Clipping & Retouching: Products

Clipping and retouching are the final polishing edits you’ll want for excellent product photography. You can choose do-it-yourself options or hire me for that work.

There are three options for product photographer editing: corrections, clipping, and retouching. Each process is important when creating amazing product photos.

Corrections

Every photograph delivered is corrected. Corrections include adjusting color, setting white balance, modifying exposure, improving clarity, adjusting contrast, and cropping images.

Corrections are always included in my standard product photography pricing.

Clipping

Clipping is when a product is removed from the original background and placed on a blemish-free background.

Clipping services are separate from my standard product photography pricing.

Clipping services are typically required because product photography backgrounds are rarely used during capture. Also, I sometimes include props, tools, reflectors, and stands in the frame that improve your product’s appearance, and those must be removed.

Using post-production software, a clipping path is drawn around the product, following the contours of the product. After creating the path, the object is detached from the original background and placed on a perfectly white background.

You have three clipping service options.

  1. Handle your clipping in-house.
  2. Outsource your clipping.
  3. Hire me for your clipping.

Option #1: In-House Clipping

Your in-house graphics team can handle your clipping needs. However, if you don’t have an in-house graphic artist, you must outsource the service.

Option #2: Outsourced Clipping

Your second option is to send the images to a clipping service. You’ll contact the service, upload the photos, manage the process, explain what you need, pay for the service directly, and then download and review the final clipped images. Most clipping service companies charge $1 to $4 per clipped image.

Two clipping service companies I recommend and that you might consider are Clipping Path India and Deepetch. Of those two, I prefer Deepetch.

Option #3: Hire Me for Clipping

For your third option, I can manage your clipping job. If you want me to oversee that work personally, I usually charge $8 per delivered photo. That fee assumes simple clipping outlines typical of most products. However, complex outlines (like bicycles) or multiple objects in an image may cost more. In those situations, I provide estimates before beginning work.

Retouching

Retouching refers to the process of editing a photograph to remove imperfections. Some common tasks include adjusting color, exposure, highlights, and shadows.

Retouching services aren’t included in my standard product photography pricing.

Basic retouching is typically $12 to $20 per delivered photo.

In the rare instance when advanced retouching is required, fees can range from $25 to $125 per delivered photo depending on the complexity of your request or requirement.

In product photography, compositing is when two or more products are photographed separately and then combined into a single grouped image. Basic compositing is usually $10 per finished photo. Clipping is required before compositing, and those fees aren’t included in this price.

Alternatively, Clipping Path India and Deepetch offer retouching, although I don’t think their work in those areas is as good as I can provide you with my in-house retouching.

Example Clipping and Retouching Instructions

Here are a few example instructions you can provide for clipping and retouching professionals you might hire yourself. Clarity and simplicity are key when indicating your preferences.

  • Closely clip products for use with a white background. Include the clipped product on one layer and the white background on a separate layer.
  • Add a light, natural-looking drop shadow to each product. The drop shadow should be added on a separate layer.
  • Remove distracting reflections and highlights. Where multiple reflections are appropriate to the image, ensure that the reflections are the same width along all edges and extend to the same length. All reflection edges should be smooth and without peaks or valleys.
  • Remove packaging imperfections, including spots, dust, scratches, rubbings, cuts, and tears.

Clipping & Retouching Examples

These examples show typical clipping and retouching for product photography. Drag the slider to the left and right to see the before-and-after version of each photo.

Example #1

This example treatment includes clipping/removing the original background and replacing it with a solid white background. Retouching included removing product imperfections and lightening shadow areas.

Example #2

This example treatment includes clipping/removing the original background and replacing it with a solid white background. Retouching included removing product imperfections and reducing glare in some areas.

Example #3

This example treatment includes clipping/removing the original background and replacing it with a solid white background. Retouching included adjusting for consistent exposure across the product surface.

Example #4

This example treatment includes clipping/removing the original background and replacing it with a solid white background. Retouching included removing product imperfections.

Example #5

This example treatment includes clipping/removing the original background and replacing it with a solid white background. No retouching was performed.

Example #6

This example treatment includes clipping/removing the original background and replacing it with a solid white background. Retouching included product imperfections.