Shape Type
Presets
Create custom clip-path shapes with draggable control points and preset shapes
CSS clip-path is a powerful property that allows developers to define a clipping region on an element, effectively masking parts of the element so only the defined region is visible. Unlike traditional masking techniques that rely on images or SVGs, clip-path uses geometric shapes and polygon coordinates to create precise cutouts directly in CSS. This property is incredibly useful for creating non-rectangular layouts, decorative image shapes, and creative UI components without any additional image assets. Modern browsers support several clip-path functions including circle(), ellipse(), inset(), and polygon(), giving designers extensive control over element visibility. The polygon function is particularly versatile as it accepts an arbitrary number of coordinate pairs, enabling the creation of virtually any geometric shape imaginable. Performance-wise, clip-path is GPU-accelerated in most browsers, making animations and transitions smooth and efficient even on complex clipping paths.
Start by selecting one of the predefined shape presets available in the tool, such as circle, ellipse, triangle, pentagon, or star. These presets provide a solid foundation that you can customize further. Each preset automatically generates the appropriate clip-path function with sensible default values. If you already have a specific shape in mind, you can also start from scratch by selecting the polygon option and manually defining your coordinate points. The preset shapes serve as excellent starting points for understanding how different coordinate values affect the final clipping result, and they demonstrate the range of possibilities available with clip-path.
After selecting a base shape, use the interactive visual editor to fine-tune your clip-path. You can drag control points directly on the preview element to adjust the shape in real-time, or manually enter precise coordinate values in the input fields. For polygon shapes, each point is defined as a percentage-based coordinate pair (x, y) relative to the element's bounding box. For circles and ellipses, you can adjust the center position and radius values. The live preview updates instantly as you make changes, allowing you to see exactly how your modifications affect the clipped region. Experiment with different values to achieve the precise shape you need for your design project.
Once you are satisfied with your clip-path design, copy the generated CSS code directly from the code output panel. The tool provides the complete CSS property including vendor prefixes for maximum browser compatibility. Simply paste the code into your stylesheet and apply it to the target HTML element. Remember that clip-path works on any HTML element including images, divs, videos, and even entire sections. For responsive designs, consider using percentage-based values which automatically scale with the element size. You can also combine clip-path with CSS transitions to create smooth morphing animations between different shapes, adding an engaging dynamic layer to your web interfaces.
While both clip-path and CSS mask control element visibility, they work fundamentally differently. Clip-path defines a hard geometric boundary — anything outside the path is completely invisible, with no anti-aliasing or transparency gradients. It is purely vector-based and works with shapes defined by functions like polygon() or path(). CSS mask, on the other hand, uses image-based masking where the luminance or alpha channel of a mask image determines visibility levels, allowing for soft edges, gradients, and complex transparency effects. Clip-path is generally simpler to use for geometric shapes and performs better for animations, while mask is better suited for effects requiring smooth fading, texture-based hiding, or complex organic shapes defined by images.
CSS clip-path enjoys excellent browser support across all modern browsers. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all fully support the clip-path property with basic shapes (circle, ellipse, inset, polygon). Safari requires the -webkit- prefix for polygon values using the url() function with SVG clip paths, but basic shapes work without prefixes in current versions. Internet Explorer does not support clip-path at all, but given that IE has been officially retired, this is rarely a concern for modern web development. For production use, it is recommended to include the -webkit- prefix alongside the standard property to ensure compatibility with slightly older browser versions. Progressive enhancement techniques can be used to provide fallback styles for browsers that do not support clip-path.
Yes, clip-path can be animated using CSS transitions and keyframe animations, but with some important limitations. You can only animate between clip-path values that have the same number and type of parameters. For example, you can smoothly transition between two polygon() values that both have exactly six coordinate pairs, or between two circle() values. You cannot animate from a circle() to a polygon() because they have different parameter structures. When animating polygons, ensure both the start and end states have the same number of points — you can add overlapping points if needed. These animations are GPU-accelerated in most browsers, resulting in smooth 60fps performance. Clip-path animations are commonly used for creative hover effects, page transitions, and engaging reveal animations in modern web interfaces.