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Clipping Path

During this class we'll learn and practice an essential tool in Graphic Design. We'll create clipping paths on images to isolate them on their backgrounds.

Project Highlights

  • This project is worth 5% of your final grade.
  • It is due at the end of this class.
  • You'll draw clipping paths around a number if images to isolate them from their backgrounds.

Why a Clipping Path?

Clipped image placed in InDesign with a text wrap.

You may want to use only part of a Photoshop image when printing it or placing it in another application. For example, you may want to use a foreground object and exclude the background. An image clipping path lets you isolate the foreground object and make everything else transparent when the image is printed or placed in another application.

You can even create two or more paths in one file to isolate different areas of the file. You'll see this in the last file you'll do today.

In-Class Clipping Path Practice:

You will be handed two different images on which you will draw a clipping path during class. The final clipped images will need to be saved as EPS and placed in an InDesign document. You will also place vector shapes and type in an InDesign document.

Clipping Path Image

Clipping Path Exercise

Please download the files below. Once you have them, double-click on the zip files to decompress them.

0_LastName,FirstName,4x0.indd
This is an InDesign document. Place all your images in it when you're done creating clipping paths.
1_Clipping_Path_Clamp.tiff
Draw around the clamp, then do the inside shape.
2_Clipping_Path_Pin.tiff
Include the whole bowling pin — all the way to the bottom, but not the concrete base.
3_Clipping_Path_Boys.tiff
Don't forget to do the spaces between them.
4_Clipping_Path-Sunflower.tiff
Trace the flower, but not the stem.
5_Clipping_Path_Space_Ball.tiff
Draw around the whole ball excluding the pole base. Just cut across it making it look natural.
6_Clipping_Path-Umbrella.tiff
Trace the whole umbrella.
7_Clipping_Path_Dog.tiff
Trace the whole dog.
8_Clipping_Path-Hand_Mixer+Cookies.tiff
In this file, you'll draw a path around the mixer, then around the plate of cookies. Save out one file with the mixer's path and one with the plate's path.

Instructions

  • After you have drawn a clipping path on all your images, make sure you save them as .TIFF files.
  • Open the provided InDesign document. Go File>Place and select each image file.
  • Re-name the folder and the InDesign document"lastname, firstname, 4x0". (4x0 being your group number.)
  • Place this folder in my drop box on the "dropbox" server. Please don't zip your folder.

I will only accept files this way. Files will not be graded if they are not named properly. Questions?