Photoshop pen tool arg. - DPChallenge Forums

07/29/2010 09:52:10 PM · #1

Ahoy.

So, I generally know plenty about Bezier curves and whatnot and do just fine for myself in Illustrator. Apparently I'm trying to do things I haven't tried before.

But what I am trying to do here is make a linear path, i.e., not a shape, i.e., I don't want the thing to automatically close the shape back to the starting anchor point.

How do you do that?

And how do you get that nifty variable-weight line, where it's narrow at the first point, widening at the middle, and then tapering down again?

07/29/2010 10:13:39 PM · #2

So, frst thing you'll need is the regular pen tool, set your points as needed.

Then select the convert point tool, this will allow you to make the curves you desire.

Then, go to you layers/channels/paths dialog and select the paths tab.

Select the brush tool, and select the brush shape you want.

Next right click the path made by your pen tool and select "stroke path", select the brush tool, and then check the simulate pressure box.

Keep in mind that the the direction you draw the path determines which end will be fat and which will be tapered..

07/29/2010 10:16:12 PM · #3

Okay, I follow you just fine until we get to the "stroke path" part. It's grayed out. Any idea why that might be? Does it screw everything up if my path already has a style applied? (ETA: grayed out even when I have no style applied.)

I'm using CS3.

Message edited by author 2010-07-29 22:16:53.

07/29/2010 10:16:43 PM · #4

Just as an example here is an image I created like this:

Made from:

07/29/2010 10:17:11 PM · #5

Originally posted by mycelium:

Okay, I follow you just fine until we get to the "stroke path" part. It's grayed out. Any idea why that might be? Does it screw everything up if my path already has a style applied?

I'm using CS3.

Probably the style..

Start from scratch, create a new path on a new doc. :)

07/29/2010 10:22:20 PM · #6

Still doesn't work.

Pen tool FAIL!

Screenshot to demonstrate pen tool fail:

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong :/

07/29/2010 10:25:34 PM · #7

Originally posted by mycelium:

Still doesn't work.

Pen tool FAIL!

Screenshot to demonstrate pen tool fail:

I have no idea what I'm doing wrong :/

It will do this if the layer that you have selected is invisible or non-editable.. :)

07/29/2010 10:31:30 PM · #8

Uhh... is it one of those things?

Apparently I suck with the PS pen tool.

I see that the paths title thing is italicized, but I have no idea why that would be.

>_<