Photoshop Pen tool question - DPChallenge Forums

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

11/27/2010 02:35:51 AM · #1

I can use the pen tool, but only the very basics of it, so I went in search of guidance.
I found one very interesting tutorial which includes a beginner level PSD file for practice.
They give starter points, directions, guide lines, aims, etc etc etc.

I started following the path and was fine up to #5.
At that point - from #5 to #6 - they tell us to "Click, hold Alt, Shift and drag right" and even show exactly where to release the mouse button.

It all works wonderfully - the next step to #7 is a big long curve and the result is very accurate, but it bothers me that I do not understand WHY I have to do that step 5 - 6.

Can someone please explain the reason behind step 5-6 in preparation for step 7.

Thank you very much in advance.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/27/2010 03:32:53 AM · #2

When drawing Bezier curves, "shift" constrains the movement to 45-degree increments (makes it easier to drag absolutely straight out) whilst "alt" disconnects the two handles of the anchor point from each other, so you are only moving the one; if you didn't do that, the other point would mirror your drag: the more right you dragged, the more left the mirrored handle would go.

R.

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

11/27/2010 04:32:28 AM · #3

Robert, did you actually look at that file? Did I explain it well enough, i.e. the bit where I have the problem?

I get the shift part. I also figured out long ago that I need to alt click on the last point before I head into a curve, otherwise the whole thing just flips every which way!
So I understand the shift bit, and I do believe I understand what you mean the mirrored handle.

However, I still don't know why at THAT point in the exercise I need to drag it off to the right. Why can't I just simply click the point at #5 - it seems to have the same effect, but I'm sure I'm missing something crucial.

Thanks for replying and trying :-)

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/27/2010 08:24:22 AM · #4

Yes, I looked at the file. And went through the steps in Photoshop as well. Dragging it off to the right controls the amplitude of the curve: more drag = steeper curve. If that's not the answer you're looking for, then no, the problem's not clear to me.

R.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/27/2010 04:20:41 PM · #5

Dang it - what you're saying makes perfect sense to me, but it doesn't really fit with what I'm doing in this case. I am obviously doing something wrong, perhaps missing a step :-(

Again, I thank you for trying to help me out.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/27/2010 06:04:39 PM · #6

Originally posted by Beetle:

However, I still don't know why at THAT point in the exercise I need to drag it off to the right. Why can't I just simply click the point at #5 - it seems to have the same effect, but I'm sure I'm missing something crucial.

I didn't look at the tutorial (and I don't have up-to-date PS), but what may be happening is that the control point was originally placed without any directional handles, and that by selecting and dragging from the point as directed you now give it a directional control on the one side only. It's useful when you want to bend the segment on one side of the control point but have a straight-line segment on the other side -- if you place the control point while simultaneously dragging you get the mirrored handles.