Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand [Electronic resources]

Creating Paths Using the Freeform Pen Tool

Where the Pen tool requires you to click and move your mouse, the Freeform Pen tool lets you drag on the screen to create any desired path. When you create a path with the Freeform tool, Photoshop adds anchor points to the line at predefined intervals. The distance between anchor points is determined by a value called a Curved Fit. The more complicated the design, the more anchor points the Freeform Pen Tool must create to support the path. Once created, you can always modify the path or even add or subtract anchor points.

Use the Freeform Pen Tool

Open a document.

Select the

Freeform Pen tool on the toolbox.

Click the

Paths button on the Options bar.

Drag in the document window using your mouse or drawing tablet to create a unique shape.

Close the shape by dragging the Freeform Pen tool over the shape's starting point, and then releasing when you see a small circle appear underneath the tool.

Create an open shape by dragging and releasing anywhere but over the starting point.

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