Removing Clipping Paths from Images Clipping paths are image editing strategies that are used to cut out a shape from a 2-D image. Clipping Paths are a great tool for print, but are unnecessarily large and complicated for online viewing. If you know there are clipping paths contained within your PDF: 1. Remove the graphic from the source material. 2. Replace the image with a graphic that does NOT contain clipping paths. 3. Reconvert the file to PDF.