Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography

CHAPTER 11 ADVANCED SELECTION TOOLS 161

FIGURE 11.12
The Freeform
pen tool
enables you
to create pen
paths freehand
that “stiffen”
when you
double-click
the mouse.

■ Add Anchor Point tool. Add anchor points along an existing path to trace

more precisely along an object. Some professional Photoshop users create

paths quickly with few anchor points. Afterward, they add anchor points to

refine the rough paths created with few lines (see Figure 11.13). This method

minimizes the use of anchor points and speeds selection work.

■ Delete Anchor Point tool. Delete existing anchor points. Often you will

create a path and have excessive anchor points. To refine the path, use the

Delete Anchor Point tool and remove excess anchors and then edit the

remaining anchors by selecting the Direct Selection tool.