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Using the Pen Tool in Adobe Photoshop can be tricky, but is extremely useful for creating Shapes and Paths or even making selections.
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 Basic instructions for using the Pen Tool in Photoshop:
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Begin by selecting the Pen Tool from the Tools menu, then choosing your mode. There are three mode choices available:
- Shape
- Default mode when using the Pen Tool
- Creates a filled pixel area on a new Shape layer in your Layers Palette
- Path
- For most projects, you will be using the Path mode
- When using Path, you create an outline completely separate from the image itself
- Doesn’t even show up in a saved jpg, png, etc copy of the image
- This stays an outline until you apply a stroke, fill it, or convert it to a selection.
- Fill Pixels
- Similar to a shape, but adding the filled pixel area straight to whichever layer is selected
- You are unable to edit this mode after closing it
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Once you have chosen the correct mode for your project, you must then choose the correct selection:
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- Create New Shape Layer
- Only available when using the Pen Tool in Shape mode
- Most common Shape selection
- Add to Path/Shape Area
- For most projects, you will be using the Path selection
- Subtract from Path/Shape Area
- Intersect Path/Shape Areas
- Exclude Overlapping Path/Shape Areas
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Your Pen selection mainly becomes apparent only when Filling the Path.
Create a Straight Line Using the Pen Tool:
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To create a straight line, select the Pen Tool and click once on the canvas. This will start your line. Do NOT click and drag, as that will initiate a curve. Then, click a second time at the end of your line. Again, do NOT click and drag. This will create a simple line.
Tips:
- Hold shift while clicking the finish to create a perfect 180, 45, or 90 degree angle
- Though it is possible to close a path or shape, it is not always necessary
Create an Arc Using the Pen Tool:
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Select the Pen Tool and click once on the canvas to initiate the arc. Do NOT click and drag. Click again at the top of the arc and drag to the right. This will initiate the curve.
Finally, click once (no dragging) at the end of the arc to complete it.
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Manipulating an Arc
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- To manipulate any area of a curve, hold Ctrl on your keyboard and click the correct point to select it. For example, hold Ctrl and click on the center anchor point. Then, with the arrow keys on your keyboard, move that point down.
- Or, Ctrl click the right Handle Point and drag that point up and to the left:
- You can even change the nature of the arc by lengthening or shortening the Handles:
Finally, you can also rotate the Handle points separately, allowing you to make changes to half of the arc without affecting the other half. To do this, hold Alt (rather than Ctrl) to temporarily switch from using the Pen Tool to using the Convert Point Tool and click and drag the Handle Point: |
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Please move on to
Step 2 of Using the Pen Tool.
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