1. CSC/FAR 020, Computer Graphics, March 23-25, 2010
Dr. Dale E. Parson
Outline for Week 9
Vectors and Paths in Photoshop

2. Photoshop Paths Vector outlines are Paths.
Like Type, they are vector shapes.
Create them using the Pen and Shape tools.
You can create, save and reuse Shapes (Paths).
Vector Masks are the vector graphical counterparts to Layer Masks.
Vector Masks are sharp, precise, and consume less storage space than layer masks.

3. Converting a Selection to a Path
Open SymmetryLace.jpg in Folder type.
Crop to the lace projection on the screen.
Select with Magic Wand in New & Add modes.
Display Windows -> Paths.
Make Work Path from paths palette menu or Work path from Selection icon at bottom.
High tolerance gives smoother, more usable shape.

4. First Use of a Path
Make an empty layer in this document and select it for editing.
Go back to Path palette and Control-Click Fill Path after choosing a foreground color.
Hide the underlying image layer.
Create a middle layer of black foreground.
Try shutting off visibility of all layers.

5. Manipulating a Path Highlight the path on the Paths palette.
Select Path Selection Tool (arrow) on Tools palette.
Click small, “island” path on the image.
You can copy and move a path “island.”
Use Direct Selection tool (open arrow) to select anchor points, Shift-click or drag a marquee to select more, Shift-click to remove.

6. Practice Manipulating Paths
Open RuoriTrapezoid.jpg, duplicate layer.
Use Polygonal Lasso to select the trapezoid.
Convert it to a Path on the Path palette.
Hide image layers.
Use Path Selection (solid arrow) and Direct Selection (open arrow) tools to select, deselect, and manipulate anchor points.
Select and move a single anchor, or a line segment by selecting 2 anchors, or a direction line.

7. Saving and Using Paths Get a fresh path that matches the trapezoid.
Drag its anchors to create a rectangle.
Double click the Work Path, rename it.
Control-click the Path, Fill path to fill it.
Stroke path to select a stroke.
Go into that stroke-specific tool first to set the stroking tool configuration parameters.

8. Pen Tool Add a new, empty Path. Select pen tool.
Single click to add vertices of a polygon.
Click and drag to create curved segments.
Click start point to close a polygon.
Alt-drag to create non-smooth points.
Enter or Escape to terminate current polygon. Delete/Backspace deletes latest vertex.
Pen options to add or delete anchor points.

9. Freeform Pen Magnetic and non-magnetic options.
Magnetic follows edges in an image layer.
Option bar has various shape tools.
Rectangle and ellipse use Shift-drag for symmetry.
Polygon shape has number-of-sides parameter.
Custom shape has library of shapes.

10. Path to Selection Control-click a Path, Make Selection.
New / Add / Subtract / Intersect the selection.
Load path as Selection selects just one path.

11. Vector Masks Shape-defined masks similar to layer-masks.
Layer -> Vector Mask -> Reveal All, or
Layer -> Vector Mask -> Hide All.
Draw shapes on mask to reveal image area.
Apple-click the mask to make a selection.
You can also create a vector mask from a Path via Layer -> Vector mask -> Current Path.
Rasterizing converts Vector to Layer Mask.

12. More Vector Masks
Select on basis of a layer mask (Apple-click the Layer Mask thumbnail), then create a Vector mask from Selection. Discard Layer Mask.
Add a Type Layer, then Control-click Convert it to Shape.
You can Edit -> Transform type when it is a Shape.
Select using Vector Mask, Invert the selection, then create an Inverted Vector mask.
Edit -> Define Custom Shape to add to shape library.