The ultimate tutorial of Photoshop Path

Tutorial Now let's draw a simple path

The following figure selects the Pen tool in the toolbar (shortcut key P)

　　

And keep the pen tool options as shown (above the toolbar): Select the second drawing method (simple Path) and cancel the rubber band feature

　　

Then click in the picture with a pen to see that there is a line between the hit points, holding down the SHIFT key allows the drawn point to remain at 45-degree integral times the angle (such as zero, 90 degrees). This allows you to draw a horizontal or vertical segment (the SHIFT key starts at point 5th):

　　

From the simple exercise above, we have two rules:

We do not directly draw line segments, but define the location of each point, the software is formed between the points, control line shape (direction, distance), is not the line segment itself, but the position of the points in the line.

Remember two terms:

Those points are called "anchor", and the segments between the anchors are called "Fragments" (segment), and the anchor points we have just drawn, because the lines between them are straight, are also called linear anchor points.

Now we're going to draw a curved anchor.

　　

We see that the shape of the curve changes as we draw the second and subsequent anchor points and drag the direction lines.
How do we control the shape of a curve when the curve is generated?

In addition to the direction and distance of the line, the curve has a more curved shape,

The direction and distance can be achieved as long as the anchor position is changed, but how is the bending degree controlled?

As shown in the toolbar select "Direct Selection Tool", note that the hollow arrow below

　　

Let's say the 4 anchor points we've just drawn are ABCD.

Use the direct selection tool to point to a fragment located between AB

will see the directional lines that we defined just now when we plotted the AB anchor.

　　

Take a closer look at these two directional lines

Imagine this again:

A man is going from point A to point B, at point A, the others at point a saw that he was heading up and to the right. and the man at point B saw that he was heading down the right direction. So the results of the observations of the two places are combined. You can draw the way this person walks: must be a similar to the lid of the upper arc.

Now we choose the "Convert Point tool" in the diagram, which is used to modify the direction line

　　
　　

Then change the direction line on the AB anchor point as shown below, and you will see the curve curvature change, note that there is a small dot at the end of the direction line, the dot called "Handle", click the handle position to change the direction line.

　　
In combination with the analogy just made, it is not difficult to understand:

1. Modify B Anchor point Direction Line, which is equivalent to designate that person from the top of point A to enter from the bottom of point B, then the journey is an S-shaped.

2. Then modify a anchor point direction line for the next, the equivalent of starting from the bottom of a point, and then enter from the bottom of point B, is going to be a curved path after the revised direction line as follows:

　　

Having understood the effect of the direction of the directional line on the shape of the curve, let's look at the effect of the length of the direction line. Drag the direction line in the same direction as shown below: (You can use the direct selection tool)

　　 　　

For an anchor point, if the direction line is longer, the longer the curve is in this direction, the shorter it will be. It can be assumed that the curve is a rubber band, at the end of the head and end of two forces in each direction to pull in which direction of strength, then the rubber band in this direction more closer. On the contrary. In addition to modifying anchor points, you can also use the direct selection tool to modify the shape of the curve on a fragment.

The following figure:

　　

Note: This does not mean "modify the fragment", but rather "modify two anchor points at the same time"

Remember the principle: The fragment is composed of anchor points, only modify the anchor point to change the shape of the fragment, which is irreversible causal relationship.
Here's a summary:

There are two directional lines for BC two anchor points on this curve except for the starting and ending point:

One is the direction line from the previous anchor point "to", and the other is the direction of "going" to the next anchor, for the starting point, there is only a direction line for the destination, and for the end point, there is only a "to" direction line.
Now let's do a little exercise, like this:

　　

It is now required to draw a curve between the two red dots that clings to the outside of the mouse, and it is likely that you are drawing the following figure.

　　

Although the requirement was reached, 4 anchor points were used on such a path.

Then look at the following figure:

　　

The same curve effect, here only two anchor points to draw

Move two red dots to draw again, which is likely to be the effect you draw.

　　

In fact, you can draw this curve with just two anchor points, as shown below

　　

Another place to draw one, and only two anchor points, the following figure:

　　

Remember one rule: the less the anchor points you draw, the better.

Because if the number of anchor points increases, it will not only increase the drawing steps, but also unfavorable to the later modification
Here, you will have two questions:

　　

Two anchor points seem to be able to complete the entire curve shape?

This view is clearly wrong, for example, the curve we drew in the first instance we had earlier, would require more than two anchor points.

So how do you make the least number of anchor points you use?

In fact, there is another question: where is the best place to set the anchor point?

Here is my personal summary of the rules:

The curve form between two anchor points is divided into two types: C-shape and S-shape

Several forms of the C-shape are shown below:

　　

Their direction lines are shown below:

　　

Several forms of the S-shaped curve are as follows:

　　

The S-shaped direction line is shown below:

　　

The following animation shows the dividing point between the C-shape and the S-shape when adjusting the direction line

　　

After understanding (and understanding) the shapes of these two curves, C, S, You can analyze how many anchor points you need before you draw. In fact, it is the number of areas that can be plotted with a curve (c-or S-shape). Although the number of anchor points can reflect the level and proficiency of the plotter. But for most people, it's enough to be able to meet their needs. So in the actual drawing, do not need to be too demanding to reduce The number of fewer anchor points.
Now to actually draw a M-shaped, like McDonald's logo

We will introduce three kinds of procedures, please see the text before you see the animation demo

The first method: After the drawing is finished, modify the direction line of the "go" of the second anchor Point and move the anchor position appropriately

(after drawing, hold down the CTRL key and click anywhere outside the path to finish drawing)

　　

　　

　　

In which we note a phenomenon:

When a new curve anchor is created and the direction line is dragged

In fact, as the mouse moves the direction of the "Go" line, the "to" direction is always the angle of 180 degrees, and the length is the same. So, although we should have the second anchor "go" to the top right, but in order to "to" the right, we have to first set it in the lower right, Then, after the drawing is finished, the "Go" is modified separately. This method can be described as "throw-away" (the same way, you can "throw it Away"), it is inconvenient to draw a large number of anchor points, because there is no way to see the correct curve

Let's now describe the second drawing process:

After establishing the second anchor point and following the "to" definition of the direction line, then modify the "go" direction line, so that the curve can be correctly plotted

(after drawing, hold down the CTRL key and click anywhere outside the path to finish drawing)

　　 　

Although it is a bit cumbersome to switch tools frequently, you can make the curve always draw along a specified route

(Similarly, you can also follow the "go" to set the direction line, and then modify the "to")

In fact, after the second anchor point, do not go to the tool bar switch tool, move the mouse to the direction line handle, hold down the ALT key to temporarily switch to the "Conversion point tool" to adjust;

While holding down the CTRL key will temporarily switch to the direct selection tool, which you can use to move the anchor position.

Release the ALT or CTRL key to restore the pen tool to continue drawing

To be aware of:

Although the direct selection tool can also modify the direction line, "go" sometimes (when both are displayed) are modified together.
Now we have learned to use pens to sketch any path shapes. But many times it doesn't need to be completely from scratch to draw a new path, Photoshop provides some basic path shapes that we can modify on the basis of these basic paths to form the shapes we need, not only quickly, And the effect is better than the complete and manual rendering.

The following figure is a graphic that is often used in web design

　　

First look at the top of the drawing process:

Select the Rectangle Shape tool on the toolbar

　　

Using the first method of drawing (creating a vector layer filled with the foreground color), the following figure

　　

Note the style to close, select a color as the fill color, the following figure

　　

Then draw a rectangular shape in the image, as shown below

　　

After painting, note that a new color fill layer with a path is created on the Layers panel, click the area shown below to hide or show the path, and double-click the color block in front of it to change the fill color.

　　
Attention:

If you want to modify the path in this layer, the path must be displayed, and if the path display affects the visual effects of some (such as strokes, etc.), the path should be hidden first. Because we want to modify this path, we need to show the path first, and then add 4 anchor points using the Add Anchor tool. Then move some anchor points up. Remember: Whether you add an anchor point to a line or a curve, the default is a curved anchor point, and if you need a line anchor, click the added anchor point with the convert Point tool.

　　

The red area of the image below is made using this method.

　　

The same is the rectangle just now, the steps are slightly modified, the following figure:

　　

The red area above the figure is made using this method.

　　

Now to draw that hollow figure, the idea is to draw a big box first, then subtract a small box in the middle.

Attention:

1. After you finish drawing the first large box, you can draw the small box in the tool setting instead of the shape area minus method.

2. It is best to use the path selection tool when you select a path to align, and sometimes you cannot select the entire path if you use the direct selection tool.

The process is shown below: