PeaRl Of WISDOm
Inevitably, every path drawn with the pen tool is constructed differently. As
you set the control handles and anchor points, keep in mind the one-third
rule: Each control handle should extend about one-third the total length of
its line segment. Another rule says that two opposing handles can extend
different lengths if together they add up to two-thirds of the segment.Once you’ve made a few segments in your line, you can begin
to see how its curvature is affected by the handles. See how the
segment begins and ends at an anchor point and bends toward
each of the opposing control handles? The path has no choice
but to pass through each and every anchor point—hence the
word anchor. In contrast, the path approaches but never touches
the control handles. The points demand; the handles attract.Remember, you can adjust an anchor point or a control handle while
drawing a path by pressing the Ctrl (or �) key to get the white arrow
tool on-the-fly and then dragging the points around as you want. Err
on the side of keeping the path inside the edge of the model’s shoulder
to help avoid fringing when we turn the path into a mask.- Create a smooth point under the model’s
arm. Turning the corner under her arm
is a two-point process. First, click at the
point indicated in Figure 10-30, and drag
out the control handles as shown. You
really only care about the position of the
left control handle because we’re going
to move the right one independently in
the next step. - Convert the smooth point into a cusp. Still
armed with the pen tool, press the Alt
(Option) key and hover your cursor over
the last anchor point. Your pen cursor dis-
plays a tiny caret symbol, as in , to show
that it’s poised to convert the point from a
smooth point to a cusp point, which joins
one or more curved segments at a corner.
With Alt (or Option) down, click and drag
out a new control handle at a new angle,
as in Figure 10-31. The second handle
now moves independently of the one on
the other side of the anchor.
Figure 10-30.Figure 10-31.360 Lesson 10: Creating and Applying Masks