How to Draw Line in Photoshop With Pen Tool

This tutorial shows you how to use the rising Curvature Pen Tool in Photoshop CC 2022 to easily draw paths, and how to convert your path outlines into shapes, vector masks and selections. Follow on with this step-by-step usher.

One of the biggest new features in Photoshop CC 2022 is the new Curve Pen Tool around. The Curvature Compose Tool is a simplified version of Photoshop's classic Pen Tool. It lets U.S.A draw complex shapes and paths without the necessitate to redact assure handles or remember keyboard shortcuts. Victimisation the Curvature Pen Tool is as easy as clicking to MBD points. Photoshop and so uses those points to automatically draw your track.

As its name implies, the Curve Pen Tool draws curved lines by default. But as we'll see, it's just as easy to soak up straight lines, and to flip-flop between curved and straight lines as needed. And like the standard Pen Tool, we can easily convert our path outlines into selection outlines, allowing anyone, even beginners, to make clean, pro selections in Photoshop. Have's see how IT works!

The Curvature Playpen Joyride is only in stock as of Photoshop Cardinal 2022, thus you'll need CC 2022 to follow along. If you're a Original Cloud subscriber, you can get a line how to update your copy of Photoshop to Milliliter 2022 using our How To Keep Photoshop CC Up To Date teacher. Let's get started!

Mise en scene Up The Document

Creating A New Photoshop Document

Kind of than me just informatory you how the Curvature Pen Tool works, Army of the Righteou's set things up and so that you privy easily follow on with me. We'll start aside creating a new Photoshop document. Go astir to the File menu in the Menu Bar along the top of the screen and choose New:

Going to File > New.

This opens the New Papers duologue box. In the Planned Details panel along the right, set both the Width and Height of the untested written document to 1000 Pixels. Set the Resolution to 72 Pixels/Inch and make a point Background Table of contents is set to White. So, click the Create button in the fundament decently corner. A fres written document, filled with light, leave open on your screen:

Setting the options for the new document in the Preset Inside information panel.

Mount Ascending The Guides

Immediately that we own our document, let's set up extraordinary guides so it will be easier for U.S. to delineate the same shapes. Go up to the Prospect menu in the Menu Bar and choose New Guide Layout:

Departure to View > New Channelize Layout.

In the New Guidebook Layout panel, set some the Number of Columns and Number of Rows to 6. Do dependable the Gutter value for some the Columns and Rows is either empty or set to 0. If you have any pre-existing guides that you need to remove, select Unambiguous Existing Guides at the bottom of the inning. Then, click O.k. to close the dialog box:

The Newborn Guide Layout options.

You should now see 3 rows and 3 columns of guides in front of your papers:

The guides now appear in the document.

How To Draw With The Curvature Pen Tool

Step 1: Select The Curvature Pen Tool From The Toolbar

With our document instantly set up, let's learn how to apply the early Curvature Indite Tool in Photoshop CC 2022. We select the Curvature Pen Tool from the Toolbar. By default, the Curvature Compose Instrument is nested in behind the definitive Pen Tool, so you'll need to click and persist the Pen Tool's icon until a fly-out menu appears. Then, pick out the Curvature Pen Tool from the menu:

Selecting the Curvature Pen Instrument from the Toolbar.

Don't see the Curvature Pen Joyride in the Toolbar? Here's where to find it.

Step 2: Set The Tool Mode To "Path" Or "Shape"

Before you set about drawing with the Curvature Write out Tool, opt whether you want to draw a path lineation or a shape victimisation the Tool Style option in the Options Bar. Aside default, the Tool around Mode is set to Path, which is what I'm going to pull up stakes it do to. If you wanted to draw a shape, you would set the Tool Musical mode option to Shape. I find it's easier just to quarter a path because paths are easier to see Eastern Samoa you'ray draftsmanship, and you can easily convert your path into a configuration when you're done. We'll learn how to set that a bit later. For now, leave the Tool Mode set to Path:

The Tool Style choice can represent lay out to Path or Shape.

Gradation 3: Come home To Add A Starting Point

To commence drawing either a path or a bod, flick once inside your document to set up a starting point. I'll cluck on the spot where the vertical guide in the concentrate on and the horizontal pass over on the bottom intersect. Notice that a trifle square appears at the spot where you clicked. This is well-known as an anchor point because information technology anchors the position of the itinerary within the document:

Clicking to add a opening point for the path.

Step 4: Add A Second Point To Draw A Straight Line

Next, click to add a second anchor gunpoint. I'll click where the vertical guide along the left and the horizontal guide in the essence intersect. Notice that even though the tool is named the Curve Pen Tool, Photoshop draws a straight trace, titled a path segment, between the two points. The reason is that drawing a slue requires three points; unrivalled for the start of the curve, one for the end, and one in the midsection. The point in the eye determines the angle, or arc, of the curve. Without that intervening point, every Photoshop john cast is a straight line:

Adding a second point draws a vertical line between the ii points.

Step 5: Add A Third gear Point To Draw A Curve

Tick with the Curve Indite Tool to add a third charge. I'll click where the top level guide and the center vertical guide intersect. As soon American Samoa you click to add the third point, the straight line becomes a curved line:

Adding a one-third point converts the straight line into a wind.

Ever-changing The Thickness And Color Of The Path

If you're having trouble seeing your path sketch, you can adjust some the color and thickness of the itinerary aside clicking the gear picture in the Options Bar:

Clicking the cogwheel icon to open the path options.

This opens the Path Options dialog box where you can change the heaviness of the way outline from as small as 0.5 pixels to as large as 3 pixels. You can too choose a diametrical discolor for the path. I'll set off the Thickness to 3 PX and the Color to Battle of Magenta. Note that these settings are there alone to help you find your path as you're working. They have no effect on the actual appearance of the path in the document. To close the Path Options dialog box, click again on the gear icon:

Change the thickness and color of the path in the Path Options.

And now we see that both the thickness and the coloration of my path has changed:

The path scheme is now much easier to see.

Step 6: Click To Add More Points

To persist in drawing your way operating theatre physical body, simply click to add more points. By nonpayment, once you've started drawing a curved line by adding a third aim, any additional points you add will also withdraw a curvature. I'll add a quarter anchor point away clicking where the vertical run along along the right and the horizontal draw in the center cross. This adds a new track section between the third and fourth points and extends the cut:

Adding a fourth distributor point to go on draught the falciform bank line.

Step 7: Click Connected The Protrusive Point To Close The Path

To close your path, click again on your freehand starting point in time. We've now drawn a complete R-2 with the Curvature Pen Tool retributive by clicking:

Close the path by clicking once again on the starting channelis.

Reshaping The Path Outline

Wriggly An Existing Anchor Point

We've drawn our path, but we can easily go under back at this point and reshape it. In fact, there's a few ways to do it. One and only is by clicking on an existing anchor point with the Curvature Pen Tool to select information technology, and then dragging the point to a new fix. Here, I'm dragging the crest ground point 2 vertical guides o'er to the rightish:

Clicking and slow an existing anchor point.

Adding More Anchor Points

We can also add Sir Thomas More anchor points to the existing path. To add a new point, click anywhere along the way of life outline. Then, drag out the new point to remold the path. I'll click in the upper left of the path to add a untried point:

Adding a new anchor point by clicking on the itinerary outline.

Then, to reshape the course, I'll embroil the new point into the superior left box where the grid lines intersect:

Dragging the bran-new point to reshape the path.

I'll also click to ADD a new anchor stage at the very top of the path, and so I'll drop behind the new point downward to where the grid lines meet just to a higher place the center:

Adding a new point at the upper side and effortful it downward.

Switching 'tween Curve Points And Corner Points

And then Former Armed Forces, all of the anchor points we've added with the Curvature Playpen Tool have been curve points (a.k.a. smooth points). That is, the path outline curves as it passes through the spot. Another way to change the shape of a path is by converting a curved shape channelize into a corner point. To throw from a cut point to a corner point, double-click on an existent curve stop.

I'll equivocal-click on the point I just added in the top center, and today we see that, instead of a repand curve, the itinerary scheme abruptly changes direction at that point. To switch from a corner point back to a curve level, again just double-cluck on the point:

Stunt man-penetrate on a bender betoken to convert it to a corner point, and vice versa.

Deleting A Point

To erase an anchor point, click on that with the Curvature Pen Tool around to select it, so press the Backspace (Win) / Delete (Macintosh) key on your keyboard. Here, I've deleted the point in the crowning center, and nowadays the path has returned to the cookie-cutter shape it was in earlier adding the point:

To delete a taper, select it and then press Backspacer (Win) / Delete (Mac).

Deleting An Entire Path

To delete your entire path, right-click (Win) / Verify-click (Mac) inside the papers, and then choose Delete Way of life from the fare. You also delete the entire path by pressing Backspace (Win) / Delete (Mackintosh) happening your keyboard when no anchor points are selected:

To delete a route, right-click (Bring home the bacon) / Control-suction stop (Mac) and choose "Delete Course".

I'll delete my path so that I'm back to merely my empty document and my guides:

The path has been deleted.

Drawing Straight Route Segments With The Curvature Pen Creature

The intense benefit of the Curvature Pen Tool is that it's easy to pass curved path outlines. But we sack also use it to draw directly lines just as easily. We've already seen that we can convert a curved shape point into a corner point by double-clicking along information technology. But if we know in advance that we need to draw a straight describe, there's no need to draw a curve pointedness showtime and then convert it. Instead, but double-click, rather than single-click, to impart the revolutionary place. Photoshop will automatically add the betoken as a recess point.

Let's say we want to draw a rectangular path outline using the Curvature Pen Tool. Start away clicking to set a terminus a quo for the course. I'll click in the lower left corner:

Clicking to set a starting point for the rectangular path outline.

Then, since we know we deprivation the following point to constitute a corner full stop, double-click, rather than single-snap, to add it. I'll double-click two swimming guides above my starting point:

Double-clicking to add the second point arsenic a corner point.

To sum up the third guide to the rectangular condition, I'll once again double-click to add it as a corner point. Notice that because we're adding the points atomic number 3 corner points, Photoshop is copulative them with uncoiled path segments instead of curves:

Double-clicking to add the thirdly point.

I'll add a fourth nook point by double-clicking in the lower outside corner. Again, Photoshop adds another straight path section:

Adding the fourth corner point.

To complete the route, I'll look-alike-click on the initial terminus a quo, and Photoshop adds the remaining straight section:

Double-clicking on the terminus a quo to close the path.

Converting A Heterosexual Path Segment Into An Arch

What if, alternatively of a flat swimming line of merchandise at the tipto of the way of life, you want an arch? With the Curvature Pen Tool, IT's wanton. All you need to answer is click anyplace along the top path segment to sum a new mainstay point:

Adding a new point to the top of the path.

Then, hale the new point upward to make over the arch:

Effortful the new point upward.

Wiggly Multiplex Ground tackle Points Straightaway

In so far, we've learned that we can move an individual anchor degree by clicking and slow it with the Curve Indite Tool. But what if we motive to move two or more anchorperson points straight off? In this case, we can use Photoshop's Direct Selection Tool. You'll line up the Direct Selection Tool, also known atomic number 3 the "White Arrow Tool around", nested behind the Path Selection Instrument (the "Black Arrow Tool around") in the Toolbar. Click and hold on the Path Selection Tool until a fly ball-out carte appears, and then choose the Direct Selection Tool from the menu:

Selecting the Direct Selection Tool around from the Toolbar.

Let's say we want to convert the height of our path. We need to select all three anchor points that make up the top (the betoken in the top left, the top letter-perfect, and the uncomparable at the top of the arc). To select altogether trine points at one time, chink and dredge a box around all three points with the Steer Selection Tool around:

Dragging with the Direct Option Tool around every last three points at the top.

Then, with all three points at the top selected, click on whatsoever of them and sweep all three of them downwards together:

Reshaping the track by moving all selected anchorman points at the same time.

To switch backwards to the Curvature Pen Puppet, reselect it from the Toolbar:

Reselecting the Curve Pen Puppet.

And so, to delete the path so we can start once again, right-click (Win) / Control-dawn (Mackintosh) deep down the document and choose Delete Path from the menu:

Choosing the Delete Course option.

Drawing A Heart With The Curvature Compose Instrument

Finally, let's take what we've learned about curve and quoin points and use information technology to draw a path in the human body of a heart. When we'atomic number 75 cooked, we'll mop up this tutorial by learning how to twist the path into an genuine shape, as well as a transmitter masquerade and a selection outline.

First, clink in the bottom center with the Curvature Pen Tool to set your terminus a quo:

Clicking to set the starting point for the warmheartedness.

Then, click in the upper left, where the get-go vertical guide the left intersects with the second horizontal guide on from the top. This adds a second gunpoint, and since we only have cardinal points at the moment, Photoshop draws a straight path segment 'tween them:

Clicking to bring the ordinal manoeuver.

To add the third point, click where the top horizontal guide intersects with the second vertical usher from the left. Since this is our third point, Photoshop converts the straight path segment into a trend:

Adding the third point creates the curve.

We need to add our 4th aim at the spot where the second flat guide from the top meets the vertical pass in the center. But, because we know we penury this point to be a turning point point, non a kink point, double-click to add it:

Adding the fourth point as a corner point by double-clicking.

Next, click where the top flat pathfinder intersects with the second vertical guide from the right. True though we're adding this point as a curve point (by one-clicking), Photoshop will ab initio draw a straight path section. That's because our previous point was a corner point:

Single-click to add up the fifth anchor point arsenic a arc point.

To add the incoming point, click where the first vertical guide from the right meets the minute horizontal guide from the go past. Photoshop formerly again converts the TRUE path into a curve:

Adding the sixth pointedness converts the previous straight logical argument into a curve.

Finally, let's close the path and complete our heart shape by clicking on the initial starting point at the bottom. We need this point to be a corner tip, not a curve, soh complete the path by twofold-clicking on the starting compass point:

Double-clack happening the start signal to close the path with a corner point.

Turning Dispatch The Guides

We're finished drawing with the Curvature Pen Tool, so let's absent the guides by going capable the Eyeshot menu in the Menu Prevention, choosing Show, and then choosing Guides to deselect them:

Going to View > Show > Guides.

This leaves us with just our course:

The heart-shaped path tired with the Curvature Pen Tool.

Converting The Path Into A Selection, Masquerade Or Shape

Straightaway that we've tired our course, Photoshop makes IT easy to convert the path into either a selection limn, a vector mask operating room a anatomy. With the Curve Pen Tool allay active, you'll find all three options in the Options Bar. Simply choose the cardinal you motivation:

Use the Make option to turn the course into a pick, vector mask or shape.

Selection Outline

To change over your route into a selection outline, choose Selection:

Choosing "Selection" from the Options Bar.

Photoshop will open the Make Natural selection dialog box. Here, you can add some feathering to the selection if needed, or just click OK to finis the panel:

The Create Selection dialog box seat.

Photoshop instantly converts your route outline into a "march ants" excerption outline:

The track drawn with the Curvature Compose Tool is now a survival of the fittest lineation.

I'll loosen it so we tooshie view the other two options by exit up to the Edit menu and choosing Undo Extract Change. I could also just press Ctrl+Z (Win) / Command+Z (Mac) on my keyboard:

Going to Redact > Undo Choice Vary.

Vector Mask

To create a vector masquerade from your path outline, choose Mask in the Options Bar:

Clicking the "Masquerade party" option.

Photoshop converts the path into a vector masquerade party, with only the area inside the path remaining visible in the document. The checker board design now surrounding the path represents transparency, since we have No other layers below the block out:

The track now appears Eastern Samoa a vector cloak, with exclusively the area inside the track visible.

And if we look in the Layers panel, we now see a vector mask thumbnail:

A vector mask thumbnail appears in the Layers panel.

I'll undo the vector masquerade so we can looking at at the third option by going up to the Edit menu and choosing Undo Add Vector Masquerade party. Or again, I could honourable press Ctrl+Z (Come through) / Command+Z (Mac) on my keyboard:

Going to Edit > Undo Add Vector Mask.

Shape Layer

Finally, to commute a path haggard with the Curve Pen Tool into a Shape layer, select Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe:

Choosing "Forge" from the Options Bar.

Photoshop fills the new shape with your current Foreground color, which in my case is black:

The path now converted into a shape.

If we look once more in the Layers panel, we now undergo a new Shape layer. To change the shape's colour in, doubling-click connected the shape's thumbnail:

Double-clicking the Shape layer thumbnail to change the shape color.

Then choose a new color from the Color Picker. Since we've tired a heart shape, I'll select a shade of red. Click OK when you'ray done to close the Color Picker:

Choosing a different color for the build from the Color Chooser.

Finally, to vei the path outline from around the shape, weigh Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) happening your keyboard. Or, merely pick out a different tool from the Toolbar. Hither's my heart shape now filled with Red:

The red center Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe drawn with the Curvature Pen Tool.

And there we experience IT! That's our whole tone-by-maltreat guide to drawing paths and shapes with the new-sprung Curvature Penitentiary Tool in Photoshop CC 2022! Also baulk out the new Rich Tool Tips in Photoshop CC 2022. Visit our Photoshop Basics section for siamese tutorials!

How to Draw Line in Photoshop With Pen Tool

Source: https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/use-curvature-pen-tool-photoshop-cc-2018/

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