Preserved Topic: how many find the pen tool useful?

just curious, since i use the pen tool so much in photoshop for all of my drawings as sort of a guide: http://24.3.234.78/utb . i also use it for everything that requires curved lines: http://24.3.234.78/neosasha .

now if only i could get illustrator's type along path put into photoshop...

I use the pen tool alot, but I think it's faster to use the marquee tools, blurs, and levels if at all possible.

Actually. I hardly ever use the Pen Tool in photoshop. I only really use it for things that need curved lines. I do use it occationaly in Illustrator though...

Sasha:
Well, you're in luck...sort of...heh <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">

First, Extensis makes a third party plugin for PS (Photo Tools) that allows you to do exactly that, put type on a path, and keep it editable. The Photo Tools plugins do other things as well, but that's about all that I have ever had a use for.

However, Adobe finally listened to the bitching that was coming from graphic and design geeks, and integrated a "warp text" feature into PS 6.0.

The Warp Text button allows you to set the warping among a few predetermined shapes of paths (15 in all with twists, flags, spherizing, waves, arcs etc.), or distortion, with slider bars to tweak the settings or minimum/maximums of each. The quality comes in the fact of being able to edit the type layer still after the warping, and the effect settings automatically reoccur to your new type.

Since Type is also displayed in place (just like Illustrator or many others, no type dialogue popup window, just your text appearing in place on your graphic) in PS 6...finally, you'll find it easier to deal with.

So, a couple options for that type on a path need, though both are an expense, and one may be less than perfect for complex or user defined paths.

Hope it helps.

Peter



ICQ:# 10237808

I use the pen tool REALLY much for 'inking' sketches with photoshop. Usually a sketch's absolutely not suitable for coloring.

: : M a h j q a : :

The pen tool - one of my "informal" tests to see if some new kid fresh with a college degree has any clue how to use Photoshop in a commercial environment. None of 'em ever do!

Then if they look like they've never seen the Curves dialog, I know they went to art school and it's hopeless!

<img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">

I can't draw a lick - that's why I'm a photographer! But in graphic arts, especially for print, not being able to use the Pen Tool intuitively and efficiently is a severe limitation. I'm not talking about type on a path (usually my customers are designers and they get to do the fun stuff); I'm talking about the fastest, cleanest way to silhouette a wine bottle, or the sharpest, slickest way to make a clipping path around a shoe so that when it gets placed in Quark the designer doesn't get a nasty white box on their textured page background ... it's production craft, and it's how you make money. I can't spend an hour per image screwing with the magic wand and alpha channels!

Adobe has made the Pen tool a joy - I can do everything I routinely need with my eyes on the screen and my fingers on 2 keys: with the pen tool active, command (on a Mac) makes it the selection tool to move a point or a segment; option (on a Mac) makes it the convert point tool to move handles independently or remove a handle altogether; move the pen over a segment between points and the pen tool automatically becomes the "add point" tool; move the pen tool over an existing point and it turns into the "minus point" tool. It is such a SMART TOOL!!

Granted it takes a *lot* of practice, and it's not suited for soft stuff like hair. It's just one of the tools in the tool box, but I consider it a super "power tool"!

I use the pen tool tons... when I stopped using it for a while experimenting with other tools I found they weren't nearly exact enough. Extract tool is kinda cool but when I use it on people I get some jagged areas like the models are covered in hair and I need to touch up with the eraser

Sometimes my models *are* covered with hair

<img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/wink.gif">

I especially love the freehand drawing pen tool. It does a really good job of minimizing the number of points generated and makes it easy to transfer my sketches from the page to Photoshop without a scanner. Case in point, my newest work in progress..
www.visi.com/~jiblet

Took about 20 mins or so to make each shape from a sketch. Bezier curves are so sweet once you get the hang of editing them fast. I would suggest Calculus if you have a hard time visualizing how to get the exact shape you want.

Are there any good comprehensive tutorials on the subject?

illustrator came with a few tutorial type things showing you how to use the handles to make various shapes, like bite marks out of a pear.

my tangled ivy was done with the pen tool. ive found a few tutorials on how to use the pen tool (loading as a selection and turning path into a stroke), but not many on actually using the pen and its curves <img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/frown.gif">

You volunteering to do one Jiblet?
:G

http://www.sketchpad.net/

theres a few tutorials there on using the pen tool for illustrator as well as photoshop.

I usually do my initial work in Illustrator, then move to Photoshop.
I rarely use the Pen in Photoshop, as I'd much rather use Illustrator for most of the things I'd use the Photoshop Pen for.

OOH! OOH! Pick Me! Pick Me!! I find it very useful, especially when making interfaces, cause it allows me to make my outlines, yet still go back and add points, delete points, change curves, blah, blah, blah.




Don't make me come down there! - God

What means "pick me"?

What means "what means 'pick me'??"

Don't make me come down there!

Maybe that was a volunteer for a tutorial project?

I use the pen tool all the time, sometimes for certain fancy interface shapes, where I draw just half an interface with the pen tool, make it a selection, dupe it, flip it, combine with the first and voila! Instant cool, symetrical shape for interface work.

What I *mainly* use it for is to creat clipping paths to chop a subject out of a background as Steve mentioned. Really, it is such a *cool* tool, but the learning curve for bezier curves can be tough for some folks, easy for others. Learn this tool, you won't be sorry you did!

Your pal, -doc-

Maybe you better come down, 'cause I was just about to ask "what means 'zero.minus.zero'", an' it could get ugly

<img border=0 align=absmiddle src="http://www.ozones.com/forum/smile.gif">

The pen tool is must for anyone who needs clean line art in photoshop and mastering it is the only way you be able to use it more effectively than in illustrator. In PS6 the pen tool will be combined with its much more pumped up vector support. Soon we won't need Illustrator.

steve: it's left coast slang for, "you're about to get a boot to the head." =D

cheers.mikey.milker

show me a better selection tool in PS !!!!...when it comes down to details....is there a better selection tool?... )

~Steve straps on protective head gear as a precautionary measure~

well.. i had never used the pen tool in photoshop before i saw this post, though i had played with illustrator somewhat.

so when some kid asked me to make a graphic for his hip-hop site last night, i threw down something using the pen...
http://pub24.ezboard.com/fbrokeassfrm1

not exactly a prime example of the pen, but it's the first time i've ever been able to throw down my own letters in photoshop.

cheers.mikey.milker

One of the reasons I like the pen tool is that I can experiment with it in a low resolution image. Then, when I have the shape the way I want it, I create a new hi-res image and drag the path to the new image. I can then stroke or fill the path and create the exact same shape in the hi-res image and Photoshop scales the path to the new image.

I don't think you can do this with selections.

[This message has been edited by hyperbole (edited 06-09-2000).]

[This message has been edited by hyperbole (edited 06-09-2000).]

Hmmm...was that a volunteer for a tutorial project? I'll do one if you want me to!

I think I know all the features of it.

I should have time to do it to...Our school inter-term holidays start when the Olympics start. I can't believe the Olympics...I mean, I like them and all, but the whole of Australia's going a little bit TOO overboard with them...anyone would think they were being hosted here or something.


Don't make me come down there! - God

[This message has been edited by Skaarjj (edited 10-09-2000).]