CSS Clip-Path Maker — Free Tool

What Is CSS Clip-Path?

The CSS clip-path property clips an element to a custom shape — anything outside the shape is hidden. You can create polygons, circles, ellipses, and complex SVG paths to mask images, build creative layouts, design section dividers, and add visual interest without image editing software.

Supported Shape Functions

polygon() — define any shape with coordinate points. circle() — clip to a circle with radius and center position. ellipse() — clip to an ellipse with horizontal and vertical radii. inset() — clip to a rectangle with optional rounded corners. This tool focuses on polygon shapes with draggable points for maximum creative control.

How to Use This Clip Path Maker

Choose a base shape — Select from circle, ellipse, polygon, or inset as your starting shape.
Drag the control points — Click and drag the polygon vertices or shape handles to create your custom clip-path.
Add or remove points — Click on the shape edge to add new vertices. Right-click a point to remove it.
Preview on your content — See the clip-path applied to an image or colored div to judge the visual effect.
Copy the CSS — Grab the complete clip-path property declaration.

Tips and Best Practices

→ Use clip-path for creative image cropping. Instead of rectangular images, clip photos into hexagons, diamonds, custom shapes, or any polygon for distinctive layouts.
→ Animate clip-path for reveal effects. CSS transitions on clip-path create striking reveal animations — elements appear to unfold, grow, or morph into view.
→ Clip-path doesn't affect layout. The element still occupies its original rectangular space. Clipped areas become invisible but still take up room — use negative margins or absolute positioning to compensate.
→ Combine with hover effects. Transition between two clip-path shapes on hover for interactive, engaging image galleries and portfolios.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CSS clip-path?

The clip-path property clips an element to a specified shape, hiding everything outside the boundary. It supports polygon(), circle(), ellipse(), and inset() shapes. Commonly used for creative layouts, image masks, and section transitions.

Can I animate clip-path?

Yes — clip-path can be animated with CSS transitions and keyframes as long as the number of polygon points stays the same between states. This enables reveal animations, morphing shapes, and interactive hover effects.

What is the difference between clip-path and mask?

clip-path creates hard-edged shapes (fully visible inside, fully hidden outside). CSS mask supports gradient transparency, allowing partial visibility and soft-edge effects using images or gradients.

What is CSS clip-path?+

Clip-path is a CSS property that creates a clipping region — only the part of an element inside the path is visible. Everything outside is hidden. It supports shapes like circle(), ellipse(), polygon(), inset(), and path() for creating non-rectangular visual boundaries.

Can clip-path be animated?+

Yes, clip-path can be smoothly animated with CSS transitions and keyframes, as long as both the start and end shapes use the same function type and the same number of points. Polygon shapes with matching vertex counts transition beautifully.

What is the difference between clip-path and overflow: hidden?+

Overflow: hidden clips content to the element's rectangular box. Clip-path clips to any shape — circles, polygons, custom paths. Clip-path also affects the element itself, not just its children. Both make content invisible but clip-path offers far more creative control.

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Built by Derek Giordano · Part of Ultimate Design Tools

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