Chapter 9: Drawing Paths

Overview

Photoshop provides several methods for isolating areas of an image, as you saw in Chapter 6, Making Selections. Still, making accurate selections can be difficult or time-consuming , because each image presents different problems. The Pen tool and the Paths palette add more capabilities to further enhance the accuracy and speed of making selections and defining the smooth edges. After you ve learned to draw with the Pen tool, you ll probably find it indispensable , because it can often be the easiest and fastest way to select areas that are defined by long, smooth curves.

Photoshop also offers several other vector-generating tools that are used for making lines and shapes .

This chapter will cover topics including:

• Using the Path tools and the Paths palette

• Drawing and editing paths

• Using paths to apply color

• Converting, importing, and exporting paths

• Using vector masks and clipping paths

• Using the Shape tools