Deep Etching Service: $0.39–$0.99 per Image Explained

If a quote says "deep etching service", you are looking at a background removal job, not a chemical or metal process. In product photo editing, the term is used for a hand-drawn cutout that separates an object from its background and keeps every edge intact. Most sellers meet it on a vendor's price sheet, and the first question is whether it is a different service with a different price.

This guide explains how deep etching relates to clipping path, what an order includes, how the work is priced, and when it is the wrong request. The prices below come from PixelTrim's own tiers.

What Deep Etching Means in Photo Editing

Deep etching is the name many editing vendors give to a precise, manual cutout. An editor traces the subject with the pen tool, builds a vector path around it, and removes or replaces everything outside the path. That is the same technique described in our guide to what clipping path is.

The two terms overlap heavily, and vendors do not use them the same way. A quote that says deep etching should always be checked against the images it covers, not the label.

PixelTrim does not sell deep etching as a separate line. The same pen-tool work is quoted under the three clipping path tiers below, so you pay for how complex the product is, not for the word on the invoice.

It is also unrelated to industrial etching of metal or silicon. If you want a photo cutout, you are in the right place.

What a Deep Etching Order Includes

A manual order usually covers:

• A hand-drawn vector path around the product, placed point by point with the pen tool
• Background removal to pure white, a transparent PNG, a custom color or a background image you supply
• Inner cutouts for holes, handles and gaps, such as the openings in a chair back or a strap loop
• An edge check at high zoom for fringing and stray background pixels
• Delivery as JPG, PNG, layered PSD or TIFF, with your file naming

It does not include shadow creation, color change or retouching. Those are separate jobs. A clean cutout with no shadow often looks flat on white, so ask about shadows when you order.

Deep Etching Price: The Three Tiers

Price follows complexity. Here are PixelTrim's current per-image rates, checked against the live service page:

Every tier is manual, delivered in 24–48 hours, with one free revision. If you are not sure where a product lands, our guide to the 8 types of clipping path shows how shape and detail change the work.

Which Tier Does My Product Fall Into?

• Simple: boxes, bottles, phone cases, books
• Medium: bags with straps, products with handles or a few holes
• Complex: jewelry, footwear, furniture with gaps and slats

A chair with a slatted back is a good example of a complex job. Every gap between the slats needs its own inner path, which is why it costs more than a plain bottle.

What a Real Batch Costs

Prices only help once you know which tier each product lands in. Take a 100-image catalog, as an illustration: 60 plain boxes and bottles, 30 bags with straps and handles, and 10 chairs and chain jewelry pieces.

The same 100 images priced at the complex rate would come to $99.00. A vague flat rate across mixed products is where billing disputes usually start, so ask for the tiers in writing. Our clipping path pricing guide covers what else moves the price, such as rush delivery and file requirements.

When Deep Etching Is the Wrong Request

A hard vector path cannot keep soft or see-through edges. Hair, fur, mesh, veils and glass need masking instead, because masking preserves gradual transparency that a path would chop off.

A quick test: zoom into the edge of the product. One continuous solid line means a path. Loose strands, gaps or transparency mean a mask. Many catalogs need both, applied to different products. See Clipping Path vs Image Masking for the full comparison.

How to Brief a Deep Etching Order

1. Send 2 sample images first. A free trial edit comes back in under 24 hours.
2. Name the background you need: pure white, transparent PNG, a color or a supplied image.
3. Get the tier for each product type in writing before a full batch starts.
4. Confirm delivery format and file naming, for example SKU-color-angle.jpg.
5. Ask about shadows separately, since they are not part of the cutout.
6. Confirm the revision policy and turnaround before you commit.

For a wider checklist on choosing a provider, see our clipping path service guide.

Need a deep etching quote for your catalog? Send 2 sample images to our clipping path service and get them back edited, free, with no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a deep etching service?

It is a manual background removal service. An editor draws a vector path around your product with the pen tool and removes or replaces the background, keeping every edge and inner gap intact.

Is deep etching the same as clipping path?

In practice the two terms overlap heavily. Vendors use them loosely, so check the quote against your images. At PixelTrim the work is priced under the clipping path tiers.

How much does deep etching cost per image?

PixelTrim's rates are $0.39 per image for simple shapes, $0.69 for medium products with handles or holes, and $0.99 for complex products such as jewelry, footwear and furniture.

Can deep etching handle hair or fur?

Not well on its own. A hard vector path cuts through soft strands. Hair, fur, mesh and glass need masking, and some products need a path and a mask together.

How long does a deep etching order take?

Standard turnaround is 24–48 hours regardless of batch size. Same-day delivery is available on request for smaller batches.

Can I try it before ordering a full batch?

Yes. Upload 2 images for a free trial edit, returned in under 24 hours with no obligation to pay.