General information about 3W Cutout service

• Which service does 3W Cutout provide for catalogue products to be cut out?
• How long is the editing time for images?
• Is it possible to speed up the process?
• Who holds the copyright on the edited images?

The free 3W Cutout Test

• Is it possible to test your cutting out service for free?
• How do I get my personal FTP access?
• Is there any support for FTP access?
• How many images can I hand in for the free test?
• Which format do the test images have?

Images and Image formats

• Which quality level do images need to have?
• How do I hand in images?
• Which format do images need to have?
• Are certain formats cheaper than others?
• Will I have to pay more for an additional format?
• Will I get the images in my requested size or will they be optimised for a web shop?
• Can cut out objects be placed on a background?
• What are the costs if there is a background?
• What is the difference between the various formats?

Cutting out techniques: cutting out hair, cutting out persons, Hollow Man, Ghost Model

• What are the techniques for cutting out persons or hair?
• What is a Hollow Man montage / Ghost Model?
• What is a Hollow Man montage good for?
• What is the source material for a Hollow Man montage?

Other 3W Freistellen Services: Vector graphics, High End Retouching, Technical Drawings

• Does 3W Cutout create vector files for large format printings?
• What is a vector file? How can products be enhanced for a high quality presentation?
• Do you compile technical drawings? Do you offer high end retouching?
• Is it possible to get the image cutouts along with paths/masking?

Payment and Security

• Are my files safe with 3W Freistellen?
• What happens with the data after the order has been completed?
• What are the payment methods?
• When will I receive an invoice?
• Will VAT be displayed as an extra item on the invoice?
• What is the payment period for invoices?
• Muss bei der Bestellung außerhalb Deutschlands mit einer Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer Mehrwertsteuer gezahlt werden?
• Is it possible to pay via Paypal? Is it possible to pay in other currencies?

General Information about 3W Cutout

Which service does 3W Cutout provide for catalogue products to be cut out?

The 3W Cutout agency provides ready-to-use cutouts in the requested format. Cutting out images, photos or hair at a fixed price and within 24 hours. Upon request customers get their data along with paths so they can edit their images further.

How long is the editing time for images?

Images will be edited and made available by 3W Cutout within just a few hours. Depending on the order volume cutting out images can take up to 24 hours.

Is it possible to speed up the process?

For an extra charge 3W Cutout provides an Express Service for cutouts. Depending on the quantity, data may be available already after 30 minutes.

Who holds the copyright on the edited images?

As soon as the order is paid the customer will hold the unrestricted rights. Images are clear to be used right after the editing process is complete. 

The free Cutout Test

Is it possible to test your cutting out service for free?

A free test is generally possible. Get in touch with us via our contact form. Afterwards you may send us your test images via e-mail or FTP.

How do I get my personal FTP access?

After placing the test order or cutting out the images or hair, respectively, we will create an access. This account can be used with further orders to send us images.

Is there any support for FTP access?

Upon request 3W Freistellen will configure a FTP programme for you. Feel free to get in touch by calling us a 0341-9187910 . Configuration of the FTP programme may also be carried out remotely through the TeamViewer software. Apart from that we can send you a how-to guide anytime.

How many images can I hand in for the free test?

A maximum of two images will be edited for a free image cutout test. For approval or estimation of a cutout more images may be handed in. Depending on the motif free test images will be made available with or without a water mark.

Which format do the test images have?

Test images will be made available in a format requested by the customer. Complex motifs will be dispatched as jpg-files with a water mark.

Images and Image Formats

Which quality level do images need to have?

Generally any image can be edited. However, the better the quality the more precisely the images can be cut out, the same applies to hair or photo cutouts. This is why we recommend to hand in images with a high resolution.

How do I hand in images?

Images may be handed in via data carrier, e-mail, FTP access or Cloud storage. For details see the following:

• Submission via mail on a data carrier
• Upload via FTP using a personal account
• Submission via e-mail to test@freistellen.de
• Making a download link available via Dropbox or WeTransfer

Which format do images need to have?

Any format is possible. Examples would be .tif, .raw, .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .png. Generally, any image can be edited. In all cases the following applies: The better the source material, the better the results will be. So keep in mind to provide images in high resolution. 

Are certain formats cheaper than others?

No. All formats have the same price. Tell us the format you wish to have and we will act accordingly.

Will I have to pay more for an additional format?

No. In case you need a second format simply inform us along with your order. The second format will be made available to you without any extra charge.

Will I get the images in my requested size or will they be optimised for a web shop?

It is possible to scale images and to centre products as you have requested. Depending on the system and template of your online shop a square format may make most sense.

Can cut out objects be placed on a background?

Cut out products can be placed on a background of your choice. Upon request 3W Cutout will create a background. Of course, handing in your own background is always possible. 

What are the costs if there is a background?

A one-time amount based on man-hours will be charged. The background will be dispatched in the requested format and can be used without any restrictions.

.jpg

Probably the most widely used format. Due to its high compression it is very popular with hobby photographers. Apart from that embedding paths is possible. However, due to the high compression rate there is some loss in depiction.

.psd

A format used exclusively by the image editing software Photoshop from Adobe. All required image information is stored here, which includes layers, channels and vectors. Due to the high quantity of data information files are very large, a disadvantage when dispatching them.

.tif

This very versatile format is popular with companies for press photos. As with the jpg-format it is possible to embed paths.

.png

As with the .gif format it supports transparency and is thus very popular on the Internet. Apart from that it has turned out to be optimal for lossless image compression. However, not all applications support Portable Networks Graphics.

.gif

These images are widely spread on the Internet. With the Graphics Interchange Format you can not only display simple animations, but also transparent backgrounds. However, due to the low number of only 256 colours gif-images are not suitable for high-quality product images.

.bmp

Images in the Windows Bitmap format, many know it from the Windows programme Paint, are rarely used on the Internet due to its low level of compression.

.raw

The name says it all. Raw data need to be post-processed, which means .raw-files are very large. .raw is not the name of a specific format, but a general term for raw data provided by various manufacturers.

Cutout Techniques: cutting out hair, cutting out persons, Hollow Man, Ghost Model

What are the techniques for cutting out persons or hair?

For cutting out hair a number of methods can be used. Brushing, drawing and smudging of hair is possible just as selecting hair simulation. Apart from that, hair brush specifications and copy sources for error correction can be created along with the cutout process. However, there are even more methods, the most efficient of which has turned out to be the Alpha channel mask. This technique provides the largest number of functionalities when the object has been photographed in front of a white background. Via the colour channel rich in contrast – the Alpha channel – cutting out is done with an image editing software such as Photoshop. 

What is a Hollow Man montage / Ghost Model Invisible Mannequin?

The Hollow Man method is a combination of photography and post-production at the computer. First a piece of clothing is put on a fashion mannequin and a picture is taken. Then another picture is made of the inside covered up by the doll. By using an image editing software both pictures are put together resulting in a vividly looking object. The Hollow Man method calls for extensive knowledge in the field of photography and extended know-how of how to use image editing software. 

What is a Hollow Man Montage good for?

Thanks to the Hollow Man photography the viewer can imagine what fashion looks like when worn. In a way, the products are presented in a multi-dimensional way. In the fashion industry the method of vivid photography has become quite popular.

What is the source material for a Hollow Man montage?

For the three-dimensional cutting out using the Hollow Man method you need two pictures. The first image shows the object worn by a doll from the front. The second picture needs to show the inside of the part covered up by the doll. These two pictures are used to put the piece of clothing together.

Other 3W Cutout Services: Vector graphics, High End Retouching, Technical Drawings

Does 3W Cutout create vector files for large format printings?

Apart from abovementioned services such as cutting out images, pictures or hair via Alpha channel masking, 3W FUTURE also offers the generation of digitalised vector files from images or logos for large-scale printings. We will offer vectorisation in case a logo is blurry. 

What is a Vector File?

Pixel graphics are not suitable for large format printings, since things will get blurry the more they get enlarged. Vector graphics have the advantage of lossless scaling. Even with larger depiction sharp edges remain visible. Apart from that, vector files use up only little storage space. Vector files are used with textile printing, large-scale posters and banners as well as with catalogues.

How can products be enhanced for a high quality presentation?

Clippings and other images can look more valuable by adding shadows or mirror effects. With furniture as well as with watches and jewellery these optional services have turned out to have an optimising effect for many customers. 

Do you compile Technical Drawings?

With an image as source material 3W Cutout can compile technical drawings, along with specifications upon request. Especially customers from the illuminants industry make use of that service.

Do you offer High End Retouching?

High End retouching is also part of the portfolio of 3W Cutout. Simply get in touch with the agency for a personal quote. 

Is it possible to get the image cutouts along with paths/masking?

Upon request, the customer will get all clippings along with paths/masking. The path is stored within a psd-file (Photoshop) or in the graphic formats .tif and .jpg. Generally, 3W Cutout always creates clippings with multi-paths. After the order is complete, the customer can further edit objects, products or details.

Payment and Security

Are my data with 3W Cutout safe?

3W Cutout guarantees for the safety of your data. With companies an extra agreement can be made for that purpose.

What happens with the data after the order has been completed?

Upon receiving your payment your data will be deleted irrevocably from your personal FTP account. This is why we recommend making backups of your data beforehand.

What are the payment methods?

Payment will be carried out upon receiving an invoice or via Paypal. Except for a few exceptions, this is a method we provide only for private and foreign customers. Before we create a customer file, please send us your invoice data before you place your order.

When will I receive an invoice?

3W Cutout provides various accounting options. Regular customers will get the possibility of monthly payment, however, they will also be given the possibility of specifying a payment data of their own. Usually, settlement takes place once a week or once every fortnight. We try to avoid too many invoices by adding up smaller amounts. 

Will VAT be displayed as an extra item on the invoice?

Invoices will display VAT extra in compliance with German law. 

What is the payment period for invoices?

After receiving the invoice the amount should be paid within seven days into the 3W Cutout account.