Skip to tool

CSS Clip-Path Generator

CSS Clip-Path Generator tool on AzWebTools.

Result

Fill inputs and click run.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Select a starting shape from the preset options, such as Triangle, Hexagon, Circle, or Custom Polygon.
  2. Click and drag the vertex points on the interactive canvas to adjust the shape.
  3. Add or remove points when using a custom polygon to design more intricate outlines.
  4. Copy the generated CSS clip-path code and paste it into your stylesheet.

Learn More About CSS Clip-Path Generator

Understanding the CSS `clip-path` Property

The clip-path CSS property allows developers to specify a specific region of an element to display, hiding the rest. Instead of relying on transparent PNGs or complex HTML scaffolding, clip-path enables dynamic element slicing directly in the browser.

Common Shape Functions

  • `polygon()`: The most versatile function. It takes a comma-separated list of X and Y coordinates to draw multi-sided shapes. Example: polygon(50% 0%, 0% 100%, 100% 100%) creates a triangle.
  • `circle()`: Defines a circle using a radius and a center point. Example: circle(50% at 50% 50%).
  • `ellipse()`: Similar to a circle but allows different horizontal and vertical radii.
  • `inset()`: Creates an inset rectangle, perfect for cropping from the edges.

Performance and Layout

One of the biggest advantages of clip-path is performance. Modern browsers heavily optimize clip-paths, often hardware-accelerating them for smooth rendering. It is important to note that clip-path only affects the visual rendering of the element; the element still occupies its original rectangular bounding box within the document's layout flow. This means it will not push or pull sibling elements based on its masked shape.

The Origin of CSS Clip-Path

The clip-path property was introduced as part of the W3C CSS Masking Module Level 1. It was designed to replace the deprecated clip property, which was severely limited because it only supported basic rectangular masks on absolutely positioned elements. By integrating concepts from SVG masking, clip-path brought the power of vector-based clipping directly into native CSS.

CSS clip-path revolutionized web design by enabling fluid, non-rectangular elements natively in the browser without requiring external image assets.

Standardized By
W3C CSS Masking Module Level 1
Replaced
The CSS 'clip' property

Examples

Triangle

Runtime-verified example for css-clip-path-generator
Input
{"shape":"Triangle","points":"50% 0%, 0% 100%, 100% 100%"}
Output
{
  "shape": "Triangle",
  "points": "50% 0%, 0% 100%, 100% 100%"
}

Hexagon

Runtime-verified example for css-clip-path-generator
Input
{"shape":"Hexagon","points":"50% 0%, 100% 25%, 100% 75%, 50% 100%, 0% 75%, 0% 25%"}
Output
{
  "shape": "Hexagon",
  "points": "50% 0%, 100% 25%, 100% 75%, 50% 100%, 0% 75%, 0% 25%"
}

Star

Runtime-verified example for css-clip-path-generator
Input
{"shape":"Star","points":"50% 0%, 61% 35%, 98% 35%, 68% 57%, 79% 91%, 50% 70%, 21% 91%, 32% 57%, 2% 35%, 39% 35%"}
Output
{
  "shape": "Star",
  "points": "50% 0%, 61% 35%, 98% 35%, 68% 57%, 79% 91%, 50% 70%, 21% 91%, 32% 57%, 2% 35%, 39% 35%"
}

Use Cases

  • Designing non-rectangular hero sections with angled or slanted bottom edges.
  • Creating unique geometric profile pictures (e.g., hexagons, octagons) without altering the source image.
  • Building custom CSS-only UI elements like tooltips, speech bubbles, and ribbon banners.
  • Developing engaging hover animations by transitioning between two different clip-paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools