Description of Clipping Paths

If you are planning to have your product photos printed in a magazine, catalog or brochure, your printing company or graphic designer will probably request that your photos come with "clipping paths". In the simplest terms, drawing a clipping path on your product images is like creating an invisible "cookie cutter" right around the edges of the product being photographed. It defines the border between the edges of your products and the white background behind them.

Clipping paths are very useful for graphic designers because most publishing software trims away everything outside the clipping path. That makes it easy for them to drop the photos of your products against any background without having to deal with the white background that fills the photo. It also allows text to wrap right against the actual product instead of against the border of your rectangular photo.

If you are only purchasing our Web Trio package and don't plan to have your photos printed in a magazine, catalog or brochure, chances are extremely high that you don't need clipping paths.

NOTE: The charge for drawing clipping paths on your products assumes that the product is a relatively simple shape (e.g. bottles, clothing, handbags, etc.). If the outside border of your products is complex (e.g. pearl necklaces) or your products have a lot of open spaces that allow our camera to see the background through your product, drawing clipping paths will take a long time for us to complete, and we may either contact you with a custom quote for your clipping paths or inform you that we are unable to draw clipping paths around your products.

Excellent Product Photos Sell More Products

If you sell products online or through catalogs, you already know the importance of excellent product photography. You probably also know that taking great product photos with proper lighting can be very challenging. And if you've been lucky enough to even find product photography pricing on other websites, you know that the average professional product photography studio charges more than many online store owners can afford. Despite these obstacles, the harsh truth is that there is no excuse for posting less-than-perfect photos of products you expect someone to purchase from you rather than from your competitors.