Using Clipping Paths for Silhouettes

Topics covered in this Photoshop tutorial:

Clipping paths, More Pen tool practice, Importing a silhouette into InDesign

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

We need to remove the background from this horseshoe so we can add it to a print design that has been created in InDesign. (While you can do most of the steps if you don’t have InDesign, you will not be able to do the entire exercise.) The smooth, crisp edges of the horseshoe are perfect for a clipping path.

NOTE: If you are working on these exercises out of order, we highly recommend completing Exercise 5C before starting this one.

Creating a Path Around an Object with the Pen Tool

1. From the Photoshop Class folder, open the image horseshoe.tif.

2. Go to View > Fit on Screen (Cmd–0 (Mac) or Ctrl–0 (Windows)) so the horseshoe is nice and big, filling most of the screen. This will make it easier to draw.

3. Choose the Pen tool .

4. In the Options bar, make sure that Path is selected.

5. Starting at the top of the right side, click and drag out a handle upwards and right.

   

6. Below on the right, click and drag the next point to follow the contour of the curve.

   

7. Continue this process around the entire horseshoe, except the last point. As you proceed, remember the following tips:
   • If you make a mistake, just undo by pressing Cmd–Z (Mac) or Ctrl–Z (Windows).
   • Try to place points slightly inside the edge of the horseshoe to avoid including any of the white background.
   • Longer handles make larger curves, smaller handles make smaller curves.
   • Perfection is not necessary as we’ll clean it up in a few steps.

8. When you reach the final point, position the cursor over the first point—it will turn into . Click and drag up and right toward the anchor handle to finish the shape.

   

9. Choose the Direct Selection tool . To find it, you may need to click and hold on the Path Selection tool .

10. Click once on the path to select it.

11. Clean up the path by:
    • Selecting individual points to move them.
    • Selecting a point, then moving anchor handles to reshape curves.

Turning the Work Path into a Clipping Path

The path you just created is called a Work Path. Only one Work Path can exist at a time, so it must be saved before creating a new path. Once saved, it can be turned into a clipping path.

1. Open the Paths panel by going to Window > Paths.
2. Double–click on Work Path.
3. Name it horseshoe and click OK.
4. In the Paths panel menu , choose Clipping Path.

5. From the Path menu, select horseshoe, leave the flatness value blank, and click OK.

   The Flatness Value

   By leaving the flatness value blank, the path will be printed at the full resolution of the output device. Very complicated paths may yield PostScript errors, however. If you get an error while printing, input a flatness value to decrease the complexity and try again (the higher the flatness value, the more it simplifies the path).

Saving & Importing the Image into InDesign

To save this file, we need to choose a file format appropriate for InDesign. When using clipping paths in InDesign, many file types work (like PSD, TIFF, or EPS). If you’re unsure, we recommend you go with a Photoshop file (PSD).

1. Go to File > Save As.

2. Navigate into the Kissimmee Brochure folder.

3. Under Format (Mac) or Save as type (Windows), choose Photoshop and name the image yourname-horseshoe.psd.

4. Launch InDesign.

5. Go to File > Open. From the Kissimmee Brochure folder, open the InDesign file
   Brochure-add horseshoe.indd.

6. Using the Selection tool , select the rectangular picture box near the bottom left. It’s an empty blue box with an X through it. It’s bigger than the Did You Know text box.
7. Go to File > Place.
8. Go to the Kissimmee Brochure folder and double–click yourname-horseshoe.psd.
9. Go to View > Display Performance > High Quality Display.
10. Zoom in and enjoy your nice, crisp vector edges.

11. We no longer need this file, so close the InDesign file and do NOT save changes.
    You’re done!