Chapter 12

Using Clipping Masks, Paths, &

Shapes
 Chapter Lessons
• Use a clipping group as a mask
• Use pen tools to create and modify a path
• Work with shapes
• Convert paths and selections
 Shape Types
• Shape
– Vector object
– Keeps crisp appearance when resized, edited, moved,
reshaped, or copied
• Rasterized Shape
– Converted into bitmapped object that cannot be
moved or copied
– Uses smaller file size
 Working with Shapes
• Add a pre-designed shape:
– Ellipse
– Circle
– Rectangle
• Create a unique shape using a pen tool
Defining Clipping Masks
• Create an effect in which the bottom
layer acts as a mask for all other layers
in the group
 Defining Paths
• One or more straight or curved line segments
connected by anchor points
• Use to turn an area defined within an object
into a separate individual object
• Paths can be either open or closed
 Open Paths
• Two distinct endpoints: anchor points at each
end of the open path
• An example is an individual line
 Closed Paths
• One continuous path without endpoints
• An example is a circle
 Clipping Path
• Use a clipping path to:
– Extract a Photoshop object from within a layer
– Place it in another program such as Adobe
Illustrator
– Retain its transparent background
 Creating Paths
• Use the Pen tool or the Freeform Pen tool
• Draw a path by placing anchor points along
the edge of another image or wherever
required to draw a specific shape
• Paths are stored on the Paths panel
 Use a Clipping Group as a Mask
Clipping Mask Effect
• Isolate an area and make images outside the
area transparent

Image of the roses

is masked by text
 Clipping Mask Process
• Rasterize the type or shape layer:
– Change the vector graphic into a bitmapped
object made up of colored pixels
• Use a Transform command to reshape layer
contents
• Create the clipping mask
 Transform Commands
Scale Changes the image size

Rotate Allows rotation 360°

Skew Stretches an image horizontally or
vertically; cannot exceed image
boundary
Distort Stretches an image horizontally or
vertically; can exceed image boundary

Perspective Changes opposite sides of an image

equally
 Transform Commands
Rotate 180 Rotate image 180° clockwise
Rotate 90 CW Rotate image 90° clockwise
Rotate 90 CCW Rotate image 90° counter-
clockwise
Flip Horizontal Produce a mirror image
Flip Vertical Produce an upside-down image
Transform Examples
 Using Transform Commands
• After selecting a transform command, a
bounding box is displayed around the object
– Contains handles used to modify the selection
• Reference point is located in the center of the
bounding box
– Point around which transform command takes
place
 Use Pen Tools to Create & Modify a
Path
• Tools used to create a path:
– Pen tool
– Freeform Pen tool
– Magnetic Pen tool
 Pen Tools to Create a Path
Pen tool Creates curved or straight line
segments
Freeform Pen Creates unique shapes
tool
Magnetic Pen Lets the tool find an object’s edge
tool
 Tools Used to Modify a Path
• Add Anchor Point tool
• Delete Anchor Point tool
• Convert Point tool
 Pen Tools to Modify a Path
Add Anchor Adds an anchor point to an existing
Point tool path or shape
Delete Anchor Removes an anchor points from an
Point tool existing path or shape
Convert Point Converts a smooth point to a corner
tool point and a corner point to a smooth
point
 Creating a Path
• Paths are saved with the image they were
created in and stored in the Paths panel
• Create a path based on an existing object
• OR
• Create a shape with a pen tool
 Creating a Closed Path
• Position the pointer on top of the first anchor
point
• A small circle appears next to the pointer
(indicates that the path will be closed when
the pointer is clicked)
 Paths Example
• The active path is called Starfish1 and displays
an outline of the starfish

Starfish1 Path
 Modifying a Path
• Establish a path and then embellish it and
convert it into a selection
• Examples:
– Add more width or more curves to an existing
path
– Fill a path with the foreground color
 Selecting a Path
• Use the Direct Selection tool to select a path
• Manipulate individual anchor points without
affecting the entire path
 Moving an Anchor Point
• Force the two line segments on either side of the
anchor point to shrink or grow by moving the
anchor point
• Move individual line segments to new locations
• Shorten or elongate direction handles to adjust
the amount of curve or length of a line segment
Adding and Deleting Anchor Points
• Split an existing line segment into two to
produce more sides to an object
• Remove anchor points to straighten a bumpy
path
 Converting Anchor Points
• Convert corner points into smooth points:
– Gives a drawing a softer appearance
• Convert smooth points into corner points:
– Gives a drawing a sharper appearance
 Work with Shapes
• Choose one of six shape tools to create a shape
• Three buttons appear on the left side of the
options bar:
– Shape layers button
– Paths button
– Fill pixels button
 Vector Data
• Shapes and paths contain vector data:
– They do not lose their crisp appearance when
resized or reshaped
 Modifying a Shape
• Change the blending mode to alter how the
shape affects existing pixels in the image
• Change the opacity setting to make the shape
more transparent or opaque
• Use the anti-aliasing option to blend pixels on
the shape’s edge with surrounding pixels
 Creating a Rasterized Shape
• Select or create a non-vector-based layer
• Select the shape required
• Click the Fill pixels button on the options bar
 Embellishing Shapes
• Styles and filters can be
applied to shapes

Bevel and Emboss

style applied to the
top layer
 Shapes Added to an Image

New Custom
Shape with Style
applied

New Rectangle
Shape
 Creating 3D Shapes
• Use 3D workspace
• Click Mesh from
the Presets option
button, then click
a Shape
 Convert Paths and Selections
Converting a Selection into a Path
• Convert a selection into a path to use:
– Clipping paths
– Other path features
• Create the selection, then click the Make work
path from selection button on the Paths panel
 Converting a Path Into a Selection
• Select a path on the Paths panel
• Click the Load path as selection button on the
Paths panel