Photoshop cs5 by steve Johnson part 44 ppsx

ptg Chapter 11 Using the Paths Panel 271 The Magnetic option changes the Freeform Pen tool into a magnetic vector drawing tool. For example, selecting the Magnetic option forces the tool to follow the visible edge of an object in the document window. The Magnetic option instructs the Freeform Pen tool to identify the shifts in brightness between an object and its background. It's a great way to make a difficult path. Once you click to define the starting point, it's not necessary to hold down the mouse; just move the mouse while closely following the visible edge of the image. If you get to a tricky point where the Freeform Pen doesn't know what to do, just click your mouse to add a user-defined anchor point. Using the Magnetic Option with the Freeform Pen Tool Use the Magnetic Option with the Freeform Pen Tool Open a document. Select the Freeform Pen tool on the toolbox. Select the Magnetic check box on the Options bar. IMPORTANT When using the Magnetic option with the Freeform Pen tool, you cannot create an open shape. Click the Shape Layers or Paths button. Position the Freeform Pen tool over the edge of a shape, and then click and release the mouse. Drag in the document window using your mouse or drawing tablet pen to follow the visible edge. The magnetic option helps you follow the edge more precisely. Close the shape by dragging the Freeform (magnetic) Pen tool over the shape's starting point, and then releasing when you see a small circle appear underneath the tool, or by double-clicking. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 4 3 7 6 Starting point 2 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 272 Chapter 11 Creating a path is not necessarily the end of the job; in fact, there are many ways you can modify a path once it's been created. For example, you can add, subtract, or delete anchor points on an existing path. You can also modify those points to conform to any desired shape. In addi- tion, existing anchor points can be modified to change the segments connecting the points. Just like anything else in Photoshop, paths are flexible. They can be modified to meet whatever design considerations are needed to make the job successful. Adding and Deleting Anchor Points Add Anchor Points Open a document that contains an existing path, or create a new path. Select the Paths panel. Select a path. Select the Add Anchor Point tool on the toolbox. Click once on the path to add, not modify, a new anchor point. Click and drag on the path to add, and modify the segment. 6 5 4 3 2 1 4 2 3 5 6 Did You Know? You can move anchor points using your arrow tools. Select the Direct Selection tool, and then click on an anchor point. Click your arrow keys to move the anchor point up, down, left or right one pixel at a time. To move 10 pixels at a time, hold down the Shift key while using the arrow keys. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 11 Using the Paths Panel 273 Delete Anchor Points Open a document that contains an existing path, or create a new path. Select the Paths panel. Select a path. Select the Delete Anchor Point tool on the toolbox. There are no additional options for the Delete Anchor Point tool. Click once on an existing anchor point to remove it from the path. The anchor points on either side of the deleted point are now used to define the segment. 5 4 3 2 1 5 2 3 4 From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 274 Chapter 11 Modifying Anchor Points Modify Anchor Points Open a document that contains an existing path, or create a new path. Select the Paths panel. Select the path you want to modify. Select the Path Selection tool on the toolbox. Click on the path to move, without modifying, the entire path. 5 4 3 2 1 Anchor points can be added or deleted, and existing anchor points can be modified. In reality, the anchor points are used to define the length and curve of the segments, or lines that connect the anchor points together. Just think of a farmer who strings up a line of barbed wire to protect his cattle by placing posts in the ground and stringing the wire between the posts. The more posts he uses, the more complex the path of the barbed wire. In Photoshop, the posts are the anchor points, and the barbed wire corresponds to the segments. However, we have one advantage over the farmer; we can cause a segment line to curve between the anchor points, while the farmer must stretch the barbed wire in a straight line between posts. 3 4 2 5 Did You Know? You can move a path using the key- board. Click the path and then use the arrows on the keyboard to move it. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg Chapter 11 Using the Paths Panel 275 Select the Direct Selection tool on the toolbox. Drag an individual anchor point to move the anchor to another location. 7 6 6 7 Did You Know? You can use one tool to add or delete anchor points. Press the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key when using the Add or Delete Anchor Point tool. This reverses the display. The Add tool becomes the Delete tool. From the Library of Wow! eBook ptg 276 Chapter 11 Anchor points are composed of two elements—the anchor point and direction lines. The anchor point is the fence post that connects seg- ments together. The direction lines influence the amount of curve applied to the segment. The farther away a direction point is from the anchor, the more aggressive the curve. Conversely, the closer the direction lines are to the anchor point, the more gradual the curve. If an anchor point does not have any direction lines, it is said to be a straight anchor point. Modifying Existing Direction Lines Modify Existing Direction Lines Open a document that contains a path, or create a new path. Select the Paths panel, and then select the path you want to modify. Select the Direct Selection tool on the toolbox. There are no additional options for the Direct Selection tool. Click the very end of the direction line, and then drag to change the curve of the segment. Hold down the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key, and then click at the very end of the direction line to break the line at the anchor point. This lets you independently control each end of the direction line as it extends out from the anchor point. 5 4 3 2 1 3 5 4 From the Library of Wow! eBook . precisely. Close the shape by dragging the Freeform (magnetic) Pen tool over the shape's starting point, and then releasing when you see a small circle appear underneath the tool, or by double-clicking. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 4. to protect his cattle by placing posts in the ground and stringing the wire between the posts. The more posts he uses, the more complex the path of the barbed wire. In Photoshop, the posts are. points can be modified to change the segments connecting the points. Just like anything else in Photoshop, paths are flexible. They can be modified to meet whatever design considerations are