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Sylviee223 Calculating status...

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What is the benefit of using clipping paths for a knock out?

Jul 4, 2012 2:00 PM

Tags: #path #clipping #knockout

I found a posting saying they need someone to knock out the background of a lot of images using clipping paths. My question is, WHY use a clipping path? I know the rule of not using a selection tool such as the Magic Wand and then turning it into a clipping path and I know why that is. But if all is needed is for the background to be knocked out, why can't we just use the selection tool in the first place and just knock out the background from there? What is the benefit of that clipping mask?

609 Views 3 Replies Latest reply: c.pfaffenbichler, Jul 4, 2012 11:47 PM

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May 24, 2010

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1. Trevor.Dennis,

Jul 4, 2012 2:40 PM in reply to Sylviee223

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Sylviee, the answer is that it depends on the nature of the selection of course. The pen tool is the way to go with smooth, crisp edges, and the likes of Quick select followed by Refine Edge, for fuzzy selections. Like flyaway hair.

Where the clipping mask stands out as being better, is the ease with which it can be edited, and the accuracy of the results. For instance, you can turn Text into a Shape and modify letters by dragging handles. (From the Type menu, and with the Type layer selected, click on Create work path)

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2. R_Kelly,

Jul 4, 2012 8:40 PM in reply to Sylviee223

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Usually the term Clipping Path refers to turning a path into a clipping path (in the paths panel) for use in older programs such as PageMaker that don't support transparency.
For example if one wanted to import a file into PageMaker and only have a certain part of the document visible, one would make a path (or selection) around the object
and turn the path (or selection) into a clipping path. Sorta the same results you see in photoshop using a layer mask or vector mask.

Also clipping paths are used in certain printing workflows.

Without seeing the posting it's hard to say what they meant and in photoshop 6 vector masks were labeled as Layer Clipping Paths not to be confused with real clipping paths.
Old versions of photoshop also used the term Group With Previous to denote Create Clipping Mask.

photoshop 6:

Photoshop cs6:

Anyway clipping masks and clipping paths are two different things in photoshop.

layer masks, vector masks and clipping masks:

http://helpx.adobe.com/content/help/en/photoshop/using/masking-layers. html

an example of creating a clipping path:

http://www.clippingpathspecialist.com/tutorials.html

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3. c.pfaffenbichler,

Jul 4, 2012 11:47 PM in reply to R_Kelly

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Usually the term Clipping Path refers to turning a path into a clipping path (in the paths panel) for use in older programs such as PageMaker that don't support transparency.
One more thing to consider in (even current) layout applications is that a psd with transparency will have to be flattened if the output is supposed to be PDF X-1a or PDF X3 – so the PDF export of an eps with a Clipping Path instead of a psd with transparency will be easier on resources. With complex structures of images overlapping one another and/or text/graphical elements the difference might be considerable.

Edit: As mentioned earlier certain images are simply not fit to be clipped with a (Clipping) Path.

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