Managing Paths; Paths Panel Overview; Create A New Path In The Paths Panel; Create A New Work Path - Adobe Photoshop CS6 User Manual

Managing paths

Paths panel overview

Create a new path in the Paths panel

Create a new work path

Manage paths
Paths panel overview
The Paths panel (Window > Paths) lists the name and a thumbnail image of each saved path, the current work path, and the current vector mask.
Turning thumbnails off can improve performance. To view a path, you must first select it in the Paths panel.
Paths panel
A. Saved path B. Temporary work path C. Vector mask path (appears only when shape layer is selected)
Select a path
Click the path name in the Paths panel. Only one path can be selected at a time.
Deselect a path
Click in a blank area of the Paths panel or press Esc.
Change the size of path thumbnails
Choose Panel Options from the Paths panel menu, and select a size, or select None to turn off the display of thumbnails.
Change a path's stacking order
Select the path in the Paths panel, and drag the path up or down. When the heavy black line appears in the desired location, release the mouse
button.
Note: You cannot change the order of vector masks or working paths in the Paths panel.
Create a new path in the Paths panel
To create a path without naming it, click the Create New Path button
To create and name a path, make sure no work path is selected. Choose New Path from the Paths panel menu, or Alt-click (Windows) or
Option-click (Mac OS) the New Path button at the bottom of the panel. Enter a name for the path in the New Path dialog box, and click OK.
Create a new work path
1. Select a shape tool or a pen tool, and click the Paths button
2. Set tool-specific options, and draw the path. For more information, see Shape tool options and About the Pen tools.
3. Draw additional path components if desired. You can easily switch between drawing tools by clicking a tool button in the options bar. Choose
a path area option to determine how overlapping path components intersect:
Add To Path Area
Subtract From Path Area
Intersect Path Areas
Exclude Overlapping Path Areas
While drawing with a shape tool, hold down Shift to temporarily select the Add To Path Area option; hold down Alt (Windows) or Option
Adds the new area to overlapping path areas.
Removes the new area from the overlapping path area.
Restricts the path to the intersection of the new area and the existing area.
Excludes the overlap area in the consolidated path.
at the bottom of the Paths panel.
in the options bar.
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