Web Design » Photoshop » How Do I Make a Clipping Path From a Selection in Photoshop?

How Do I Make a Clipping Path From a Selection in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 1:30 pm

If you’ve ever tried to select a complex image in Photoshop, you know how frustrating it can be. The Pen tool is often the best way to create a clipping path, but it can be difficult to use, especially if you’re not familiar with it.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to create a clipping path from a selection in Photoshop. Here’s how:

First, open the image you want to clip in Photoshop. Then, use the Quick Selection tool to select the area you want to clip.

If you’re not familiar with the Quick Selection tool, it’s the one that looks like a paintbrush with a plus sign next to it. To use it, simply click and drag your mouse over the area you want to select. You can also add to your selection by holding down the Shift key and clicking or dragging.

Once you have the area you want to clip selected, go to Select > Modify > Expand. This will expand your selection by a few pixels and help ensure that your clipping path includes everything you want it to.

Then, go to Select > Inverse. This will invert your selection so that everything outside of the area you selected is now selected.

Now that everything outside of the area you want to clip is selected, go to Layer > New > Layer Via Cut. This will create a new layer that includes only the area you selected.

You can now delete the original layer, which will leave only the clipped layer. And there you have it! A clipping path from a selection in Photoshop.

Conclusion:

Creating a clipping path from a selection in Photoshop is easy with these simple steps. First, use the Quick Selection tool to select the area you want to clip. Then, expand your selection by going to Select > Modify > Expand. Invert your selection by going to Select > Inverse.

Finally, create a new layer via cut by going to Layer > New > Layer Via Cut. Delete the original layer and voila! You now have a clipping path from your selection in Photoshop.

PRO TIP: If you are not familiar with Photoshop clipping paths, we recommend that you do not attempt to create one from a selection. A clipping path is a vector path that is used to define the boundaries of an image. Creating a clipping path from a selection can be complex and time-consuming, and if not done correctly, can result in an incorrect or unusable path.
Morgan Bash

Morgan Bash

Technology enthusiast and Co-Founder of Women Coders SF.