How to use the Pen Tool in Adobe Photoshop CS5

Subject Descriptors: Pen Tool, Pen. Application (Version): Adobe Photoshop CS5 Task Description: How do I use the pen tool? Tutorial Date: 21 May 2009, by Arnousone Chanthalyxay. Updated 22 June 2010, Kasidy Stafford

Select "File"

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Make any adjustments.

I will be using a 1600x1200 pixels at 72 DPI.

Click on "OK"

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Fill the background with black color.

1 - Select the "Paint Bucket" 2 - Make sure that the foreground color is black. If it is not black press "Shift + d" 3 - Click inside of the workspace to paint it black.

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Select "Create A New Layer"

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Press "Shift + x"

This will switch the foreground color to white.

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Select the "Pen Tool"

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How to use the pen tool.

- Click in the workspace to make a point, then move to another area and then click to make another point. A straight path will connect the two. - By clicking anywhere along the path that you have just created will add another point to that path. The cursor will have a + symbol by it.

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Select the "Direct Selection Tool"

- Click and hold down on the icon and then select the "Direct Selection Tool" - You can grab and drag the handles of a point to bend and shape the line any way you want.

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Create a basic shape

Keep adding and bending lines until you come up with a basic shape.

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Work Path

- Notice your shape has become the "Work Path" in the "Paths Palette" - To get see the work path select the "Paths" tab in the "Layers Palette"

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Deselect the line.

Click anywhere on the screen with the "Direct Selection Tool"

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Copy the path.

- In the "Paths Palette," click in an empty area to deselect your path (it will disappear), then click on the work path again (it will reappear). * This will make sure you've selected your entire path. - Press "Ctrl + c" to copy the path.

Paste the path.

Press "Ctrl + v" to paste the path.

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Free Transform

Press "Ctrl + t"

Rotate the shape 20 degrees clockwise.

- Hold down "Shift" as you rotate the shape. This will automatically bring you to the 20 degree mark. - To rotate the shape go to any of the four corners of the transform box and go a little bit outside of the box, the courser will turn into a curved arrow. This will allow you to rotate the shape.

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Press "Enter" or "Return"

This will get you out of "Free Transform"

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Press "Ctrl + Alt + Shift + t"

- This will make Photoshop repeat the action. - Repeatedly press this until you are back to the beginning.

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Select the "Brush Tool"

Click and hold down on the icon and then select the "Brush Tool"

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Make any adjustments

- Change the color, size, and hardness. - Make adjustments to "Hardness" and "Master Diameter" by moving the tab either left or right.
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Select a layer.

Click on the "Layers" tab and then select the layer with the black background.

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Select the "Paths" tab.

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Select the "Work Path"

Click off of the work path and then click back on it again to make sure it's all selected.

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Select the "Stroke Path with Brush" icon.

This will create a painted version.

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Select the "Layers" tab

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Hide the shape outline.

Click on the "eye" icon on the layer to hide the image.

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Finished Result

Now you can add layer styles to the image if you would like.

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