![]() ![]() What Is a Path?Īt its most basic, a path is a line. However, before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a look at how paths work. These paths can then be converted into a selection. ![]() How Does the Pen Tool Work?Īs we’ve mentioned, Photoshop’s pen tool works by drawing paths. From there, those paths can be converted into a selection, but what the tool is really doing is drawing paths. So, why is it called the Pen Tool? Well, that’s the name Photoshop gave it because it draws paths. At first, it was used to design cars but was later adopted by image manipulation programs like Photoshop for all types of graphic design. These control handles are what are used to manipulate the curves that came to be called Bezier curves.Īnd thus, the pen tool was created. He applied mathematical principles to computer software to create three-dimensional modeling and design.īezier took mathematical equations first developed by Paul de Casteljau in 1959 and created a notation consisting of nodes with attached control handles. He played a significant role in the development of computer-aided geometric modeling. Pierre Bezier was a French engineer who worked for the Renault automobile company. It also goes by the Paths Tool, which is probably the most appropriate name for it. Before it became known as the pen tool, it was the Bezier Pen or Bezier Tool, named after its creator, Pierre Bezier. The truth is, this particular tool has gone by several different names. So, why in the world is it called the pen tool? No matter how messy your signature might be, you’d be left with nonsensical loops, nothing like what you were trying to accomplish. If you were to try using this tool to write your name in Photoshop, you’d end up with a tangled mess. Given that the Paintbrush and Pencil tools in Photoshop perform functions similar to their physical counterparts, no one can blame you for expecting this tool to act like a ballpoint pen. One of the first things that anyone who tries to use the pen tool in Photoshop discovers immediately is that it’s not for writing, at least not in the traditional sense. ![]() The pen tool creates paths based on vectors and, as such, is better grouped with Direct Selection (the black arrow) and the Path Selection (the white arrow) tools. A normal selection tool like the Lasso, Rectangular Marquee, and the Circular Marquee make selections based on the pixels in which the image is made. The reason for this is that it’s designed to create points and paths. Instead, it’s grouping with Type Tool, Shape Tool, and selection arrows. Interestingly, despite all of this talk about using it to make selections, this tool is not with the other Photoshop selection tools on the palette. It uses clean and controllable vectors that are perfect for precision cutouts and other similar things. What makes the pen tool different is that instead of selecting pixels, it draws lines known as paths based on mathematical formulae. While zooming into an image and carefully navigating curves with a series of short lines with the lasso can be sufficient, it’s not nearly as accurate as selections made with the pen. However, the lasso can only make straight lines. Once selected, they can be cut out from backgrounds, placed in alternate images, and further manipulated.įor those who don’t know how it works, making selections of irregular shapes is typically done in Photoshop with the lasso. The most common use for the pen tool is to make selections of irregular shapes in Photoshop. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the pen really is, what it’s used for, and how to use it in Photoshop. However, if you’ve ever tried to use it without understanding how it works, you were likely pretty confused. This tool is one of the best ways to make complex selections involving lots of curves in Photoshop. One of the primary ways this is accomplished is by employing the pen tool. Nevertheless, it includes certain vector elements more commonly associated with programs such as Illustrator, saving them as paths that can be used in a number of helpful ways. ![]() Photoshop is primarily a pixel-manipulation tool. ![]()
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