How to activate a path as a clipping path in Photoshop

Once we have drawn, named and saved the path with which we want to silhouette, we must mark it as a clipping path: We must select the path that we want to activate as a clipping path (to click on its name in the " Trazados" palette) ) and then go to the submenu " Trazado de recorte…" in the palette " Trazados". If there were several paths we could choose the one we wanted.

In the dialog box that appears we will see two options: " Trazado: …" and " Curvature:… píxeles del dispositivo". In the first case, simply indicate the name of the chosen path. When in doubt, in a high-resolution image for printing, a value of 6 pixels is appropriate. The reason for choosing these numbers is very well explained on another page by Peter Fink.


The right formats
Now we must save the image in a format valid for printing that recognizes the clipping paths. That comes down to five formats. each has its advantages and disadvantages:
EPS: The "conservative" option, preferred for more outdated or dubious work systems; for example Quark XPress 4 or 5. Being pure PostScript, it is the natural format of clipping paths. When in doubt, always choose this option. All programs that recognize clipping paths allow them in EPS (although some may have bugs).

The numerous options suitable for saving this format are explained in detail on another page, but 90% of the time they will be: " Previsualizar: Tiff: 8 bits/píxel/ Codificación: ASCII(heavier but more compatible Binariafiles ) or (lighter files)". You should only check " include Datos vectoriales" if there is data that requires it (the paths do not require it). Do not check the other options.

I remind you that high-quality EPS documents can be quite heavy.

PSD: The native Photoshop format. It is the first "advanced" option, preferred for work with current Adobe CS suite programs; for example, InDesign CS. If the image does not have vector data it is a good option, possibly the best one. But if there are vectors, experts recommend the PDF format.

PDF: It is the second "advanced" option. In fact, according to previous experts, it is the best option if the image has vector data. Newer versions of the PDF format are capable of embedding fonts, keeping vector data, layering, and embedding profiles. In that sense, a well-built PDF is possibly the best option… Until recently :(


The big downside is that starting with the CS2 version of Photoshop there seems to be a problem with photo retouching service and PDF: InDesign does not recognize clipping paths in PDFs saved directly from Photoshop and has problems with which it gets to recognize. So until I am clear that these PDF problems have been fixed (if that happens), I would avoid mixing PDF and clipping paths.

TIFF: A "middle" option, recommended for working with low-resolution images in somewhat old or short memory programs (it looks good, prints well on printers and takes traces well). Use it only for low-resolution jobs or if you know 100% that the printer accepts them well and using it gives you some known advantage (for example, in Freehand it usually gives fewer problems).

When saving it, I recommend that you don't use compression. If you need it, the most suitable is ZIP, but some outdated systems (Quark XPress 4.1, for example) have problems with it.

JPEG: An intermediate option "for adventurers". It has the possible drawbacks of TIFF and perhaps a few more (such as erring in choosing the optimal compression level or tool incompatibilities). I would only use it if I was very very sure of what I am going to do, I was working to finish in PDF and it was really advantageous to do it. And I would still think about it a bit more (even if it's acceptable).

Since you are an adventurous person, I am not going to tell you the most suitable options to save this format;)


Advantages and disadvantages of clipping paths

Disadvantages
They are hard, sharp, sharp. They are not subtle nor are they suitable for silhouetting images with blur or translucent areas. This one disadvantage weighs almost as much as all its advantages.

Advantage

Being vector, they weigh little and can be easily carried to drawing or layout programs.
Being vector they cut taking full advantage of the printing resolution of the device and is independent of the resolution of the image which. Its sharpness is unbeatable. For example, to mask an image with large text, nothing beats a clipping path.

Creating a path is more relaxed than making a mask by selection. You can save a path in the middle, release the mouse, go for a coffee and come back and it's the same.

You can make curves with a smoothness and continuity that is very difficult to do with a simple selection.


Tips and TricksTry to trace a figure that has out of focus areas. Clipping paths, being sharp do not serve to delimit fuzzy areas. Trace using only straight lines (by clicking, clicking, clicking ... without ever dragging the cursor). Since nature likes curves, the silhouette will be clumsy and the layout possibly too complex.

Make unnecessary curves. When you are going to reach an area with a sudden change (an angle, a corner ...) do not continue dragging the cursor. You would create a very uncomfortable elbow to undo. Click without dragging (or dragging very little) and continue with the normal dragging procedure on the next node.

Use the magic wand to select backgrounds, invert the selection, and then the " Trazados - Hacer trazado de trabajo" palette to convert the selection to a path. Although that sometimes works well, it generally ends up with very poor quality and overweight paths (due to a beastly number of nodes, mostly useless).

Starting a selection from paths usually gives a better result than the opposite, if you want to obtain good qualities.

It should ...

Know the direction in which one draws best. Some of us draw better following the hands of the clock, others do better in the other direction.

Occasionally vary the stroke direction. Attention and muscles tend to tire if it is always done in the same direction. Use a pencil with a drawing tablet if you are going to do many silhouettes (either with masks or with a clipping path or both). The speed, precision and comfort is far superior to what can be done with a mouse.

Since bitmap objects are seldom 100% sharp and sometimes with backgrounds that contrast in color or tone with the image, getting a little "inside" the image, cropping it a bit more often gives better results. This prevents the silhouette from being seen with a strange halo.

When an image is very dark or gloomy, it is sometimes very difficult to decide where to trace. A good trick is to temporarily create a " Capa de ajuste" from " Curvas" and apply a very exaggerated curve, enough to distinguish boundaries in dark areas. We draw the path and then discard the adjustment layer " Curvas".

To silhouette well you have to get closer and away with the " Lupa" and the " Navegador" constantly. There is no need to be lazy when doing it.

The limit of a silhouetting task is the perception and average resolution at which to print. That is to say: You have to work the details well, but you do not have to go crazy trying to trace details so tiny that the machines will not reproduce them. We could say that they are beyond the "threshold of perception" and should be ignored.

Clipping paths can be combined with layer masks, and the latest programs (like Adobe InDesign) can take advantage of the best of both worlds.

Thanks to the comfort they have when drawing, they can serve as a basis for making more complex selections. We start with a path, we pass it to selection and then we blur, add, delete, and modify what we want. For this, resorting to " Máscara rápida" (which novice users tend to ignore) is of unsurpassed power and flexibility. 

more article What is a clipping path