Expert: Glen Demers - 1/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello...I am a beginner with Photoshop and trying to learn
the path tool.  I seem to have a problem with the
"path" tool as I can't get the line to close(sorry, I don't
know a better way to describe this.)It doesn't matter where I move my mouse to, the line follows. I click, double click,
try clicking with the ctrl key down, etc. etc but the line
just keeps coming back(see capture I am attaching). Also, if
I right click and pick "fill path" I get a white dots where each node is and nothing else.(my chosen color is white_  I have my brush set at a solid 5 px setting. I also have the
little box "fill pixels" active along with "path tool". I
hope this is enough information for you to understand my problem.  Thanks for any help you can offer.


ANSWER: Hi Joan,

There are actually 2 tools you need to use when making and editing paths. The pen tool that looks like the nib of a fountain pens draws the paths. It deposits an anchor point when you click and connects it to the last anchor point with a straight path segment or a curved path segment if you click and drag.
For editing a path you use the selection tool, this looks like an arrow pointed to 11:00. The selection tool is solid black and the direct selection tool is a black outline filled with white.
When you have the pen tool selected, in the top toolbar below the menu you'll see the nib icon on the far left, this is the preset manager. Then to the right 3 mode icons and to the right of that another nib icon selected and to the right of it some shape icons and an arrow for a flyout menu. In the flyout menu, under pen option, uncheck the rubber band option. This will stop the annoying 'line following the cursor' behavior and let you make open paths (waves) or closed paths (circle). When you hover your cursor over the starting point of a path you're making there will be a small circle to the right of the nib, clicking at this point will close the path and it will fill with your foreground color.
With the selection tools clicking once will select the path and clicking again will highlight the points. With the selection tool, all the points will be filled and you can move the entire path. With the direct selection tool, the points will be open unless you select one point by clicking on it, then that point will be filled and you can move it independently of the rest of the points in the path.
Forgive my rambling, these tools act more like Illustrator tools than Photoshop tools, and there are many option for creating paths and shapes in Photoshop. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or if I need to clarify anything in this lengthy explanation.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more Photoshop tips please visit our help pages here


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, your explanation is great and it did  solved one of the problems(the rubber band option, that was driving me crazy).  I am pretty familiar where the tools are and I tried using the Path Selection Tool and the Direct Selection Tool to fill in the path but the only thing that filles are the where the nodes are but not the line. I also right clicked with the pen tool after I had drawn my lines(these are open, not closed)to fill the path and all I get are the dots again. I don't seem to be able to fill the lines(my brush is set at 5px)...hope you can help me.  Thanks so much.

ANSWER: Hi Joan,

Once you have your path drawn, go to the path palette and select 'Fill Path' from the flyout menu, or click on the solid dot on the bottom left of the palette window to fill with the foreground color. Or select 'Stroke Path' to add a stroke around your path with your current brush settings.
If the Fill Path option is greyed out, make sure the layer containing your path is selected in the layers palette and it will say 'work path' in the paths palette until you save it. If it says 'Shape x Vector Mask' you are in shape mode, switch this by selecting path mode up in the toolbar just to the right of the preset manager - it's the icon that looks like a pen nib in a box.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more Photoshop tips please visit our help pages here


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh dear! I am sending a couple of captures so you can see
what I am doing....I did as you advised and it still will
not fill the line.  Maybe there is something wrong with my
path fill tool?  Please bear with me...*g
I see I can only send 1 pic ...hope it will help

Answer
Hi Joan,

Set your brush wider, try about 30 pixels and make sure the foreground is white then go to the flyout menu in the paths palette and select Stroke Path, or click on the open circle on the bottom of the palette. If you keep clicking on the open circle you should see the line become more opaque and thicker.

Hope this helps,
Glen