Basics of the Pen Tool

For all of you that don't know much about this tool and how to use it, read on...

The Pen tool is a drawing tool used to draw any line or shape with precision, creates vector paths rather than filled selections of pixels and you can also create clipping paths

When creating shapes using the Pen tool, there will be instances in which you want to modify it. You can use the tools in the Pen tool flyout to manipulate shapes

The Freeform Pen works like the Lasso tool, in that when you drag with this tool, it creates freeform lines. When selected, the Tool Options bar reveals a check box for the Magnetic option, that places segments as you drag, and depending on your settings, it can make more or fewer segments

The Add Anchor Point is used to add more anchor points to an object or path

The Delete Anchor Point is used to delete anchor points from an object or path

The Convert Anchor Point is used to change the nature of an anchor point. You can change corner points to smooth points and vice versa

When the Pen tool is selected you have three options in the Options Bar:

This one is going to create shape layers filled with color

This one is going to create paths

This one is going to create filled pixels

To create a straight line with the Pen tool, simply click in two different places. This creates two anchor points with no direction points. Without direction points to guide the segment, it will go directly from one point to another


A straight line created using two Anchor points


Since the direction point's angle governs the curvature of the next segment, you want to drag the direction point in the direction you want to leave the anchor point you're creating. Although the path will ultimately move towards the next anchor point you create, you're indicating that it must first bend in a specific direction. Unlike anchor points, direction points only guide the path in a certain direction

After releasing the mouse button to create the first anchor point's direction point, you move the Pen tool mouse pointer to where you want the next anchor point to go. Again, if you want to control the curvature, you can hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse instead of clicking. In this case, the direction point you're dragging will control the next segment of the curve, if you choose to make one. However, a handle is created on the opposite side of the anchor point, and that handle affects the prior segment


Dragging the second point downwards(in this case) gives you the handles


A good thing to know is that since the Pen tool creates paths, you need a tool to select those paths, thats when the Path Selection and the Direct Selection tool come in handy

The Path Selection tool is used to select one or more paths

The Direct Selection tool is used to reshape a path by dragging individual anchor points and direction points. When you select a path using this tool, the anchor points along a path are displayed as hollow, but the anchor point you selected is displayed as solid. You can drag an anchor point to reposition it, which causes the path to reshape. You can also access direction handles by clicking directly on the anchor point or a segment of the path whose direction points you want to access, and once the direction points are visible, you can drag them with this tool to adjust the segment's curvature

Shortcuts when the Pen tool is active:

• Press and hold Ctrl to get the Direct Selection tool

• Press and hold Ctrl + Alt to get the Path Selection tool

• If you have the Auto Add/Delete check box selected in the Tool Options bar, you can pass your cursor over a segment in a selected path to get the Add Anchor Point tool, and if you move your cursor over a point you'll get the Delete Anchor Point tool.


(c) The Photoshop Group

ohhh ok thank you =D

its not that is too old, its just different than PS CS3 Extended VErsion

actually its not even teh pen tool i have a pencil tool XP

i have like ADOBE Photoshop Elements like its really old, and when you do a line using the pen tool and your suppose to right click i only get the option "background" is there any other way to get the options for it or is it just too old?

I feel like a stupid retarded kid. 'cause I'm still confused with the pen tool.
=(

This tutorial clears up A LOT.
(:
Definitely an "A"

Author	elrene06
Submitted on	Jan 15, 2008
Page views	99,229
Favorites	49
Comments	6
Reviewer	Relentless
Approved on	Jan 15, 2008

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