Chapter 12

Using Clipping Masks, Paths, & Shapes

Chapter Lessons

• Use a clipping group as a mask• Use pen tools to create and modify a path• Work with shapes• Convert paths and selections

Shape Types

• Shape– Vector object – Keeps crisp appearance when resized, edited, moved,

reshaped, or copied• Rasterized Shape

– Converted into bitmapped object that cannot be moved or copied

– Uses smaller file size

Working with Shapes

• Add a pre-designed shape:– Ellipse– Circle– Rectangle

• Create a unique shape using a pen tool

Defining Clipping Masks• Create an effect in which the bottom

layer acts as a mask for all other layers in the group

Defining Paths

• One or more straight or curved line segments connected by anchor points

• Use to turn an area defined within an object into a separate individual object

• Paths can be either open or closed

Open Paths

• Two distinct endpoints: anchor points at each end of the open path

• An example is an individual line

Closed Paths

• One continuous path without endpoints• An example is a circle

Clipping Path

• Use a clipping path to:– Extract a Photoshop object from within a layer– Place it in another program such as Adobe

Illustrator– Retain its transparent background

Creating Paths

• Use the Pen tool or the Freeform Pen tool• Draw a path by placing anchor points along

the edge of another image or wherever required to draw a specific shape

• Paths are stored on the Paths panel

Use a Clipping Group as a Mask Clipping Mask Effect

• Isolate an area and make images outside the area transparent

Image of the roses is masked by text

Clipping Mask Process

• Rasterize the type or shape layer: – Change the vector graphic into a bitmapped

object made up of colored pixels• Use a Transform command to reshape layer

contents• Create the clipping mask

Transform CommandsScale Changes the image size

Rotate Allows rotation 360°Skew Stretches an image horizontally or

vertically; cannot exceed image boundary

Distort Stretches an image horizontally or vertically; can exceed image boundary

Perspective Changes opposite sides of an image equally

Transform CommandsRotate 180 Rotate image 180° clockwiseRotate 90 CW Rotate image 90° clockwise

Rotate 90 CCW Rotate image 90° counter-clockwise

Flip Horizontal Produce a mirror image

Flip Vertical Produce an upside-down image

Transform Examples

Using Transform Commands

• After selecting a transform command, a bounding box is displayed around the object– Contains handles used to modify the selection

• Reference point is located in the center of the bounding box– Point around which transform command takes place

Use Pen Tools to Create & Modify a Path

• Tools used to create a path:– Pen tool– Freeform Pen tool– Magnetic Pen tool

Pen Tools to Create a PathPen tool Creates curved or straight line

segmentsFreeform Pen tool

Creates unique shapes

Magnetic Pen tool

Lets the tool find an object’s edge

Tools Used to Modify a Path

• Add Anchor Point tool• Delete Anchor Point tool• Convert Point tool

Pen Tools to Modify a PathAdd Anchor Point tool

Adds an anchor point to an existing path or shape

Delete Anchor Point tool

Removes an anchor points from an existing path or shape

Convert Point tool

Converts a smooth point to a corner point and a corner point to a smooth point

Creating a Path

• Paths are saved with the image they were created in and stored in the Paths panel

• Create a path based on an existing object• OR• Create a shape with a pen tool

Creating a Closed Path

• Position the pointer on top of the first anchor point

• A small circle appears next to the pointer (indicates that the path will be closed when the pointer is clicked)

Paths Example• The active path is called Starfish1 and displays

an outline of the starfish

Starfish1 Path

Modifying a Path

• Establish a path and then embellish it and convert it into a selection

• Examples:– Add more width or more curves to an existing

path– Fill a path with the foreground color

Selecting a Path

• Use the Direct Selection tool to select a path• Manipulate individual anchor points without

affecting the entire path

Moving an Anchor Point

• Force the two line segments on either side of the anchor point to shrink or grow by moving the anchor point

• Move individual line segments to new locations• Shorten or elongate direction handles to adjust

the amount of curve or length of a line segment

Adding and Deleting Anchor Points

• Split an existing line segment into two to produce more sides to an object

• Remove anchor points to straighten a bumpy path

Converting Anchor Points

• Convert corner points into smooth points:– Gives a drawing a softer appearance

• Convert smooth points into corner points:– Gives a drawing a sharper appearance

Work with Shapes

• Choose one of six shape tools to create a shape• Three buttons appear on the left side of the

options bar:– Shape layers button– Paths button– Fill pixels button

Vector Data

• Shapes and paths contain vector data: – They do not lose their crisp appearance when

resized or reshaped

Modifying a Shape

• Change the blending mode to alter how the shape affects existing pixels in the image

• Change the opacity setting to make the shape more transparent or opaque

• Use the anti-aliasing option to blend pixels on the shape’s edge with surrounding pixels

Creating a Rasterized Shape

• Select or create a non-vector-based layer• Select the shape required• Click the Fill pixels button on the options bar

Embellishing Shapes

• Styles and filters can be applied to shapes

Bevel and Emboss style applied to the

top layer

Shapes Added to an Image

New Rectangle Shape

New Custom Shape with Style

applied

Creating 3D Shapes• Use 3D workspace• Click Mesh from

the Presets option button, then click a Shape

Convert Paths and Selections Converting a Selection into a Path

• Convert a selection into a path to use:– Clipping paths– Other path features

• Create the selection, then click the Make work path from selection button on the Paths panel

Converting a Path Into a Selection

• Select a path on the Paths panel• Click the Load path as selection button on the

Paths panel