break down this business a little further. We’ve talked a lot about the benefits of clipping path outsourcing, but every coin has two sides, and let me be honest and speak from my personal experiences, this gold key can sometimes open the door to frustration and trouble as well. To avoid these pitfalls, here are a few things you need to know:

1.Complexity of clipping path

The cost of a clipping path job is largely decided by its difficulty, and naturally, the difficulty of a clipping path depends on the shape and complexity of the object’s outline (compare these two images). By convention, a clipping path is inclusive, meaning it outlines the part to be preserved. In some cases, more than one path is needed to cut out the desired objects – a geekier term for that is “compound path”. A compound path combines multiple paths, both inclusive and exclusive. For example, to cut out an object with a “hole” in it, you’ll need an exclusive path inside an inclusive path.

2.Clipping path vs. mask

Now these two terms can be very confusing - you see them in different contexts referring to different concepts. So let me cut the chase and give you the bullet points:

A clipping path is a selection made by drawing a “hard” vector outline by using the “Pen Tool” in Photoshop®.
A mask (aka. alpha channel) is a pixel-based selection. It is a collection of pixels made based on the color of each pixel. There are many tools that can be used to create masks/alpha channels.
A vector based clipping path allows the selected shape to be scaled indefinitely without degrading quality.
A mask allows the selection to retain fine details such as wind swept hair or fur – a result that cannot be achieved by clipping path.
Even when a service is labeled “clipping path service”, their graphic technicians will most likely utilize both clipping paths and masks to achieve the desired results, which is usually background removal.

A clipping path is a selection made by drawing a “hard” vector outline by using the “Pen Tool” in Photoshop®.
A mask (aka. alpha channel) is a pixel-based selection. It is a collection of pixels made based on the color of each pixel. There are many tools that can be used to create masks/alpha channels.
A vector based clipping path allows the selected shape to be scaled indefinitely without degrading quality.
A mask allows the selection to retain fine details such as wind swept hair or fur – a result that cannot be achieved by clipping path.
Even when a service is labeled “clipping path service”, their graphic technicians will most likely utilize both clipping paths and masks to achieve the desired results, which is usually background removal.

3. Resolution and file format

Another factor that affects the difficulty (and therefore, the cost) of a clipping path job is the resolution of the image. This may not be obvious at first but it’s not difficult to understand: the higher the resolution of an image, the longer the outline of a certain object, and the more time a graphic technician will have to spend to draw along such an outline. So before you send out your clipping path jobs, think about how the images will be used, and whether high resolution is really necessary.

While you are on that, give the image formats some thought as well. Different formats offer different features that fulfill different needs. Some basic knowledge on this topic can help you make an informed decision when outsourcing. So now let’s take a look at the 4 most commonly used image formats in this industry:

JPEG: this is the most widely used and commonly accepted format. It provides a nice compromise between the image quality and storage size. However, the typical use of JPEG is a “lossy” compression method, meaning that an image loses it original quality after repeated editing. Moreover, JPEG format does not support transparency or animation.

PNG: short for Portable Network Graphics, PNG is a newer format that offers some unique advantages. PNG supports true variable transparency, as well as color consistency across different operating systems. It also uses “lossless” compression, which protects the image quality through repeated editing. Although PNG format produces slightly larger files than JPEG, it is still considered the optimum format for web use and for storage of images that contain sharp transitions.

TIFF: the Tagged-Image File Format is a more advanced image format that provides many options for image editing. Like PNG, TIFF is a lossless format that supports transparency. Moreover, TIFF makes it possible to store editing data with the image in one file – it supports both alpha channels and vector paths, as well as layers and pages. It is a useful generic format that is compatible with most image editing applications, but is not widely supported by web browsers. TIFF is also much larger in file size than JPEG or PNG formats.

PSD: short for Photoshop Document, PSD is the native format of the most powerful and undeniably dominant image editing application – Photoshop®, and thus the most comprehensive format of all. This application-specific format provides maximum editability but minimum compatibility. It stores the most advanced editing data, and is also the largest in file size. In many cases, TIFF is a great alternative to PSD format for most general editing purposes.

Outsource Like a Pro

The three keys to successful clipping path outsourcing are: communication, communication, and most importantly, communication. Trust me, the last thing you want is to outsource your clipping path work with the hope of an easier time for yourself, only to create more frustration over endless emails and problematic results. I know I said earlier in this article that clipping path outsourcing is a great idea because the work is simple, repetitive, and non-creative – while I still stand by that, I have to point out, however, that even the simplest things can go wrong, and if you believe in Mr. Murphy, they will go wrong. The reasons are simple too:

Keep in mind that most of these outsourcing companies are based in South Asia, where English is not a native language. Sometimes simply getting your ideas across can be a major headache.
The time difference between you and your outsourcing facility can work in your benefit to greatly shorten the turnaround time; yet on the other hand, it can also affect the efficiency of communication, as well as the quality of customer care.
Most of these outsourcing companies have their employees work in shifts, and they usually have one email address with many on-duty employees answering to it simultaneously on behalf of the service. After receiving your job, many services just add it to the queue while the work shifts continue. By the time your job reaches the graphic technicians, it may very possibly have already been passed on third or forth handedly; and the details in your instructions may have been lost through the transitions.
Many clipping path services have established a “default” way of handling orders (e.g. cut out the object, put it on white background, and save it as jpeg file). If you do not state clearly about your specific needs, few of these services would actually take the initiative to contact you and confirm; or, in some cases, your specific needs could be overlooked simply because they are not strongly emphasized.

Alright, alright, no need to get discouraged. As the cliché saying of Corporate America tells us: there are no problems, just solutions. Now that we know what might go wrong, we can find ways to prevent them from happening. And to jumpstart your success in clipping path outsourcing, here are some tips that can help you ensure smooth transactions and nip problems in the bud. Follow them as a checklist, and you will be able to outsource like a pro in no time!

Before outsourcing:

Browse through the companies’ websites and pick the ones that are professional, well organized, and user friendly.
Test the service by setting up a trial run – most companies offer trials for free. Ask for a quote too if the pricing information on the website is unclear.
Pay attention to your email correspondence: do they respond promptly? How is their English proficiency? Are you talking to an actual person or “the company”? Are you able to talk consistently with one contact person throughout the process, or are you passed on from agent to agent all the time?
Make sure the workflow is clear and efficient, and the payment method is secure. I do not suggest using companies that request payment before delivering the results, as it often means sloppy service as soon as you pay.
Pick the most reliable service after evaluating all above factors.

During outsourcing:

Be clear with your own needs: what will these images be used for? What resolution is necessary? Will these images need future editing?
Write a clear and comprehensive job description. Make sure you include the following information: the object(s) you want cut out (if it’s not self explanatory), your preference on background color, your preference on file format, and anything else that you think needs specification.
Be aware you may be talking to non-native English speakers, so use simple concrete vocabulary and short sentences; avoid using abstract words, colloquial expressions, and compound sentences. For example, using the word “results” is better than using “deliverables”; saying “cut along the skull (although it sounds weird)” is more effective than saying “cut around the top of the head”; instead of saying “the objects which are ___ need to be extracted from the original background and placed on a background that is ___”, try saying “please cut out ___ objects, and put them on ___ background”.
Try to keep one contact person that can take care of your order through the entire process. Get his/her direct contact information (preferably both email and instant messenger) if it’s not provided to you in the first place.

After outsourcing:

Check the quality of the work carefully; make sure your instructions were followed correctly.
If you are not able to download everything at once, ask the company to retain the files (on their FTP server for example) for a desired time period.
When you are satisfied with the results, make payment promptly to establish mutual trust, which will help future transactions run smoothly.

So there you have it – “Everything You Need to Know about Clipping Path Services”. Now print yourself a certificate that says “clipping path outsourcing expert” and go get’em!

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