48
INSTRUCTOR
NO
TES
Lesson 8:
Vec
t
or
Drawing Techniques
This lesson introduces vector paths as a way to create smooth lines and as
an
alternative method of selection. Students will also import a Smart Object
f
r
om
Illustrator and work with Smart
Guide
s
.
The lesson introduces easy ways to create vector shapes, such as with shape
t
o
ols
and
custom shapes. At first glance, the Pen tool and paths may seem peripheral
t
o
Photoshop as vector tools in an image-editing program. This lesson shows the
v
alue
of the Pen tool as a way to make selections that are more precise and easier to
adju
st
than with other selection
t
o
ols
.
The Pen tool is the best tool to use for drawing the following types of se
le
c
tions
:
Simple shapes (except regular polygons, which are best drawn with
t
he
shape
t
o
ol
s)
Goals
for this lesson
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to use the Pen tool to draw
b
oth
straight and curved paths, know how to select and deselect a path, and be able
t
o
u
se a path as a selection. The student should also
understand
the difference
b
e
twe
en
vector and raster
artwor
k
.
Using
paths with
ar
t
w
ork
Encourage students to learn the keyboard shortcuts for the Pen tool and path
dra
w
–
ing. As pointed out in Lesson 1, keeping one hand over the keyboard and the
ot
her
hand on the mouse can facilitate efficient,
uninterrupted
drawing. An
i
mpor
t
an
t
shortcut to learn is the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key for
t
em
porar
ily
switching to the Path Selection or Direct Selection
t
o
ol.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CLASSROOM IN A BOOK (2022 RELEASE)
49
C
onv
er
ting
paths
to
selections
After students finish this procedure, you might review all the ways they have
le
arned
in this and earlier lessons to create and store se
le
c
tions
:
Using selection
t
o
ols
Adding
a second shape
to
a
pa
th
Students should be aware that a path or shape can have subpaths (consist of
m
ultiple
paths). This can be challenging to beginners, so this lesson
do
e
sn
t
include
st
e
p
s
that
demonstrate
this concept. If you want to extend the lesson to include
subp
a
t
hs
,
you
ll
want to c
o
ver
:
How to add subpaths to an existing path. Make sure the current path is se
le
c
t
e
d
in the Paths panel as you draw additional
p
a
t
hs
.
How to add subpaths to an existing shape layer. Make sure the shape
l
ayer s
Supplementary
demonstration:
Shape
options
Invite students to explore the shape options in the options
b
ar
:
Ask them to se
le
c
t
the Pen tool and note which options are available. With the Pen tool selected,
t
he
y
can choose either Shape or Path for the tool mode; with a shape tool (such as
t
he
Rectangle tool) selected, Shape, Path, and Pixels modes are all available.
The difference between the Shape and Path modes is the difference between
dra
w
–
ing a shape and drawing a work
p
a
t
h.
50
INSTRUCTOR
NO
TES
You can
demonstrate
the difference between the modes very simply. Before you
begin, make sure that the Foreground color is not
whit
e.
1 Create a new file (File > New) and use one of the shape tools to draw a c
ouple
of shapes in the image. Draw the first shape with Pixels mode selected and
t
he
In the first case, the eraser removes the colored pixels. If you
ve
zoomed in suffi-
ciently, the bitmap nature of the shape will be obvious. In the second case, an
er
r
or
message appears, saying that the contents of the layer are not directly e
dit
a
ble
t
ha
t
is, they c
an
t
be erased because painting and erasing are features of raster (pixel) lay-
ers, not of vector
dra
w
i
ng
s
.
To illustrate the difference between the Shape and Path modes, continue the
dem
–
onstration,
using the same simple
dra
w
i
ng
.
4 Drag the Paths panel out of the Layers panel group so that students can see
b
oth
You can reinforce the difference between the vector items and the bitmap shape by
attempting
to add an anchor point to each of the three shapes you
d
r
e
w
.
8 For each of the two vector items, in turn, do the following:
Supplementary
discussion
You may find it useful to make sure students retain clear
understandings
of the
d
i
s
–
Questions
The following questions are not in the
studen
t
s Classroom in a Book.
1 How do you deselect a
p
a
t
h?
2 How do you make sure that a path is saved with a
do
c
umen
t?
3 What are the advantages of using the Pen tool to create a mask? Why not just
u
se
the Quick Mask feature, as done in Lesson 6?
4 (Use only if you have included Supplementary
demonstration:
shape options,
i
n
this
le
ss
on
s
Instructor
Notes, with your class.) Why would the Pixels option
b
e
dimmed (unavailable) when the Pen tool is selected in the Tools
p
ane
l?
5 How do you save a work
p
a
t
h?
6 When do you lose a work path forever? Is there a way to get it back?
52
INSTRUCTOR
NO
TES
Answers
1 To deselect a path, click in an empty area in the Paths
p
ane
l.