Production · 6 min
How to brief a clipping path vendor so the first batch lands
April 2, 2026
A good clipping path brief is one page. Anything longer is a brand book; anything shorter is a guess.
First, the canvas. State width, height, and whether the subject is centered or sits on a baseline (shoes almost always sit). State the color profile — sRGB for web, Adobe RGB only if your whole pipeline is Adobe RGB.
Second, the ground. White is not a feeling. It is RGB 255, 255, 255 or it is “warm studio,” in which case send a hex. Transparent PNG is a different deliverable; ask for it if you need a configurator or an app.
Third, the shadow. Natural contact, drop, reflection, or none. Send a style frame. “Make it look nice” produces twelve nice shadows that do not match.
Fourth, naming. `{sku}_hero_01.jpg` is a gift to your future self. We will follow any pattern you write down.
Fifth, complexity. Simple is one closed path. Medium has a few interior holes or soft hardware. Complex is spokes, filigree, or a pile of straps. If you call everything simple, the first batch will come back with questions instead of files.