Clipping Path in Quark − The Ultimate Guide for Clipping in QuarkXPress

If you’re looking for a desktop publishing application to create/edit simple clipping paths, you must have seen QuarkXPress. In this article, you’ll find a simple guide on creating and editing a clipping path in Quark with its Clipping feature.

A clipping path is drawn to outline an element/object within an image, to crop out or remove it from the background. The results from a clipping path depend on various factors, such as the path type and the enabled options.

So, we all also discuss the key features and options offered by the software’s clipping tool, following which you can create a clipping path in Quark.

With that being said, let’s get started!

What Is Clipping Path?

The process of partially or entirely hiding an object/element is known as clipping. A clipping path determines the hidden portion shown in the final render.

In brief, everything inside the drawn gallery will be visible on the render, while everything outside the course is clipped out and not shown in the render.

With QuarkXPress, you can apply clipping paths on nearly all image formats, including BMP, EPS, TIF, GIF, PICT, and JPEG. You can choose any design depending on how you want the output.

GIF and JPEG formats are ideal for viewing image files online. PS and TIFF are suitable for printing materials as they have higher resolutions. On the other hand, PICT and BMP formats, such as printing an image with your home printer.

Now that we’ve looked at how formats affect the results of a clipping path on an Image let’s get familiar with the Clipping tool in QuarkXPress.

Creating Clipping Path in QuarkXPress

The simplistic user interface of QuarkXPress makes it easy to use, even for beginners.

That being said, you’ll have to choose one of the following options to create a clipping path in QuarkXPress.

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Types of Paths in QuarkXPress

For creating clipping paths, you’ll have to open the Clipping window from the Modify dialog box. Once you’ve imported an image in QuarkXPress, click on Items. Clipping or using the keyboard shortcuts to open the tab.

These are the types of paths that you can apply in QuarkXPress −

Item Path

The first option from the drop-down menu, ‘Item’s the default setting for images that don’t have alpha channels or clipping paths.

Selecting the “Item’ option will hide the clipping or embedded paths in the image. For instance, if you want to use an entire image that contains embedded or clipping paths, choosing the Item option will hide those paths and show you the whole picture. 

Usually, it is used when returning to the original file is required without deleting/altering the existing paths.

Embedded Path

When working on images that contain clipping paths, the Embedded Path option is activated by default. This option is beneficial when you want to render different portions of an image in several instances.

For example, you can create different clipping paths around an object/element in an image and place them in other areas of the document, each with its own Path.

This will allow you to generate multiple images from one file.

Alpha Channel

Similar to clipping paths, an alpha channel allows you to use a separate color medium for creating 8-bit grayscale or black-and-white masks. By modifying the threshold values, you can control the pixel sensitivity for Grayscale values in the image.

Generally, pixel values that are darker than the grayscale percentage are included in the clipped area, whereas lighter areas are excluded.

Non-White Areas

Enabling the Non-White Areas option will allow you to create clipping paths the way you want. However, the image you are working on must be as pixel-perfect as possible, with Immaculate picture conditions. In other words, the object/element clipped out must be light-colored, with the background uniformly dark. 

But if you’re working on a picture with flat colors or the object/element is out of focus, using the Non-White Areas option won’t be very beneficial. 

Instead, you’ll have to give in a lot of effort by fiddling with the Offset and Threshold settings to find the right path.

Picture Bounds

With the Picture Bounds option, the clipping paths shift to the edges of the image. You’re working on it.

While it is similar to the item option, Picture Bounds allows you to adjust the outset or inset of the path from the image’s edges.

Clipping Path Options in QuarkXPress

After you’ve selected a type of path, one or more of the following options will be visible in the ‘Clipping ‘tab-

Outset

Adjusting the outset will allow you to spread (enlarge) or choke (shrink) the clipping path.

To spread the path, you’ll have to use positive values to choke the way, and it would be best if you used negative values.

Invert

As the name suggests, the Invert option will reverse the clipped area.

For example, if you’ve drawn a path, but it clips out the place you intended to keep, inverting the approach will help correct the situation.

Outside Edges Only

Enabling this option will exclude pixels with values lighter than the threshold and vice versa.

For instance, if the inner area’s color in an image is close to the background, using the Outside Edges Only option will limit the clipping path to the outer space.

Restrict to Box

When the Restrict to Box option is enabled, the paths and images are restricted to the settings of the clipping path and the picture-box boundaries of the picture.

Setting the Smoothness, Noise, and Threshold in QuarkXPress

You’ll see a ‘Tolerance’ section in the ‘Clipping tab, in which you can fine-tune 3 of a clipping path. Here’s what you need to know about them−

Noise

It is to control the sensitivity of the clipping path to the pixel area size. The value entered in Noise defines the dimensions of an area within an image to be ignored.

For example, using a Noise value of 5 will instruct the application to overlook pixel areas with less than 5 points.

Smoothness

By modifying the Smoothness, you can control how close you can follow the clipping path around the drawn shape. 

Increasing Smoothness means more uniform paths, but it also affects the accuracy of the courses.

Threshold

The checkbox for modifying the threshold only appears when Alpha Channel or ‘Non-White Areas’ options are usable.

You can include all pixel values below the threshold in the clipping area for alpha channels. As for the ‘Non-White Area,’ all pixel values below the threshold are excluded from the clipping area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clipping Path in Quark

Simply put, Simply put, a clipping path allows you to define a specific area in an image so you can render the area outside the path transparent; when you export the image as output. The most common queries about this topic are –

Can a JPG have a clipping path in QuarkXPress?

Yes, QuarkXPress can store clipping paths in JPEG image formats. Generally, graphic designers submit JPEG files that have clipping paths in them. 

Which type of objects can be clipped in QuarkXPress?

As clipping paths, you can use only vector objects. . Usually, you’ll have to move the things you want to mask with a clipping path into the same group/layers. 

Does QuarkXPress support multiple clipping paths?

A multi-clipping path uses additional paths on top of another clipping path. With QuarkXPress, applying multiple clipping paths on a base clipping path is possible.

Final Verdict

For obtaining the best results with clipping paths, an experienced designer can make things much easier. With all of that being said, you should now be familiar with creating a clipping path in Quark.

We hope to have helped you with this article. For more, stay connected. Best of luck!