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css-clip-path-generator

A CSS clip-path generator builds the clip-path property visually — letting you drag polygon points, set circle/ellipse radii, or define inset rectangles directly on a preview element rather than computing percentages by hand. The ZTools CSS Clip-Path Generator supports polygon (any number of points), circle, ellipse, inset (with rounded corners), and SVG path() clipping; offers preset shapes (chevron, hexagon, parallelogram, message bubble, star, blob); and emits clean CSS plus a Tailwind 4 arbitrary-value utility for instant pasting.

Use cases​

Diagonal section dividers​

Modern landing pages use polygon clip-paths to create slanted hero edges. Drag the bottom corners; copy.

Image masks​

Crop a profile photo to a hexagon or circle without an SVG mask. Apply clip-path:circle(50%) and you have an instant round avatar.

Reveal animations​

Animate clip-path between two states for a wipe-reveal effect. Build the start and end shapes here, transition between them in CSS.

Decorative ornaments​

Star, blob, parallelogram, chevron — non-rectangular shapes anchor brand graphics without exporting SVG for every variant.

How it works​

  1. Pick a shape type — Polygon (custom point list), circle, ellipse, inset (rectangle with optional rounded corners), or path() with raw SVG.
  2. Drag points / radii — For polygons, drag any vertex on the preview; add or remove points. For circle/ellipse, drag radius and centre.
  3. Tune precisely — Type exact percentages for snap accuracy. Toggle pixel vs percent units.
  4. Preview at multiple sizes — Square, landscape, portrait — clip-paths often look different at different aspect ratios.
  5. Copy CSS — Plain CSS, Tailwind 4 arbitrary value, or a CSS custom property declaration.

Examples​

Input: Diagonal hero (polygon)

Output: clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 85%, 0 100%);

Input: Circle avatar

Output: clip-path: circle(50% at 50% 50%);

Input: Hexagon

Output: clip-path: polygon(50% 0%, 100% 25%, 100% 75%, 50% 100%, 0% 75%, 0% 25%);

Frequently asked questions​

Is clip-path supported in all browsers?

All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Older Safari requires the -webkit- prefix; the generator emits both for safety.

Can I animate clip-path?

Yes — animating between two polygons with the same point count works smoothly. Different point counts produce visual jumps.

How does clip-path differ from mask-image?

clip-path is a binary cut: pixels are either in or out. mask-image supports alpha gradients (soft edges). Use clip-path for sharp shapes, mask-image for soft fades.

Will it impact performance?

Clip-path is GPU-accelerated. Performance is fine even on mobile for hundreds of clipped elements.

Why is my clip-path producing the wrong shape?

Polygon points are clockwise from top-left, expressed as percentages of the element's box. The generator visualises this so you cannot get it wrong.

Can I export an SVG path version?

Yes — the generator emits clip-path: path('M…') for cases where polygon does not fit (curves, complex shapes).

Tips​

  • For diagonal section dividers, drag only one corner — the asymmetric cut feels more intentional than a symmetric diagonal.
  • Save common shapes (avatar circle, hexagon, chevron) as snippets in your CSS library.
  • For animations, ensure the start and end polygons have the same point count — otherwise the transition jumps.
  • When images get clipped, set the original image as a background so SEO-friendly alt text still works on a wrapper.
  • Test the shape at multiple aspect ratios — polygons tied to a specific shape can break in responsive contexts.

Try it now​

The full css-clip-path-generator runs in your browser at https://ztools.zaions.com/css-clip-path-generator — no signup, no upload, no data leaves your device.

Open the tool ↗

Last updated: 2026-05-05 · Author: Ahsan Mahmood · Edit this page on GitHub