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Look Ma ... No Pixels: Selections, Exporting and Importing
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OK, we have unraveled the mysteries of paths, but what can we do with
them? I have already talked about saving your paths with your document,
and sharing with other documents – a most valuable use. For very
few bytes, you can save paths for future use.
I have said all along that paths were really only selections. And that,
for the most part, is what they are. In fact, you can easily transform
any path into a selection, and and selection into a path.
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Creating Selections from Paths
As we filled and stroked the path, you will have noticed the similarities
between paths and selections. While paths are easier to create (especially
when we get into curves next), selections are much more versatile (see
Photoshop Selections:
Back to Basics).
Simply activate the path you wish to turn into a selection. Right click
on the Paths palette listing or the path on the canvas, or use the side
menu on the Paths palette to open the Paths menu. Select Make Selection.
That's it. You now have a selection.
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Creating Paths from Selections
Suppose you have a selection that you would like to convert to a path
... easily done. Simply right click on your selection, and select Make
Work Path from the popup menu. The selection becomes a work path that
can be named and treated like any other path that is created in Photoshop.
Unlike when it is a selection, you can delete nodes, or add curves –
very difficult changes to make to using selection tools. And you can
change back and forth from selection to path as many times as you want.
Once you have worked with bezier curves, and have mastered the general
idea of how to create and edit the curve segments, you will never return
to struggling with difficult selections. You will often find that you
will convert paths to selections once the basic shape is in place, but
you will have saved much time and aggravation by using the right tools
to create your basic shape.
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Exporting Paths to Illustrator
There is yet one more reason to get comfortable with paths. If you use
an illustration program that will read Adobe Illustrator (.ai) files,
you can export any path from Photoshop and open it in the vector program.
The process is very simple, but the export action will pick up any
path that you have in the Photoshop document. Of course, since they
are exported as vector objects, Illustrator considers each path to be
a separate object.
I have illustrated the paths in a Photoshop document (large thumbnail
view in the Paths palette) and the resulting objects in Illustrator.
The paths come into Illustrator with no stroke or fill, but that is
easily added to the vector program.
This exporting function is very valuable, especially now that Photoshop
text remains as vector until the layer is rasterized. The Web to print
implications are quite exciting, since any path that is exported as
a vector becomes completely resolution independent.
To export paths, simply select File > Export paths to Illustrator.
You will be asked to assign a name to the file, and that is it. Open
Illustrator, and open the file.
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Importing Illustrator Files
Here is where things get exciting. Paths are the route to importing
vector art directly into Photoshop. While the path tools are very good
in Photoshop, any vector program has much more path power. You can create
your art in Illustrator and import it into Photoshop as a finished piece
of art.
You can also use the superior vector tools in an illustration program,
and create simple objects to import into Photoshop. You can then make
a selection from the imported art, create a path, edit it, and if desired,
export to Illustrator again.
Give it a try. Simply save your Illustrator file and select File >
Place in Photoshop. The object will come in with a cross through it
for placement. Place it where you desire, double click on the object
and the object becomes a layer in Photoshop.
Get comfortable with paths in Photoshop. It is well worth it. Next
time we look at Photoshop and paths, we will focus on the Shapes tool
and tie all that you have learned here into working with vector layers
in Photoshop. Paths will feel funny for a while, but with the instructions
you have here and a little homework, you will soon be dragging control
handles as if you were born to it. Have fun!
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Back to start
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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