Adobe PHOTOSHOP 6.0 Manual page 177

Drawing with the pen tool
The pen tool lets you create straight lines and
smooth flowing curves with greater precision than
is possible with the freeform pen tool. For most
users, the pen tool provides the best control and
greatest accuracy for drawing.
To draw with the pen tool:
Select the pen tool ( ).
1
In the options bar, click either the Create New
2
Shape Layer button ( ) or the Create New Work
Path button ( ). (See "Drawing shapes and
paths" on page 161.)
Set the following tool-specific options:
3
Rubber Band to preview path segments as you
•
draw. After you define at least one anchor point for
a path, Photoshop displays the next proposed
segment as you move the pointer in the image.
The segment doesn't become permanent until
you click.
Auto Add/Delete to automatically add or delete
•
anchor points while you draw.
Position the pen pointer where you want to
4
begin to draw, and click to define the first anchor
point. The anchor point remains selected (solid)
until you define the next point.
Choose a shape area option to determine what
5
happens at the intersection of overlapping path
segments and components. (See "Drawing
overlapping shapes (Photoshop)" on page 171.)
Click or drag to set anchor points for additional
6
segments. (See "Drawing straight segments with
the pen tool" on page 167 and "Drawing curves
with the pen tool" on page 168.)
7 Complete the path component:
To end an open path component, click the pen
•
tool in the toolbox, or Ctrl-click (Windows) or
Command-click (Mac OS) away from the path.
• To close a path component, position the pen
pointer over the first anchor point. A small loop
appears next to the pen tip when it is positioned
correctly. Click to close the path.
For more information on closed and open paths,
see "About anchor points, direction lines,
direction points, and components" on page 172.
Draw additional path components if desired.
8
9 Click the OK button (
or press Enter or Return, to dismiss the drawing
tools.
Drawing straight segments with the pen
tool
The simplest segment you can draw with the pen
tool is a straight segment, made by clicking to
create anchor points.
To draw straight segments:
Position the pen pointer where you want the
1
straight segment to begin, and click to define the
first anchor point. The anchor point remains
selected (solid) until you define the next point.
Click again where you want the first segment of
2
the straight line to end, or Shift-click to constrain
the angle of the segment to a multiple of 45°.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 6.0 167
User Guide
) in the options bar,