Chapter 12

1. Chapter 12 Using Clipping Masks, Paths, & Shapes

2. Chapter Lessons • Use a clipping group as a mask • Use pen tools to create and modify a path • Work with shapes • Convert paths and selections

3. Shape Types • Shape • Vector object • Keeps crisp appearance when resized, edited, moved, reshaped, or copied • Rasterized Shape • Converted into bitmapped object that cannot be moved or copied • Uses smaller file size

4. Working with Shapes • Add a pre-designed shape: • Ellipse • Circle • Rectangle • Create a unique shape using a pen tool

5. Create an effect in which the bottom layer acts as a mask for all other layers in the group Defining Clipping Masks

6. Defining Paths • One or more straight or curved line segments connected by anchor points • Use to turn an area defined within an object into a separate individual object • Paths can be either open or closed

7. Open Paths • Two distinct endpoints: anchor points at each end of the open path • An example is an individual line

8. Closed Paths • One continuous path without endpoints • An example is a circle

9. Clipping Path • Use a clipping path to: • Extract a Photoshop object from within a layer • Place it in another program such as Adobe Illustrator • Retain its transparent background

10. Creating Paths • Use the Pen tool or the Freeform Pen tool • Draw a path by placing anchor points along the edge of another image or wherever required to draw a specific shape • Paths are stored on the Paths panel

11. Use a Clipping Group as a Mask Clipping Mask Effect • Isolate an area and make images outside the area transparent Image of the roses is masked by text

12. Clipping Mask Process • Rasterize the type or shape layer: • Change the vector graphic into a bitmapped object made up of colored pixels • Use a Transform command to reshape layer contents • Create the clipping mask

13. Transform Commands

14. Transform Commands

15. Transform Examples

16. Using Transform Commands • After selecting a transform command, a bounding box is displayed around the object • Contains handles used to modify the selection • Reference point is located in the center of the bounding box • Point around which transform command takes place

17. Use Pen Tools to Create & Modify a Path • Tools used to create a path: • Pen tool • Freeform Pen tool • Magnetic Pen tool

18. Pen Tools to Create a Path

19. Tools Used to Modify a Path • Add Anchor Point tool • Delete Anchor Point tool • Convert Point tool

20. Pen Tools to Modify a Path

21. Creating a Path • Paths are saved with the image they were created in and stored in the Paths panel • Create a path based on an existing object • OR • Create a shape with a pen tool

22. Creating a Closed Path • Position the pointer on top of the first anchor point • A small circle appears next to the pointer (indicates that the path will be closed when the pointer is clicked)

23. Paths Example • The active path is called Starfish1 and displays an outline of the starfish Starfish1 Path

24. Modifying a Path • Establish a path and then embellish it and convert it into a selection • Examples: • Add more width or more curves to an existing path • Fill a path with the foreground color

25. Selecting a Path • Use the Direct Selection tool to select a path • Manipulate individual anchor points without affecting the entire path

26. Moving an Anchor Point • Force the two line segments on either side of the anchor point to shrink or grow by moving the anchor point • Move individual line segments to new locations • Shorten or elongate direction handles to adjust the amount of curve or length of a line segment

27. Adding and Deleting Anchor Points • Split an existing line segment into two to produce more sides to an object • Remove anchor points to straighten a bumpy path

28. Converting Anchor Points • Convert corner points into smooth points: • Gives a drawing a softer appearance • Convert smooth points into corner points: • Gives a drawing a sharper appearance

29. Work with Shapes • Choose one of six shape tools to create a shape • Three buttons appear on the left side of the options bar: • Shape layers button • Paths button • Fill pixels button

30. Vector Data • Shapes and paths contain vector data: • They do not lose their crisp appearance when resized or reshaped

31. Modifying a Shape • Change the blending mode to alter how the shape affects existing pixels in the image • Change the opacity setting to make the shape more transparent or opaque • Use the anti-aliasing option to blend pixels on the shape’s edge with surrounding pixels

32. Creating a Rasterized Shape • Select or create a non-vector-based layer • Select the shape required • Click the Fill pixels button on the options bar

33. Embellishing Shapes • Styles and filters can be applied to shapes Bevel and Emboss style applied to the top layer

34. Shapes Added to an Image New Custom Shape with Style applied New Rectangle Shape

35. Creating 3D Shapes • Use 3D workspace • Click Mesh from the Presets option button, then click a Shape

36. Convert Paths and Selections Converting a Selection into a Path • Convert a selection into a path to use: • Clipping paths • Other path features • Create the selection, then click the Make work path from selection button on the Paths panel

37. Converting a Path Into a Selection • Select a path on the Paths panel • Click the Load path as selection button on the Paths panel