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Look Ma ... No Pixels: Creating Simple Paths in Photoshop
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It is a beginner task to create the ellipse selection
here, but to add the inner curve is very difficult without calling on
paths. The path that created the ellipse with an inner curve is shown
below.
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Paths in Photoshop are at their simplest form, another way to make
a selection. We will look at some of the special characteristics of
paths a little later, but fix in your mind that we are using a new way
to create a selection for this first part.
When I was struggling to understand paths, I would invariably try to
use paths in the same way as I created vector objects in an illustration
program. My Eureka! day was when I said, "You mean these are just
selections?" For the most part, that is what a path is - a flexible
method to create a selection.
So what does a path have that a regular selection does not? In a word
– nodes. Nodes are the single most important reason to learn to
work with paths. If you have ever tried to create a freehand selection
with a nice smooth curve, but were not using paths, you are in for a
treat. Bezier lines are the best graphic tool for smooth and flexible
curves, and only paths can offer them.
The two selections shown at the left illustrate the power of paths.
The first selection is easy to create. But using regular selections,
the lower sample would be almost impossible, unless you have a very
steady hand and pure talent with Quick Mask. That is certainly beyond
my talent or patience. Yet, by creating a path, adjusting the ellipse
by adding control points and using the control handles t"o" shape the
inner curve, I was able to create this selection in minutes. The path
I used is shown below the selections.
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Tools in the Path Component Selection tool flyout menu.
Tools from the Pen tool flyout menu.
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Tool of the Paths Trade
The list of tools for creating and editing paths can be daunting, but
once you understand what they do, choosing the correct tool becomes
instinctive. (The Custom Shape tool is technically a path tool as well,
but I am going to leave that for the next article, since you should
master the basics of working with paths in order to really understand
shapes.)
 The
two tools for creating and editing paths are highlighted in the sample
to the right and expanded at the left. The first tool at the right contains
the Path Component Selection tool and the Direct Selection tool. These
are both used to edit the path once it is created. The Path Component
tool is used to move the entire path, and the Direct Selection tool
is used to edit individual segments on the path.
The Pen tool and its variations are used to create and paths and remove
or add nodes, as well as convert the nodes to a different type. The
Pen tool and the Freeform Pen tool are the drawing tools. The remainder
of the tools in this menu are used to edit nodes once the path is created.
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Toolbar settings for creating a path in this exercise.
Closing a path. The cursor will have an "o" shape beside
the pen when the path can be closed.
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Creating a Path
We will use the Pen tool first, but only to create lines. It is a little
confusing to create curves with the Pen tool if you are not familiar
with how nodes work. The Freeform Pen tool is a little easier as an
introduction to curves, and we will work with that before tackling curves
with the Pen tool.
Note: We will look at creating shapes in the next paths article.
This time I am focusing on paths alone, since you need a full understanding
of how paths work to make the best use of shapes. Once we have the paths
down pat, I will show you how to really have some fun creating custom
shapes.
Select the Pen tool and make sure the options in the tool bar are as
shown at the left. Click on the canvas and release the mouse button.
Position the cursor where you would like the end of the first line,
and click again. Repeat as often as needed to create your shape and
position your cursor over the starting point. An "o" shape will appear
beside the cursor, telling you that the shape will be closed on click.
Click to complete the path.
Congratulations, you have just completed a path. Before we move onto
creating more sophisticated paths, let's take a look at a few housekeeping
items so you truly understand what we can do with this new skill.
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Paths palette listing for a new path.
Original path is named "First object" and
a new path created.
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Saving Paths
As it is, our path is not worth much, yet. It is not a selection. It
is not an object. In fact, it will not even be saved with our document
if left as it is. Paths are stored as a working path (see left) when
they are created with the settings we have used, but we must save them
as a named path before they become a part of the document. We must also
save one path before we can create another path. If we do not save a
path, any additional path that we create will be added to the original
path as a subpath.
To name the path, activate the Paths palette (default position is with
the Layers palette). Double click on the Work Path listing and name
the path. Now, click off the listing for the named setting. The listing
will not be highlighted, and the path disappears from the screen. Select
the Pen tool and repeat the drawing exercise to create a new path. Note
how the new path is called Work Path. Highlight the named path and the
new path disappears.
You could name the new path and continue creating new paths as required.
Unlike selections, paths do not add much weight to a document, since
the information is stored as math coordinates. There is no reason to
restrict the number of paths you create. Just make sure that you name
the paths well to make them easier to find later.
Now that we have our simple path saved, let's put it to work.
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Next page
Look Ma ... No Pixels: Tutorial Index
Paths in Raster Programs
Creating Simple Paths in Photoshop
Working with Paths and Nodes
Creating and Editing Curves
Selections, Importing and Exporting
  
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