Ch 5: Drawing

Photoshop CS6 EssentialsBy Scott Onstott

Ch 5: Drawing

Vector versus Raster• Vector data are represented as

objects that retain editability over time as objects (red light bulb)

• Raster data is represented by individual pixels (blue light bulb)

• Scaling both types of data reveals an important difference: vector data is independent of resolution and raster data is not

• Vector objects have clean crisp edges

• Photos are made of pixels and are thus raster data

Ch 5: Drawing

Centering a Shape• Toggle on Rulers (Cmd+R) and

change the ruler units to percent• Drag out horiz and vert guides to

50% to locate the center of the document

• Hold Option while drawing a shape to make it come from its center point

• Hold Shift while drawing to constrain proportions so that a rectangle becomes a square or an ellipse becomes a circle

Ch 5: Drawing

Booleans• You have access to Boolean

tools when drawing in Shape Layers and Paths modes

• Booleans include Add, Subtract, Intersect, and Exclude Overlapping

• To access Boolean tools you must select the vector mask of a shape layer or the working path in paths mode

Ch 5: Drawing

Transforming Shapes• You can transform shapes with

the Path Selection tool• Drag outside a closed shape to

rotate it• Use the controls on the options

bar for accuracy• You can maintain proportions

by clicking the link icon on the options bar

• The movable center point sets the center of rotation and scaling

Ch 5: Drawing

Duplicating Shapes• You can make a copy of an

existing shape without creating a duplicate layer by first selecting the shape with the Path Selection tool and then pressing Cmd+C

• Pasting a copy by pressing Cmd+V create a duplicate in the same place (coincident)

• Drag the copy to a new location to complete the procedure

Ch 5: Drawing

Altering Shapes• You can change the form of a

vector shape by using the Direct Selection tool

• Drag out a selection window surrounding the anchor points that you’d like to affect

• Move the anchor points by dragging

• Nudge anchors one pixel at a time by pressing the arrow keys

Ch 5: Drawing

Drawing Custom Shapes• You can access a wide variety of

pre-drawn custom shapes in the drop-down menu on the options bar

• Additional shape libraries are available that ship with Photoshop

• Click the right facing arrow on the custom shape drop-down to open the library menu

• You can even create your own custom shapes by choosing Edit > Define Custom Shape

Ch 5: Drawing

Drawing Curving Paths• You can curve any anchor point while drawing by dragging as you create

the point. • It may be easier to click out a rough straight line path at first and then go

back and select each anchor point with the Convert Point tool and take the time to carefully curve each anchor to shape the path as you intend

Ch 5: Drawing

Stroking Paths• In Paths mode no pixels are created by

default. Instead you focus on drawing the forms you want

• Create a new layer and then switch to the Paths panel and make sure the work path is selected

• Switch to the Brush tool and pick a brush shape and size

• Click the Stroke Path with Brush button at the bottom of the Paths panel to stroke the path with your chosen brush

• Stroking paths is far more accurate than trying to paint smooth curves by hand