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100% Hand-Drawn Pen Tool

Precision
Clipping Paths

Our experienced professionals create precise, hand-drawn vector paths for your product photos. Perfect for hard-edged products, InDesign layouts, and complex deep etching requirements.

Pen Tool Active
Clipping Path
Precision • Manual ✓

What is a Clipping Path (Deep Etch)?

A clipping path (commonly known as Deep Etching) is a closed vector shape or mask used to cut out a 2D image. Unlike automated AI, our hand-drawn paths use Bezier curves in Adobe Photoshop to ensure smooth, natural edges that maintain the integrity of your product.

Why Manual over AI?

Automated tools often create jagged edges. Manual deep etching ensures pixel-perfect precision for high-end catalogs and large-scale print media.

Multi-Path Solutions

Isolate different parts of a single image (e.g., shoe laces vs. soles) for easier color correction and retouching later in your workflow.

Who needs Clipping Paths?

Photographers

Studio & commercial

Graphic Designers

For layout & design

Ad Agencies

Campaign & print

Publishers

High-end catalogs

Magazines

Fashion & lifestyle

Retailers

E-commerce stores

Web Designers

Banners & assets

Retouchers

Complex editing

Transparent Pricing

Pricing based on complexity. Pay-As-You-Go simplicity.

Simple

$0.70
  • • Basic shapes / No holes
  • • Straight curves

Medium

$1.70
  • • Multiple curves / holes
  • • Simple Jewelry

Complex

$2.70
  • • Many holes / curves
  • • Complex Jewelry / Furniture

Super Complex

$3.70
  • • Netting / Mesh / Bicycles
  • • Chandeliers

Need an accurate quote?

Upload your images, and our team will review your files and email you an exact quote within minutes.

Upload for Quote

Popular Add-Ons

Drop Shadows
Reflections
Spotting (Blemishes)
Invisible Man
Enhancement
Color Correction
Airbrushing
Removing Creases

Clipping Path & Deep Etch FAQs

Common questions about our professional hand-drawn vectoring process.

Why should I choose manual hand-drawn paths over automated AI tools?
While automated AI background removal is fast, it frequently struggles with low-contrast edges, resulting in jagged, unnatural cutouts that ruin product presentations. Our designers exclusively use the Adobe Photoshop Pen Tool to create 100% manual, hand-drawn clipping paths. This allows us to use Bezier curves to perfectly trace the contours of your product, ensuring pixel-perfect precision and smooth edges required for high-end e-commerce, print catalogs, and large-scale media.
How do I know if my image needs a Simple or Complex deep etch?
Clipping path complexity is determined by the number of curves, sharp angles, and internal cutouts (holes) present in your image. A basic square box is considered "Simple," whereas a bicycle with spokes and gears is "Super Complex." However, you never have to worry about guessing the correct tier yourself! Once you upload your assets to your dashboard, our dedicated internal support staff will expertly evaluate and grade the image complexity for you, ensuring fair and highly accurate pricing before production begins.
How do I access the clipping path in my delivered files?
By default, we embed the active vector clipping path directly into your original file format (typically a JPG, TIFF, or PSD). To access it, simply open the delivered image in Photoshop, navigate to the 'Paths' palette, and you will see "Path 1" saved there. From there, you can easily convert the path into an active selection to isolate your product, place it on a new background layer, or utilize it for InDesign layouts.
What is a Multiple Clipping Path (Multi-Path)?
A multiple clipping path involves drawing separate, distinct vector paths around different components of a single product image. This advanced deep etching technique is essential for professional retouchers and fashion brands who need to isolate specific areas (like separating a shirt from a model, or shoelaces from the sole) for isolated color correction, shadow creation, or selective photo retouching down the line.

"Your delivery times really amazed me. I sent across more than a 100 images to deep etch and remove the background and you returned them perfectly edited in less than 4 hours! Awesome."

MT
Michael Tucker
Senior Photographer, Brisbane