Thread: The Pen Tool In Photoshop

Many people want to learning how to use the pen tool for draw a path. But they don't know how to start and thinking it's too complicated. So their work in Photoshop suffers for it. If you new to Photoshop and don't know how to use Photoshop pen tool to draw a path then I hope this article will help you lots.

To draw a path with the Pen tool, you click to set anchor points for the path, and Photoshop draws lines between the points (called segments). To draw a curve, you click and drag, which both sets a point of the path and adjusts the shape of the curve. Unlike elements you draw with the Brush or Pencil tool, a path has no pixels associated with it, so you must fill or stroke it before it becomes part of your image.

Select the Pen tool Pen tool in the toolbox. In the options bar at the top of the work area, click the Paths button Paths button. In the document window, click to set the first point of the path for a straight line. To set the first point of a curve, drag in the direction you want the path to curve. To create a straight line, click where you want the endpoint of the line. To create a curve, move the pointer to the location for the next point, and drag away from the point. The curve changes shape as you drag. Notice the direction lines that appear and move with the mouse. Click or drag to continue adding points. To delete the point you just added, press the Backspace key (Windows) or Delete key (Mac OS). To close a shape, position the pointer over the first point. When a circle appears next to the pointer, click (for a straight segment) or drag (for a curve). To adjust a curve, click the Direct Selection tool Direct Selection tool in the toolbox (it may be hidden by the Path Selection tool Path Selection tool ). Then select the curve. The direction lines of the anchor points on either side of the curve appear. Drag the endpoints of the direction lines until you are satisfied with the curve.

To draw straight segments: Position the pen pointer where you want the straight segment to begin, and click to define the first anchor point. Click again where you want the first segment of the straight line to end, or Shift-click to constrain the angle of the segment to a multiple of 45°. Continue clicking to set anchor points for additional segments. The last anchor point is always a solid square, indicating it is selected. Previously defined anchor points become hollow squares as you add further anchor points.

Nice Tuts dude... very informative to those who want to start learning Photoshop.. Pen tool is very important tool, specially for cropping photos...

Photoshop experts say if you control over Pen tool you are the master because most of work relates to it. So people who are learning it these tips work for them.

Interesting thread, can't say I have used Photoshop though really.

Hey,

That is some great information there, I am sure many would love to know about it.
Thank you sharing it with all of us.
Cheers.

You have very nicely described the method how to use pen tool with paths. It is the great source for the beginner of the Photoshop’s users which helps them to learn it step by step.

Very useful guide for a PhotoShop newbie like me!

Thanks for sharing, colorexp.

Yes,pen tool is a part of the photoshop.

Pen tool in Photo shop is really not easy to use for the beginner and the
information on the fit is good enough to increase my knowledge. THANKS....

Yeah! i agree with this thread .. Pen tool is not so easy to use. Only creative people can do creative work by using pen tool.