Professional Image Masking Service — Hair, Fur, Transparent Objects & Complex Edges
Clipping path draws a hard vector outline around a subject. It works on products with clean, defined edges. It does not work on hair, fur, sheer fabric, fine mesh, glass, water, or any subject where the edge blends softly into the background. Image masking is the correct technique for those cases.
Graphics Pixels provides layer masking, alpha channel masking, hair and fur masking, transparent object masking, and refine edge masking — all done by hand in Photoshop. The result is a clean, natural-edged cutout that holds up on any background, in any format, at any size.
Pricing from $0.75/image. 24-hour turnaround. Free trial on every new order.
Our Offered Photoshop Image
Masking Services
LAYER MASKING
Layer masking covers or reveals parts of a layer using a greyscale mask rather than permanently erasing pixels. This keeps the original image data intact and allows the mask to be refined, adjusted, or removed without re-editing from scratch.
Most commonly used for hair and fur images — subjects where individual strands need to be isolated without cutting away soft edge detail. Used by portrait photographers, beauty studios, and fashion brands where hair is part of the image subject.
Pricing from $0.75/image. Complexity levels: Layer ($0.75), Alpha ($0.99), Fur/Hair ($1.20).
→ Related: Hair & Fur Masking | Refine Edge Masking | Background Removal
Before & After Image Masking Results
Watch how we use advanced image masking techniques to preserve fine details like hair, fur, and soft edges. This video showcases real before-and-after results, highlighting smooth, natural cutouts that enhance image quality and make your visuals more appealing.
ALPHA CHANNEL MASKING
Alpha channel masking uses Photoshop’s alpha channel to store a precise selection of the subject and its transparency values. Unlike a hard clipping path, the alpha channel records soft, semi-transparent edges — making it the correct technique for glass, water, smoke, sheer fabric, and any subject with partial transparency.
After masking, the alpha channel also allows further post-processing — brightness, contrast, colour, and exposure can all be adjusted to the isolated subject without affecting the background. Files are delivered as PNG or layered PSD with the alpha channel preserved.
Pricing from $0.99/image.
→ Related: Transparent Object Masking | Layer Masking | Background Removal
TRANSPARENT OBJECT MASKING
Transparent object masking isolates glass, glassware, ceramics, water, ice, clear plastic, and any product with partial transparency — subjects where the pen tool cuts away the background but also destroys the transparency that is part of the product’s visual character.
The technique preserves the transparency, reflections, and refractive qualities of the subject. A glass bottle isolated with transparent object masking still shows light refraction and depth. One isolated with a clipping path becomes a flat cutout.
Used by cosmetics and fragrance brands (glass bottles), beverage and food studios (glassware), and interior product photographers (glass furniture and fixtures). Pricing from $2.49/image.
→ Related: Alpha Channel Masking | Background Removal | Product Retouching
REFINE EDGE MASKING
Refine Edge masking — also called Refine Mask in newer Photoshop versions — is used when a subject has edges too complex or fine-grained for a manual selection or basic layer mask. The Refine Edge tool analyses the boundary between the subject and background and rebuilds the selection at the pixel level, preserving fine detail that a hand-drawn selection would miss.
Used for: flyaway hair against complex backgrounds, animal fur with fine individual strands, fine knitwear or lace edges, feathers and plant foliage, and any subject where the automatic selection tool produces a rough, jagged edge.
Pricing from $1.49/image.
→ Related: Hair & Fur Masking | Layer Masking | Background Removal
HAIR & FUR MASKING
Hair and fur masking is the most detailed masking work — used for portrait photography with complex hair against varied backgrounds, fashion images with flyaway strands, product photography with fur or textile textures, and animal photography.
Every strand that matters is kept. The transition between hair and background is rebuilt at the pixel level so the result looks natural when placed on any new background — no halo, no hard edge, no missing strands.
After masking, brightness, colour, and texture adjustments are applied to the isolated subject where needed. Longer turnaround than basic masking — turnaround quoted per batch based on volume and complexity.
Pricing from $1.20/image.
→ Related: Layer Masking | Refine Edge Masking | Portrait Retouching
