What is image masking?
Image masking is helpful in removing the background from images that have subjects with hair or fur. The fine details of the individual hairs and furs make it difficult to perform background removal with clipping path, so advanced Photoshop skills and techniques are essential.
As you might imagine, meticulous image masking requires a lot of patience, skill and time. But the labor-intensive task is worth the effort — each strand of hair accounted for in the finished image. We begin with hand-drawn clipping paths along straight edges, and then get to the more advanced work of preserving the finer details.
If you want to do it on your own, play around with some of the Photoshop tools and techniques available to you. The background eraser tool, magic eraser tool and the color separation technique — or a combination of more than one — can all help you achieve the perfect photo for your clients or online store.
It’s important to remember to remain consistent with the other product photos on your website or seller profile. And especially if you’re selling on a third-party site like Amazon or eBay, it’s essential to abide by their product photo guidelines. (We’ve created a reference to product photo requirements for online marketplaces to get you started.)
Read this in-depth article about how to remove the background from an image with hair >
Who needs image masking services?
If you need the background removed from an image that features hair or fur, advanced image masking will produce more accurate and cleaner results than clipping path. It’s a tedious task to undertake, especially on large batches of images. Attention to detail is essential to achieving edited photos that look realistic and will convince consumers to purchase.
Image masking allows photographers to isolate the product and remove any distractions from the frame. It also helps create a uniform, consistent look to all product photos for your clients or your brand, both digital and print.
Whether you have a single image or a huge batch from your latest photoshoot, professional image masking services can help you focus on what really matters in your business: getting more high-value clients.
When to use image masking
- To comply with requirements of online marketplaces, such as Amazon and eBay
- When you have an image that has fuzzy edges
- Editing the background of images with transparent products, such as a clear drinking glass or bottle
When not to use image masking
- If your image has sharp edges, we recommend using clipping path instead
- When the background is the same color as the product in your image
We provide perfect image masking services
No two images are the same. That’s why we carefully analyze each photo to determine the best approach. More often than not, a high-quality image requires the use of more than one technique or tool. We combine multiple approaches — including the background eraser tool, color separation, channel mask and hand-drawn clipping paths — to achieve the best-looking photo for you or your clients. We’re not finished until every edge is sharp and smooth, and every minor detail captured.
With more than 300 employees and five locations, we have skilled graphic designers and photo editors in various areas. After examining your photo and needs, we make sure the most qualified editor fulfills your order to the highest standards. You get professionally edited ima ges that will make your clients happy — all at a price you can afford and a turnaround time to help you meet even the most aggressive deadlines.
Unlike many other image masking services, we do everything by hand. We’ve seen, firsthand, the results of automations and tools and how it can hurt your reputation and your brand.
Today’s consumers demand quality, and so do we at Image Editing Express. We pride ourselves on the quality of the finished product — no matter how many images you need edited.