Clipping Paths and Background Removal Tutorials

Alpha channels serve many purposes when editing images. For the purposes of this tutorial, we're going to create alpha channels that will contain transparency information for use as clipping paths in a page layout application.

Once you create an image with an embedded path then place your image into your document in your desktop publishing software you'll need to access the path information or 'turn on' the clipping path in order to 'turn off' the background.

When you want to hide a portion of an image, such as the background, you can create clipping paths to hide the unwanted image elements. Two methods used to create clipping paths are embedded paths and alpha channels.

Clipping paths have many uses when editing images. For the purposes of this tutorial, we're going to create clipping paths that will be embedded in an image for use as a clipping path in a page layout software application. This tutorials shows how to remove the background of an image but can be used to hide any part of a picture.

This multi-part article explains the difference in clipping paths and alpha channels. Includes tutorials on creating a clipping path and alpha channel in Photoshop and Photo-Paint and using them to create transparent images in InDesign, QuarkXPress, and PageMaker.

This is a clipping path and transparency tutorial using Hemera Photo-Objects.

This is a clipping path and transparency tutorial using Hemera Photo-Objects.

This is a clipping path and transparency tutorial for programs that cannot access the transparency information in Hemera Photo-Objects.

This portion of a multi-part online course from Graphics Software Guide Sue Chastain covers selection tools, quick mask mode, and alpha channels in Photoshop.

Tutorial includes instructions on creating an alpha channel in Macromedia Fireworks.

Mike's Sketchpad illustrates how to access and modify embedded path information in EPS images created with Corel Photo-Paint 8.

Foster D. Coburn III takes you step-by-step through the process of getting rid of the background in CorelDRAW and Corel Photo-Paint.

Tutorial at Mike's Sketchpad illustrates how to access and modify embedded path information in an image.

Find a flow chart and tips on masks and clipping paths at Mike's Sketchpad.

Learn how to port images with clipping paths from one image editor to another in this Mike's Sketchpad tutorial.

Indezine explains what an alpha channel is and the use of TIF and PNG files for transparency with alpha channels with Microsoft PowerPoint.

Guide Sue Chastain offers resources on using clipping paths to remove backgrounds in Photoshop, CorelDRAW, and other graphics programs.

MacAttitude tutorial describes and illustrates the use of paths and the clipping path options in QuarkXPress.

Dtp-aus.com tutorial discusses the use of paths in Photoshop but applicable to other programs that use paths.

Inside QuarkXPress article at creativepro.com explains and illustrates the use of embedded paths, including how to access the path and how to edit the path.