Using the pen tools (Photoshop)

Using the pen tools (Photoshop)

You can create or edit straight lines curves or freeform lines and shapes using the pen tools. The pen tools can be used in conjunction with the shape tools to create complex shapes.

Drawing with the pen tool

The pen tool lets you create straight lines and smooth flowing curves with greater precision than is possible with the freeform pen tool For most users the pen tool provides the best control and greatest accuracy for drawing.

To draw with the pen tool:

Select the pen tool .

Set the following tool-specific options:

To add an anchor point when you click a line segment and delete an anchor point when you click it select Auto Add/Delete in the options bar (See Adding deleting and converting anchor points on section 216

To preview path segments as you draw click the inverted arrow next to the shape buttons in the options bar and select Rubber Band.

Position the pen pointer where you want to begin to draw and click to define the first anchor point.

Click or drag to set anchor points for additional segments (See "Drawing straight segments with the pen tool on section 205 and "Drawing curves with the pen tool on section 206

Complete the path:

To end an open path Ctrl-click ( Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) away from the path.

To close a path position the pen pointer over the first anchor point A small loop appears next to the pen tip when it is positioned correctly Click to close the path.

For more information on closed and open paths see About anchor points direction lines, direction points and components on section 210

Drawing straight segments with the pen tool

The simplest segment you can draw with the pen tool is a straight segment made by clicking to create anchor points.

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 If the Auto Add/Delete option is selected you can click an existing point to delete it.

Drawing curves with the pen tool

You create curves by dragging the pen tool in the direction you want the curve to go Keep these guidelines in mind when drawing curves:

. Always drag the first direction point in the direction of the bump of the curve and drag the second direction point in the opposite direction to create a single curve Dragging both direction points in the same direction creates an "S curve.

Drag in the opposite direction to create a smooth curve Drag in the same direction to create an "S" curve.

When drawing a series of smooth curves draw one curve at a time placing anchor points at the beginning and end of each curve not at the tip of the curve Use as few anchor points as possible placing them as far apart as possible. This decreases the file size and reduces the potential for printing errors.

For more information on how paths are constructed see About anchor points direction lines direction points and components on section 210

To draw a curve:

Position the pointer where you want the curve to begin and hold down the mouse button. The first anchor point appears and the pointer changes to an arrowhead.

Drag in the direction you want the curve segment to be drawn As you drag the pointer leads one of two direction points Hold down the Shift key to constrain the tool to multiples of 45 and release the mouse button once you have positioned the first direction point.

The length and slope of the direction line determine the shape of the curve segment. You can adjust one or both sides of the direction line later.

 

Drag in the direction of the curve to set the first anchor point Drag in the opposite direction to complete the curve segment.

Position the pointer where you want the curve segment to end and drag in the opposite direction to complete the segment.

Do one of the following:

To draw the next segment of a smooth curve position the pointer where you want the next segment to end and drag away from the curve.

Drag away from the curve to create the next segment.

To change the direction of the curve sharply release the mouse button then Alt-drag

(Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the direction point in the direction of the curve. Release Alt ( Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and the mouse button reposition the pointer where you want the segment to end and drag in the opposite direction to complete the curve segment.

To break out the direction lines of an anchor point Alt-drag ( Windows) or Option-drag

(Mac OS) the lines.

Alt-drag or Option-drag the direction point toward the curve Release the key and drag in the opposite direction.

Drawing with the freeform pen tool

The freeform pen tool lets you draw as if you were drawing with a pencil on paper Anchor points are added automatically as you draw. You do not determine where the points are positioned but you can adjust them once the path is complete.

The magnetic pen is an option of the freeform tool that lets you draw a path that snaps to the edges of defined areas in your image. You can define the range and sensitivity of the snapping behavior as well as the complexity of the resulting path. The magnetic pen and magnetic lasso tools share many of the same options.

To draw with the freeform pen tool:

Select the freeform pen tool .

To control how sensitive the final path is to the movement of your mouse or stylus click the inverted arrow next to the shape buttons in the options bar and enter a value between 0.5 and 10.0 pixels for Curve Fit A higher value creates a simpler path with fewer anchor points.

Drag the pointer in the image As you drag a path trails behind the pointer. When you release the mouse a work path is created.

To continue the existing freehand path position the freeform pen pointer on an endpoint of the path and drag.

To complete the path release the mouse. To create a closed path click the initial point of the path (a circle appears next to the pointer when it is aligned) For more information on closed and open paths see About anchor points direction lines direction points and components on section 210

To draw using the magnetic pen options:

To convert the freeform pen tool to the magnetic pen tool , select Magnetic in the options bar or click the inverted arrow next to the shape buttons in the options bar select Magnetic and set the following:

For Width enter a pixel value between 1 and 256. The magnetic pen detects edges only within the specified distance from the pointer.

For Contrast enter a percentage value between 1 and 100 to specify the contrast between pixels required to be considered an edge Use a higher value for low contrast images.

For Frequency enter a value between 5 and 40 to specify the rate at which the pen sets anchor points A higher value anchors the path in place more quickly.

If you are working with a stylus tablet select or deselect Pen Pressure. When this option is selected an increase in pen pressure causes the width to decrease.

Click in the image to set the first fastening point.

To draw a freehand segment move the pointer or drag along the edge you want to trace.

The most recent segment of the border remains active As you move the pointer the active segment snaps to the strongest edge in the image connecting the pointer to the last fastening point Periodically the magnetic pen adds fastening points to the border to anchor previous sections.

If the border doesn t snap to the desired edge click once to add a fastening point manually and to keep the border from moving Continue to trace the edge and add fastening points as needed If needed press Delete to remove the last fastening point.

To dynamically modify the properties of the magnetic pen do one of the following:

Alt-drag ( Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) to draw a freehand path.

Alt-click ( Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) to draw straight segments.

Press the [ key to decrease the magnetic pen width by 1 pixel press the ] key to increase the pen width by 1 pixel.

Complete the path:

Press Enter or Return to end an open path.

Double-click to close the path with a magnetic segment.

Hold down Alt ( Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and double-click to close the path with a straight segment.