Art [T] Using the Pen Tool [A]

[Delta]

[COLOR=#656446][SIZE=1][SIZE=4][b]Using the Pen Tool[/b][/SIZE]
[b]Difficulty:[/b] Average
[b]Program:[/b] Adobe Photoshop 7 +

[CENTER][b][SIZE=3]INTRODUCTION[/SIZE][/b][/CENTER]

This tutorial comes in two parts, each focusing on common uses for the Pen Tool namely extraction and vectoring. This is also my first online tutorial so constructive criticism regarding the tutorial itself is welcome.

Them little Fuchikomas (gif) links out of the page to a screenshot available; I suggest you click them if you can't understand the step.

Let's start!

[CENTER][SIZE=2][COLOR=#35425E][b]The Pen Tool[/b][/COLOR][/SIZE][/CENTER]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/pen-tool-intro.gif[/IMG]

[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/pen-tool-options.gif][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/fuchikoma.gif[/IMG] [COLOR=#E95271] Screenshot: [b]Pen Tool Options Bar[/b][/color][/url]
Clicking the Pen Tool will bring up the Pen Tool Options Bar located just below the Menu Bar. As the name suggests, the icons here can change how the Pen Tool draws shapes.

[CENTER][SIZE=2][COLOR=#35425E][b]Shape Layers and Masks[/b][/COLOR][/SIZE][/CENTER]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/layer-and-mask.gif[/IMG]

[SIZE=2][COLOR=#35425E][b]Some useful shortcuts:[/b][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[b][COLOR=#35425E]Ctrl[/color] + [COLOR=#35425E]Z[/color][/b] : Undo. Forget all them shortcuts, just NEVER this one.
[b][COLOR=#35425E]Ctrl[/color] + [COLOR=#35425E]S[/color][/b] : Save. Also a must especially after you've laying down 100+ anchor points.
[b][COLOR=#35425E]Ctrl[/color] + [COLOR=#35425E]+[/color][/b] : Zoom In
[b][COLOR=#35425E]Ctrl[/color] + [COLOR=#35425E]-[/color][/b] : Zoom Out
[b][COLOR=#35425E]P[/color][/b] : Activates the Pen Tool
[b][COLOR=#35425E]F1[/color][/b] : Help. But you won't need it 'cause this tutorial's [url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/tsuruya.gif] [COLOR=#E95271][b]very well written.[/b][/color][/url]


[CENTER]~o~o~o~o~


[b][SIZE=3]TUTORIAL PROPER[/SIZE][/b]
Tracing Images with the Pen Tool
[/CENTER]

[COLOR=#35425E][SIZE=2][b]I. Extracting Images[/b][/SIZE]
[i]Or, How the Pen Tool Kicks the Magic Wand's *** Ten Ways to Tuesday.[/i][/COLOR]

❶ Open up an image with the subject you want to extract.

❷ Zoom in to about 300% and pick up the [COLOR=#35425E][b]Pen Tool[/b][/color]. Make sure that the following icons are activated in the [COLOR=#35425E][b]Options Bar[/b][/COLOR]:
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/options-bar.gif][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/fuchikoma.gif[/IMG] [COLOR=#E95271] Screenshot: [b]Pen Tool Options Bar[/b][/color][/url]

❸ Click a point in the outline. Notice that the [COLOR=#35425E][b]Pen Tool[/b][/COLOR] automatically creates a new shape layer and sets an anchor point.

[indent][b][COLOR=#639AD8]NOTES:[/COLOR][/b]
[list][*][url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/options-bar-add.gif][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/fuchikoma.gif[/IMG] [COLOR=#E95271] Screenshot: [b]Add to Shape Area[/b][/color][/url]
Do not be surprised if the [b][color=#35425E]Add to Shape Area[/color][/b] is automatically activated after setting the first anchor point. [*]Set the [b][color=#35425E]Layer Transparency[/color][/b] to zero so that you'll know where to lay down the next point. [*]If you hold and drag the cursor while setting an anchor point, you can change the curvature of the corner. you can edit this later with the [b][color=#35425E]Convert Point Tool[/color][/b].[/list][/indent]

❹ Work your way along the outline until you end up at the first anchor point.

❺ Click the first anchor point to close the shape.

[COLOR=#35425E][b][u]If there's a region inside the shape that's not part of the subject:[/u][/b][/COLOR]

[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/options-bar-subtract.gif][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/meoi/fuchikoma.gif[/IMG] [COLOR=#E95271] Screenshot: [b]Subtract from Shape Area[/b][/color][/url]
❻ Click the [COLOR=#35425E][b]Subtract from Shape Area[/b][/color] button in the Options Bar.

❼ Trace the part you want out then close the shape.

[COLOR=#35425E][b][u]To extract the image:[/u][/b][/COLOR]

❽ Click on the image layer

❾ Select the shape by pressing [COLOR=#35425E][b]Ctrl[/b][/COLOR] while clicking on the shape layer. You should see them marching ants marching 'round your subject.

❿ Press [COLOR=#35425E][b]Shift + Ctrl + I[/b][/COLOR] to invert the selection (or go to Select > Inverse).

❶❶ Press [COLOR=#35425E][b]Delete[/b][/COLOR] to get rid of the background,




[SIZE=2][COLOR=#35425E][b]II. Vectoring with the Pen Tool[/b][/COLOR][/SIZE]
Coming Soon!
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