Absolute Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography

A Pen tool lets you draw editable selection boundaries. The Pen tool creates a series

of automatically connected lines (a path) that can be edited after they are drawn. A

path can be moved, stretched, and curved. The lines of a path are so flexible that

they can be made to curve around and enclose complex shapes. If the path’s two

ends are joined together to form a complete enclosure, the entire path can later be

turned into an ordinary selection, which can be further edited with any of the regu-

lar selection-modifying commands. Creating a path does not automatically create a

selection; you must convert the path into a selection with a command.

Drawing a Straight Line

Follow these steps to draw straight lines with the Pen tool (see Figure 16.11). You will

eventually turn these lines into a selection.

248 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TODIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

FIGURE 16.11

Creating a

selection with

the Pen tool

and straight

lines.

1. Select the Pen tool and create an anchor point by clicking on the image
   wherever you would like to create a selection (outline).


2. Move the pen and then click the mouse to “set” the next anchor point. A
   path will appear between the two points.


3. Click repeatedly to place additional anchor points as you trace an object in
   the image. This creates anchor points with straight lines between them.


4. When you return to the starting point, the cursor will display a small circle.
   This means you can click at that point to close the path.


5. If the path is indeed closed, right-click on the path with the Pen tool and
   choose Make Selection. A small dialog box will appear asking for some set-
   tings (see Figure 16.12). The default is Anti-aliased and a 1-pixel Feather
   Radius.
   You now have an accurate path that is much easier to manipulate. In addi-
   tion, if you need to use this selection again, you can access it in the Paths
   palette. Choose Window, Paths, right-click on the path you created, and select
   Make Selection.


6. To save the path permanently, choose the item Save Path from the Paths
   palette’s pop-up menu.