Week 6

Shape tool

The shape tool allows you to draw many shapes based on vectors, rather than pixels. You can change the color using fill in the options bar, or just click on the thumbnail of the layer in the layers palette.

Here's a great tutorial for creating selections using the pen tool and paths: 
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/selections/pen-tool-selections/

Pen Tool

What is a path?

A path is a line that goes from one point to another, not based on pixels. It can be thought of as an outline that you can use to fill, create selections, masks, or apply a stroke.

Keep an eye out for the two path modes

The options bar shows two pen modes, fill pixels icon (like shapes/not the one we want) and the Paths icon/the one we want.

Straight paths

Start by creating a shape clicking and letting go, then clicking again to create another anchor point to make straight lines. Close and save the path. Turn the path into a selection/marching ants. If you don’t save it, it may disappear when you create a new path.

Curves…

Ah, but there are curves in life you say.

Direction handles: Click, drag out a handle towards the direction you want your path to go. The point in the middle is the anchor (square shape), the points on either end are direction handles (circle shape.) They control the angle and length of the curve. One handle controls the curve going OUT of the point and one, controls the curve going IN to a point.

You can always go back and fix an anchor point if you don’t get it right the first time, which is great and makes the pen tool a very forgiving tool indeed!

Rotate and Resize

Rotate and Resize direction handles by holding down command to get the direct selection tool. Click on the end and rotate like a see-saw, which adjusts the angle of the curve. Drag the handle in and out to adjust the length of the curve.

Convert Point

To rotate each handle independently, hold down alt to get the convert point tool. 

Now, the opposite handle does not move. (Can release the alt button, once you start dragging.)

Drawing a curve

Hold down shift to constrain your movement.

Twists in the path may mean that you’re dragging the wrong way and the path is crossing itself.

Use Ctrl+Z or delete to delete the marked anchors.

Remember that you can add and subtract anchor points.

Srs bzns

Always start by examining an image for a good place to start and get a general idea of where you might set anchor points. When dealing with curvy selections, often fewer anchor points mean cleaner paths. It’s not a staple gun. You can check a selection by creating a bright colored solid layer beneath it.

Here's a great tutorial for creating selections using the pen tool and paths: 
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/selections/pen-tool-selections/

Homework

Be prepared to show your final collage image.

Isolate the rhinocerus  and praying mantis from their background using the pen tool.

Come in with a concept and sketch for a static banner ad for a product of your choice that you will be making for 300x250/72 PPI, 160x600/72 PPI, and 728x90/72 PPI. This should include a logo and CTA (call to action which will most likely take the form of a button of some sort.)

Please see http://www.bannerblog.com.au/ for inspiration.