Image Masking Services for Glass, Fur, Hair & Soft Edges
Some subjects have no hard outline: wisps of hair, fur, lace, smoke, glass and petals. We separate them from their background with Photoshop layer, channel and refine-edge masks, so fine strands and see-through areas survive on any new backdrop. Masking starts at $1.50 per image.
- Channel and layer masks built by hand
- See-through glass keeps its transparency
- Fine strands kept, not chopped off
- Delivered in 24 hours, rush in about 6
What Is Image Masking?
Image masking hides part of a photo with a grayscale mask instead of cutting it out along a fixed line. White areas stay visible, black areas disappear and gray areas become partly see-through. That is why masking handles what a clipping path cannot: single hairs, the soft edge of a feather, or a wine glass where the new background must show through.
- Partial transparency where the subject needs it
- Masks kept editable in the PSD
- Clean results on white, colored or photo backgrounds
Image Masking Services We Offer
Each technique suits a different edge. Editors choose the method per area, often combining two in one photo.
Transparent Object Masking
Bottles, glasses and clear packaging masked so the new background shows through.
Translucent Object Masking
Frosted glass, petals and thin fabric with their soft see-through look intact.
Color & Channel Masking
Channels used to isolate subjects by contrast when edges are too fine to trace.
Alpha Channel Masking
Saved selections exported as PNG alpha, ready for layouts and web.
Hair & Fur Masking
Flyaway hair, pet fur and fluffy textiles kept strand by strand.
Refine Edge Masking
Soft edges on plush toys, foliage and knitwear cleaned of old background color.
Layer Masking
Non-destructive masks that let you adjust the cut-out later without starting over.
Mask + Clipping Path Combo
Pen paths for hard edges and masks for soft ones, merged in a single file.
Who Needs Image Masking
Anyone whose subjects have soft, fine or see-through edges.
Image Masking Pricing
Starting prices per image, based on how fine and how many the soft edges are. The exact price depends on detail and the delivery time you need, and we confirm it after reviewing all of your files.
Basic
Simple soft edges
- Layer masking
- Plain background replacement
- Minor edge cleanup
- PNG or JPG export
Advanced
Channel and alpha work
- Everything in Basic
- Alpha channel masking
- Colored or photo backdrops
- Edge color decontamination
Professional
Glass, objects and translucency
- Everything in Advanced
- Transparent and translucent objects
- Object and color masking
- Soft-edge garments
High-End
Complex hair and fur
- Fine hair and fur strands
- Refine-edge masking
- Combined mask and path
- Layered PSD with masks kept
Masking is part of our photo editing service. For products with firm outlines, a clipping path is faster; for a finished white or see-through result see background removal and our transparent background service.
Why Studios Send Their Masking to Vector Design US
The right tool per edge
Hard edges get a path, soft edges get a mask, and we combine both when a subject has each.
No halo, no fringe
We remove leftover background color from fine edges so cut-outs sit cleanly on any color.
Ready for big batches
Over 40 in-house designers on several shifts, with steady weekly volumes welcomed.
A Brooklyn company since 2010
QC on every mask, two free revisions and our 100% money-back guarantee.
Automatic subject selection
- Hair chopped into blunt clumps
- Glass turned solid or deleted
- Gray fringe around soft edges
- Gaps between strands filled in
Masked by hand at Vector Design US
- Strands kept one by one
- Transparency preserved in glass
- Edges decontaminated of old color
- Gaps opened so the backdrop shows
Example: Glassware for a Wine Shop Website
Example: an online wine shop shoots bottles and stemware on a dark set and wants them on a warm red brand backdrop.
- The brief
- Keep the glass see-through, keep the highlights and reflections, and match every product to the same red backdrop.
- What we do
- Editors build channel masks for the glass, a path for the bottle base, and blend highlights so the red reads through naturally.
- What you receive
- Web JPGs on red, PNGs with true transparency for future layouts, and layered PSDs with the masks kept.
How It Works
Upload your images
Send a few photos or a cloud link and tell us the backdrop you need.
Accept the quote
We check the edges and email an exact price and timeline; masking begins after payment by PayPal, Visa or Mastercard.
Masking and QC
Editors build each mask by hand, then QC checks edges on light and dark backgrounds.
Receive the files
PNG, JPG, TIFF or layered PSD with masks kept, and two revision rounds included.
What Clients Say About Our Masking Work
“I have used their services on several projects, always timely and very professional. They are our go-to partner.”Scott TurnerRepeat client · Google review
“Great customer service. I received my order in less than 24 hours, as quoted.”Leah ParisTurnaround · Google review
“I’ve been in the promotional products industry for 45 years and they are the most efficient design company I have worked with.”Don GardinerPromotional products · Google review
Rated five stars in 500+ Google reviews.
Image Masking FAQs
What is an image masking service?
An image masking service separates a subject from its background with grayscale masks instead of a hard outline. It is used for hair, fur, glass, lace, smoke and other soft or see-through edges. Editors build the mask by hand in Photoshop so fine detail and transparency survive on the new background.
How much does image masking cost?
Image masking starts at $1.50 per image for simple soft edges, $2 for channel and alpha work, $2.50 for glass and translucent objects, and $3 for complex hair and fur. The exact price is confirmed by email after we review your images, and you pay only when you agree.
When should I choose masking instead of a clipping path?
Choose a clipping path for products with firm, defined outlines like boxes, shoes or furniture. Choose masking when part of the subject is soft, fuzzy or transparent. Many photos need both, and our editors combine them in one file so each edge gets the method that suits it.
Can you keep glass and liquids see-through?
Yes. Transparent and translucent masking keeps the clear areas partly visible, so the new background shows through the glass while reflections and highlights stay in place. This is how bottles, glasses, perfume and cosmetic containers look natural on a colored or photo backdrop.
How fast is image masking delivered?
Masked files normally arrive 24 hours after payment. Rush delivery takes as little as 6 hours, and an extra charge may apply. For large or recurring batches we confirm a delivery schedule in the quote, before any masking starts.
Do I get the mask itself or only the final image?
Both, if you want. Ask for a layered PSD or TIFF and the masks stay inside the file, so your team can adjust the edge, swap the background or reuse the cut-out later. Flattened JPG and transparent PNG versions are included too.
How do I place a masking order?
Upload sample images through the form on this page or share a cloud folder. We email an exact quote, you pay by PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and the masking work begins. Two free revisions and our 100% money-back guarantee come with every order.
Send Your Photos for an Image Masking Quote
Upload a few images with soft or see-through edges. We email the price and timing, then mask every file by hand once payment is in.