Photoshop cs5 by steve Johnson part 43 doc

ptg 11 11 What You’ll Do 265 Using the Paths Panel Introduction Adobe Photoshop can not handle raster information (pixels), it can also work with vector information (paths). Photoshop stores raster information in the Layers panel, and stores vector information in the Paths panel. When you use Photoshop's vector drawing, or pen tools, Photoshop creates a path in the Paths panel to store that information. In addi- tion, it is possible to create a selection with Photoshop's tra- ditional selection tools, and convert that selection into a path. Paths are defined mathematically using anchor points and segments. Once created, they can be precisely modified to fit any design situation. In many ways, paths serve a function similar to channel masks—they can define selections, but because they're vector and not raster, they are much more precise. When paths are saved, they take up far less room than channels. Working with the various Pen tools, it's possible to create precise paths, and even create complicated selections around virtually any shape. Once the path is created, it's a simple matter to subtract anchor points, and add new or modify existing anchor points to produce complex paths. It's even possible to convert straight segments (the visible line that connects two anchor points together) into elegantly curved segments, or you can remove the curve from a segment with a single click of the Convert Point tool. Paths can be used to precisely guide a brush stroke, or the interior of a path can be filled with any color, pattern, or gradient available in Photoshop using the Stroke and Fill Commands. Paths can even be used to create a clipping path around an image. When moving an image into a layout program such as Adobe InDesign, a clipping path lets you define certain areas of an image as transparent. In addition, you can create paths in Photoshop, then export and open them in Adobe Illustrator. Photoshop paths give you precise, mathematical control over the creation of complex shapes, selections, and even transparency. What You’ll Do Understand Vector and Raster Images Convert a Selection into a Path Work with Pen Tools Create Paths Using the Freeform Pen Tool Use the Magnetic Option with the Freeform Pen Tool Add and Delete Anchor Points Modify Anchor Points Modify Existing Direction Lines Convert Straight Points and Curved Points Work with Clipping Paths Fill an Area of an Image Using Paths Stroke an Area of an Image Using Paths Create Shapes as Paths Export Paths to Adobe Illustrator Export Paths Using the Export Method From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 266 Chapter 11 Photoshop is a hybrid application that gives you great control over photographic (raster) images, and seamlessly combines pixel data with the elegance and form of artistic (vector) shapes. When you work on the raster side of Photoshop, you're dealing with an image that is a like a brick wall with each brick (or pixel) identifying one piece of color information. The reason raster images are considered resolution-dependent is that once the image is created or scanned, any enlargement of the image forces Photoshop to enlarge and average the existing color information in the document. This process, called interpolation , is what causes enlarged raster images to become blurred, or pixelated. Vector images are cre- ated using mathematical shapes, not pixels, and that's why vector shapes are considered resolution-independent. For example, if you enlarge a vector image to 100 times its origi- nal size, Photoshop merely changes the math- ematical formulas to reflect the new size, and since vector shapes are constructed of mathe- matical data instead of pixels, file sizes are extremely small. Understanding Vector and Raster Images Raster Image Vector Image Close up shows lines Close up shows pixels From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 11 Using the Paths Panel 267 Selection marquees are Photoshop's way of identifying the work areas within the active document. Since selections are created using pixels, the accuracy of the selection is based on the resolution of the active image. This can be a problem when you're working with low-resolution images such as web and presentation graphics. However, when you convert a selection into a path, you can precisely reshape it using Photoshop's vector tools, and this gives you more control over the final results. Converting a Selection into a Path Convert a Selection into a Path Open a document. Select an area of the image, using any of Photoshop's traditional selection tools. Select the Paths panel. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click the Make Work Path button. Enter a Tolerance value (0.5 to 10). Using low tolerance values creates a path with many anchor points, and the path conforms precisely to the selection marquee, but low tolerances can cause printing errors (too much information). Using higher tolerance values creates a path with fewer anchor points, and the path will be smoother. Click OK. 6 5 4 3 2 1 2 5 4 3 6 1 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 268 Chapter 11 When you work with Photoshop's Pen tools, you're creating a path without needing to convert from a pixel selection (raster) to a path (vector). Vector paths are mathematical and are therefore not ham- pered by image resolution issues. For example, a path created in a low resolution image (72 ppi) would function the same as a path created in a high-resolution (300 ppi) image. An added benefit of paths is that they take up less disk space than selections saved as channel masks. When you create a path using the Pen tools, Photoshop automatically creates a path in the Paths panel. If you have an existing path selected, Photoshop adds the new path to the selected path. Working with Pen Tools Work with Pen Tools Open a document. Select the Standard Pen tool on the toolbox. Click the Paths button on the Options bar. IMPORTANT To view th e segments as you draw, click the Geometry Options list arrow on the Pen Options bar, and then select the Rubber Band check box. Create an anchor point (or node) by clicking once in the open document. To cre ate a str aigh t segm ent (tw o anchor points connected by a line), move and click again. To cre ate a cur ved seg men t (two anchor points connected by a curved line), move and drag. 6 5 4 3 2 1 3 4 6 5 2 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 11 Using the Paths Panel 269 Continue to move through the document, clicking or dragging until the shape is complete. Create a closed shape by moving the Pen tool over the original anchor point and clicking when you see a small circle appear underneath the Pen tool. IMPORTANT As with any tool, control is gained through practice. Work with the Pen tool until you can make a path around any shape. The more time you spend practicing, the better your paths will be, and the better your designs. 8 7 8 Did You Know? You can create an open shape. Move away from the last anchor point created, and then press Ctrl+click (Win) or A+click (Mac). Using the Pen Tools The Pen tools in Photoshop perform the same way they do in all vector-based applications, such as Adobe Illustrator. If you have any experience using vector-based applications, you should have no trouble working with Photoshop's vector tools. The good news is that Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop let you move seamlessly between the two programs. In fact, if you have both programs open, you can drag a Photoshop document directly into Illustrator. For Your Information From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 270 Chapter 11 While the Pen tool requires you to click and move your mouse, the Freeform Pen tool lets you drag on the screen to create any desired path. When you create a path with the Freeform Pen, Photoshop adds anchor points to the line at predefined intervals. The distance between anchor points is determined by a value called Curve Fit. The more com- plicated the design, the more anchor points the Freeform Pen tool must create to support the path. Once created, you can always modify the path or even add or subtract anchor points. Creating Paths Using the Freeform Pen Tool Use the Freeform Pen Tool Open a document. Select the Freeform Pen tool on the toolbox. Click the Paths button on the Options bar. Drag in the document window using your mouse or drawing tablet pen to create a unique shape. Close the shape by dragging the Freeform Pen tool over the shape's starting point, and then releasing when you see a small circle appear underneath the tool. Create an open shape by dragging and releasing anywhere except over the starting point. 6 5 4 3 2 1 3 4 2 Did You Know? You can control the complexity of a path. Click the Geometry Options but- ton on the Options bar, and then enter a Curved Fit value from 0.5 to 10. The higher the value, the less complex the path (less anchor points), and the lower the value, the more precise, but more complex the path. From the Library of Wow! eBook . you use Photoshop& apos;s vector drawing, or pen tools, Photoshop creates a path in the Paths panel to store that information. In addi- tion, it is possible to create a selection with Photoshop& apos;s. check box. Create an anchor point (or node) by clicking once in the open document. To cre ate a str aigh t segm ent (tw o anchor points connected by a line), move and click again. To cre ate. of an image as transparent. In addition, you can create paths in Photoshop, then export and open them in Adobe Illustrator. Photoshop paths give you precise, mathematical control over the creation