Systems and methods for clipping images

A method for creating a composite image, the method comprising:

• loading a graphic editor into a memory of a composition system;
• defining a graphic frame in the graphic editor, the graphic frame being a portion of a variable data publishing template layout;
• receive, from a user of the graphic editor, a selection of a plurality of images that are stored in a database for the graphic frame;
• overlaying the plurality of images within the graphic frame such that the plurality of images within the graphic frame;
• retrieving, using the graphic editor loaded into the memory of the composition system, a predefined clipping path wherein the graphic editor retrieves the predefined clipping path from a library that stores a plurality of predefined clipping paths and based on a set of rules, the predefined clipping path having a plurality of interconnected lines and vertices that define a border, the graphic frame and the set of rules being included in the variable data publishing template layout;
• specifying clipping information for the graphic frame, the clipping information including an order for overlaying a plurality of images within the graphic frame;
• merging the plurality of images within the graphic frame by retrieving the plurality of images from the at least one database and overlaying the plurality of images in the order specified by the clipping information;
• clipping the plurality of images within the graphic frame based on the plurality of clipping path;
• and
• generating the composite image in the graphic frame and from portions of the plurality of images based on the retrieved predefined clipping path by clipping at least a portion of a first image from the plurality of images to reveal at least a portion of a second image from the plurality of images in accordance with the retrieved predefined clipping path.