This document discusses working with vector graphics in Adobe Photoshop CS6. It describes how to create and modify shape layers and paths using tools like the pen tool. It also covers how to work with vector images like clip art, such as adding details, filling shapes with patterns, and using notes. The chapter aims to differentiate between vector and raster images and teach techniques for optimizing clip art.

1. Adobe®
Photoshop® CS6
Chapter 8
Working with Vector
Graphics

2. • Describe the characteristics of clip art and vector
graphics
• Create and manage layer groups using the Layers
panel
• Differentiate between vector and raster graphic
images
• Create shape layers and paths with the Pen Tool
• Draw line segments and curved paths
• Add and convert anchor points
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 2
Objectives

3. • Move and modify paths using the Path Selection
and Direct Selection Tools
• Use the Freeform Pen Tool with the magnetic pen
option
• Add detail to clip art images
• Use the Note Tool
• Enter text in a custom shape
• Apply effects to optimize clip art
Objectives
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 3

4. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 4
Project – Creating a Clip Art Image

5. • Plan and organize layers
• Use vector graphics for clip art
• Add detail to enhance clip art
• Annotate graphics within the file
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 5
General Project Guidelines

6. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 6
Locking Layers

7. • On the Layers panel, select the layer to lock
• Click the Lock all button to lock the layer and to
display the solid lock icon
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 7
Locking Layers

8. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 8
Path Lines and Anchor Points

9. • On the Layers panel, select the layer
• On the Tools panel, right-click the current Pen
Tool button to display the context menu
• Click Pen Tool to select it
• On the options bar, click the ‘Pick tool mode’
button to display the mode options
• Click Shape to set the Pen Tool to draw in Shape
mode
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 9
Choosing the Pen Tool

10. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 10
Choosing the Pen Tool

11. • In the document window, click the location of the first
anchor point
• Move the mouse pointer to the location of the second
anchor point, and then click and drag the mouse pointer as
desired to create the first curve
• Move the mouse pointer to the location of the third anchor
point, and then click and drag the mouse pointer as desired
to create another curve
• Press the BACKSPACE key to delete the third anchor point
• Click the second anchor point to reestablish the path
• ALT+click the second anchor point to remove the direction
point and convert the point to a corner point
• Drag as desired to create another curve
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 11
Creating a Shape Layer
Using the Pen Tool

12. • Repeat the previous steps to create the additional
curves and corner points
• Point to the starting anchor point so the mouse
pointer shows a small circle next to the pen icon,
then click to close the path
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 12
Creating a Shape Layer
Using the Pen Tool

13. • On the Tools panel, right-click the Pen Tool button to
display the context menu
• Click Add Anchor Point Tool in the list
• In the document window, click the desired location for
the anchor point
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 13
Adding Anchor Points to a Shape

14. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 14
Repositioning an Anchor Point
• On the Tools panel, right-click the Path Selection
Tool button to display the context menu
• Click Direct Selection Tool in the list
• Drag the new anchor point to the desired location

15. • With the Direct Selection Tool active, click the
desired anchor point to select it
• Drag the direction point to the desired location
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 15
Using Direction Points

16. • On the Tools panel, right-click the current shape
tool button to display the context menu and then
click Line Tool to select it
• On the options bar, click the ‘Pick tool mode’
button to display its menu
• On the ‘Pick tool mode’ button, click Pixels to
draw pixels rather than a shape
• On the options bar set the desired weight
• SHIFT+drag the desired lines on the canvas
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 16
Using a Shape Tool in Pixel Mode

17. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 17
Using a Shape Tool in Pixel Mode

18. • Zoom in as necessary using the Zoom Tool on the
Tools panel
• Click the desired layer to select it
• Click the Direct Selection Tool button on the Tools
panel to select it
• Drag the anchor points to the desired locations
• When you are finished repositioning the anchor
points, double-click the Hand Tool to fit the
canvas to your screen
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 18
Fine-Tuning a Shape

19. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 19
Fine-Tuning a Shape

20. • Click the layer to select it
• Select the Pen Tool
• On the options bar, click the ‘Pick tool mode’
button and then click Path to select the mode that
creates a path on the Paths panel
• Click the desired anchor points and convert the
anchor points to corner points as necessary
• Click the starting point to close the path
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 20
Creating a Work Path Using the Pen Tool

21. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 21
Creating a Work Path Using the Pen Tool

22. • Click the Paths panel tab to display the Paths
panel
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 22
Displaying the Paths Panel

23. • On the Paths panel, double-click the path to
rename, type the desired name, and then press
ENTER to rename the path
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 23
Saving a Work Path as a Named Path

24. • On the Tools panel, right-click the current Pen Tool
button to display the context menu
• Click Freeform Pen Tool to select it
• On the options bar, click the Magnetic check box so
that it displays a check mark
• Click the location to begin drawing
• Drag slowly around the object
• When you return to the starting point, point to the
first anchor point so that the mouse pointer displays
a small circle indicating the path will be closed
• Click the first anchor point to close the path
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 24
Creating a Path using
the Freeform Pen Tool

25. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 25
Creating a Path using
the Freeform Pen Tool

26. • On the Tools panel, right-click the Direct Selection
Tool and click the Path Selection Tool to select it
• Click the outline of the first path
• Press CTRL+C to copy the path
• Click the second path to select it
• Press CTRL+V to paste the copied path to the
selected path
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 26
Merging Paths

27. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 27
Merging Paths

28. • Click the path to delete
• Click the ‘Delete current path’ button on the Paths
panel status bar to delete the path
• Click the Yes button when prompted to confirm
the deletion
• Rename the path as desired
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 28
Deleting and Renaming Paths

29. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 29
Deleting and Renaming Paths

30. • With the path selected, click Layer on the application
bar, and then point to New Fill Layer to display the fill
choices
• Click Gradient to display the New Layer dialog box
• Type the desired layer name in the Name box
• Click the OK button to display the Gradient Fill dialog
box
• Edit the gradient as desired
• Click the OK button to close the Gradient Fill dialog
box
• Click the Layers panel to display the layers
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 30
Creating a Shape Layer from a Path

31. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 31
Creating a Shape Layer from a Path

32. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 32
Layer Groups

33. • Click the first layer to select it
• CTRL+click the additional layers to select
• Click the Layers panel menu button to display the
menu
• Click New Group from Layers to display the New
Group from Layers dialog box
• Type the desired layer name in the Name text box.
Click the Color box arrow, and then click the desired
color
• Click the OK button to create the new layer group
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 33
Creating a Layer Group from Layers

34. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 34
Creating a Layer Group from Layers

35. • Display the Layers panel menu and then click New
Group. Name the group and assign the desired
color
• ALT+click the ‘Create a new group’ button at the
bottom of the Layers panel to create the group
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 35
Creating a New Empty Layer Group

36. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 36
Creating a New Empty Layer Group

37. • Drag a layer onto another layer to nest it
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 37
Nesting Layer Groups

38. • On the Tools panel, right-click the current Shape Tool button,
and then click Custom Shape Tool
• On the options bar, click the ‘Pick tool mode’ button, and then
click Shape, if necessary, to select it
• On the options bar, click the ‘Set shape fill type’ button and then
click the desired fill color
• Click the Custom Shape picker button and then click the Custom
Shape picker menu button to display the Shapes menu
• Click the desired category to load that set of shapes
• Click the OK button when prompted to replace the current
shapes
• Click the desired shape in the Custom Shape picker
• SHIFT+drag in the document window to create the shape
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 38
Using a Custom Shape

39. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 39
Using a Custom Shape

40. • With the layer selected, press the T key to access
the current Type Tool
• Click the shape, and then type the desired text
• On the options bar, click the ‘Commit any current
edits’ button to close the text box
• On the Tools panel, click the Move Tool and
reposition the text as necessary
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 40
Creating Text within a Shape

41. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 41
Creating Text within a Shape

42. • Click Type on the Application bar to display the
Type menu
• Click Convert to Shape to convert the text to a
shape
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 42
Converting Text to a Shape

43. • Press the A key to select the Direct Selection Tool
• Drag the anchor points for the shape to the
desired location
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 43
Altering a Shape

44. • On the Tools panel, double-click the Hand Tool to fit
the document to the screen
• Select the desired layer to fill
• Click the ‘Add a layer style’ button on the Layers
panel status bar to display the list of layer styles
• Click Pattern Overlay to display the Layer Style dialog
box
• In the Layer Style dialog box, click the Pattern picker
to display thumbnails of the current patterns
• Click the desired pattern
• Click the OK button to apply the pattern
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 44
Filling a Shape with a Pattern

45. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 45
Filling a Shape with a Pattern

46. • Right-click the Eyedropper Tool to display its
context menu
• Click Note Tool in the menu
• Click the desired location the document window
to open the Notes panel
• Type the desired text in the Notes panel
• Click the Notes icon on the vertical docking to
hide the panel
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 46
Creating a Note

47. Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 47
Creating a Note

48. • Double-click the note icon on the canvas to open
the Notes panel and display the note
• Click the Notes icon on the vertical docking to
hide the panel
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 48
Viewing a Note

49. • Describe the characteristics of clip art and vector
graphics
• Create and manage layer groups using the Layers
panel
• Differentiate between vector and raster graphic
images
• Create shape layers and paths with the Pen Tool
• Draw line segments and curved paths
• Add and convert anchor points
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 49
Chapter Summary

50. • Move and modify paths using the Path Selection
and Direct Selection Tools
• Use the Freeform Pen Tool with the magnetic pen
option
• Add detail to clip art images
• Use the Note Tool
• Enter text in a custom shape
• Apply effects to optimize clip art
Chapter Summary
Chapter 8 Working with Vector Graphics 50

51. Chapter 8 Complete
Adobe®
Photoshop® CS6