Photoshop/101basics/paths/pathshapetools

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Path Shape Tools ; path shapes tools are also explained here

-Creating a path is done by many ways, so in this part of the chapter I'm going to show you all the possible ways to create a path.

The pen tool: the most common way to create a path is by using the pen tool, you can find the pen tool in the tool box as explained previously in other chapters. How to use the pen tool to create a path:

1.Select the pen tool from the tool box, and make sure that it's set to (path) >> you can do that by clicking on the (path icon) up in the menu bar (enter paths icon)

2.Now go ahead and draw any complete shape that you want, I drew a square, well now you have created a path using the pen tool, you can edit the path by either using the options available in the path palette, or use the direct selection tool (white arrow).

-The coolest thing about paths is that they can be edited easily, you can drag the points on the path's edge to create and adjust the path's shape the way you like it and this works on all paths.

Freeform Pen Tool: like the pen tool, you can create a path using the freeform pen tool. The steps are not different than the previous steps just do the following:

1.Select the freeform pen tool from your tool box, if you can't find the tool, click on the pen tool icon and hold for a couple of second, a sub menu will appear giving other tools, the freeform pen tool is in that sub menu.

2.Make sure that the tool is set to path by clicking on the paths button as explained in the previous example.

3.Now go ahead and draw any complete shape that you want, and that's another path created by using the freeform pen tool. You can edit that path the way you want exactly the way you did using the pen tool.

Creating Path using shapes: Another way to create a path is by using shapes you can find the shapes tools box under the font button if you're using the classical two columns tool box, or under the direct selection tool button if you're using the new one column tool box. You can use all the shapes available by Photoshop to create a path; these shapes are: Rectangle tool Rounded rectangle tool , Ellipse tool , Polygon tool , Line tool , Custom shape tool

-How to create path using shapes:

1.Select any shape that you want from the tool box and make sure that it's set to path by clicking on the path button as explained earlier.

2. Now go ahead and draw the shape that you selected and that's it. You just created a path by using a shape. Of course like the previous examples, this path that you just created can be edited by either using the direct selection tool + right click on path to select the changes you want to make or by using the options in the path palette.

Creating a path using selection tool:

You can create a path using any selection tool.

-How to create a path using selection tools:

1.First thing open up the path palette, you can find it by going to the menu bar >> select window >> paths.

2.Create a new path by clicking on (create new path) button.

3.Now go ahead and select any selection tool you want, and make any shape you want.

4.Now go to the path palette and click on the (make work path from selection), and that�s it, you�ll notice that the selection will turn a path that you can edit and reshape the way you want.

Tip: you can export the path that you created to another vector based software such as Illustrator. You can do that by going to the menu bar, select file >> export then select export paths dialog box will appear giving the option to name the path and save it as an illustrator file (*.ai) anywhere you want on your computer, and of course you have the option to choose the path that you want to export or export all paths.