Ch 5: Drawing
Photoshop CS6 Essentials
By 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

Chapter05

  • 1.
    Ch 5: Drawing PhotoshopCS6 Essentials By Scott Onstott
  • 2.
    Ch 5: Drawing Vectorversus 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
  • 3.
    Ch 5: Drawing Centeringa 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
  • 4.
    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
  • 5.
    Ch 5: Drawing TransformingShapes • 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
  • 6.
    Ch 5: Drawing DuplicatingShapes • 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
  • 7.
    Ch 5: Drawing AlteringShapes • 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
  • 8.
    Ch 5: Drawing DrawingCustom 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
  • 9.
    Ch 5: Drawing DrawingCurving 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
  • 10.
    Ch 5: Drawing StrokingPaths • 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