{"id":132,"date":"2026-05-04T19:53:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T23:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simpletool.io\/blog\/?p=132"},"modified":"2026-05-04T19:53:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T23:53:22","slug":"css-clip-path-generator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simpletool.io\/blog\/css-clip-path-generator\/","title":{"rendered":"CSS Clip Path Generator: Visual Polygon Editor [2026]"},"content":{"rendered":"
TL;DR:<\/strong> CSS clip-path<\/code> defines a region that an element is rendered inside \u2014 anything outside that region is clipped (transparent). Shapes can be a polygon (polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 50%)<\/code>), circle (circle(50% at 50% 50%)<\/code>), ellipse, or inset rectangle. Our free CSS clip-path generator<\/a> ships 18 presets (hexagon, arrow, talk bubble, parallelogram, chevron, star), a draggable-vertex editor, and one-click copy of the production CSS.<\/div>\n

CSS clip-path<\/code> is the modern way to give an element a non-rectangular outline without resorting to SVG masks or background images. A clipped <img><\/code> stays a real <img><\/code> \u2014 accessible, responsive, link-able, and crisp at every device pixel ratio \u2014 while looking like a hexagon, arrow, parallelogram, or talk bubble. It’s used for hero-section diagonals, avatar masks, sticky badge tags, and the angled section breaks designers love and developers used to hate.<\/p>\n

The reason developers used to hate it: writing polygon()<\/code> coordinates by hand is tedious and the syntax is unforgiving. polygon(50% 0%, 100% 38%, 82% 100%, 18% 100%, 0% 38%)<\/code> is a pentagon \u2014 but you wouldn’t guess that from the numbers. Our CSS clip-path generator<\/a> solves that with a visual editor: drag the vertices on a live preview and the CSS updates in real time. This guide covers every shape function, the gotchas with overflow and box-sizing, and the browser support story in 2026.<\/p>\n

The 4 clip-path shape functions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Function<\/th>\nSyntax<\/th>\nBest for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
polygon()<\/code><\/td>\npolygon(x1 y1, x2 y2, ...)<\/code><\/td>\nCustom shapes with corners (hexagon, arrow, talk bubble)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
circle()<\/code><\/td>\ncircle(50% at 50% 50%)<\/code><\/td>\nAvatar masks, circular thumbnails<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ellipse()<\/code><\/td>\nellipse(50% 25% at 50% 50%)<\/code><\/td>\nStretched circles, oval avatars<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
inset()<\/code><\/td>\ninset(10px 20px 30px 40px round 8px)<\/code><\/td>\nRounded-rect with inset edges (asymmetric)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
path()<\/code><\/td>\npath(\"M 0 0 L 100 50 ...\")<\/code><\/td>\nSVG-grade complex shapes (curves, arcs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
shape()<\/code> (CSS Shapes 2)<\/td>\nshape(from 0 0, line to 100% 0, ...)<\/code><\/td>\n2026 syntax \u2014 readable polygon alternative<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Coordinate system and units<\/h2>\n

Clip-path coordinates are measured from the top-left of the element. The X axis grows rightward; Y grows downward. Both axes accept percentages (relative to the element’s box) or absolute units (px, em, rem). Mixed units work: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% calc(100% - 20px), 50% 100%, 0 calc(100% - 20px))<\/code> creates a banner with a 20px wave at the bottom regardless of card height.<\/p>\n

The default reference box is the border-box<\/strong> (the element’s outer edge). You can change this with clip-path: polygon(...) padding-box<\/code> or other box keywords \u2014 useful when you want the clip to follow the padding zone instead of the border.<\/p>\n

How to design a clip-path with the visual editor<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Open the clip-path generator<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Pick a preset shape (hexagon, talk bubble, arrow, etc.) \u2014 or start from a rectangle<\/li>\n
  3. Drag the vertices on the live preview to fine-tune the shape<\/li>\n
  4. Add or remove vertices with the +<\/strong> \/ \u2212<\/strong> buttons<\/li>\n
  5. Toggle the test image (your image or one of the demo photos) to see the clip in context<\/li>\n
  6. Copy the generated CSS, including the clip-path<\/code> declaration and a fallback for older browsers<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    18 production-ready presets<\/h2>\n

    The generator ships these presets so you can grab a working shape in one click:<\/p>\n