PS - Pen Tool (Part 1)

We will use the Create a new work path option. 

• You can find these options in the top left hand corner of the Photoshop window. 

Just like selection tools, the pen tool has several different options for the resulting path. 

• The most commonly used is “add to path area”. 

Try This:

Take your pen tool and click on a blank canvas similar to what I have done below. 

• Each time you click you create an anchor point.

Hold down Shft, move the mouse and click again. 

• Holding down shift while making an anchor point creates it in a straight line

We can add and delete anchor points on the path we have created. 

• Right click on the pen tool on the toolbar to reveal further tools. 

• Use the Add and Delete Anchor Point Tool to do just that!

I used the Delete Anchor Point Tool to remove the fourth anchor point.

Now, let’s look at the Convert Point Tool for curvature modification and moving anchor points.

With the convert point tool click and drag on the second anchor point. 

• Without letting go, move the mouse around and see how it affects the curve. 

• The line that is created is called the Tangent Line. 

• The tangent line controls the curvature of the curve.

Holding down Command  click on the anchor point and move the mouse.

• This allows you to move the anchor point.

Click on one end of the tangent line and drag.

This breaks the tangent line in half and creates sharp path changes.

Move the entire path by selecting the Path Selection Tool from the toolbar and drag the path to a new location.

Delete your path by right clicking on the path and select Delete Path.

Another style of creating a path: 

• With your pen tool create two anchor points however on the second click don’t let go, drag theclick to create the tangent line. 

• The tangent line will affect the next anchor point that you create.