Clipping path

Also known as clipping, vector clipping path. Category: Photography techniques

A clipping path is a closed vector outline drawn around a product in an image editor to cut it out from its background. It gives crisp edges on hard-edged objects but is labour-intensive and struggles with hair, fur or translucent materials.

How PhotoRobot uses it

PhotoRobot describes its glass-plate turntables, such as the Centerless Table and CASE 850, as enabling product photography with no clipping required, and its glossary articles describe automatic alpha channel masking replacing manual clipping paths.

  • Background removal: Separating the product from its background so it can be placed on pure white or transparency.
  • Alpha channel: An extra image channel that stores the transparency of every pixel.
  • Optical glass plate: A turntable top made of optical glass that can be lit and photographed through, giving shadow-free images.
  • Retouching: Manual correction of an image, such as removing dust, blemishes or unwanted elements.

Where this term appears on photorobot.com

Mentioned on 11 pages of photorobot.com:

  1. CASE 850 (Robot)
    Build a studio for photography with no clipping necessary, anywhere in 15 minutes.
  2. CENTERLESS TABLE (Robot)
    …to a unique lighting system, the Centerless_Table enables product photography with no clipping required.
  3. CASE 1300 (Robot)
    No clipping required.
  4. eCommerce Photography - How to Optimize Production (Blog)
    The Centerless Table is a universal solution for shadow-free eCommerce photography of small to large items with no clipping required.
  5. FRAME (Robot)
    This produces quality product photos on a pure white background, while consistent image capture ensures no clipping is required.
  6. PhotoRobot's Centerless Table, a Motorized Photography Turntable (Blog)
    No more clipping required in post processing! This provides you with more time to spend on the photography itself and photographing additional products.
  7. Product Photo Background Removal and Adjustment (Tutorial)
    This includes no-retouch still product photography, 360 + 3D product photography, and 3D model photography – with no clipping necessary.
  8. The Frame: Next-Generation Motorized Turntable Photography (Blog)
    With double 360° plate rotation, there really is no clipping required for standard still images, spins and photography for 3D models.
  9. What is Product Photography Automation? (Glossary)
    This ensures clean, web-ready images without the need for manual vector clipping paths.
  10. What is Robotic Product Photography? (Glossary)
    Alpha channel masking replaces manual vector clipping paths.
  11. What is Scalable Product Photography? (Glossary)
    A scalable workflow replaces manual clipping paths with automated alpha channel masking and algorithmic background removal.

Browse the full glossary A–Z