Expert: LizaL - 3/30/2005

Question
Hi LizaL... I am torn between drawing clipping paths with the
pen tool vs. using the magic wand and converting that to a path.
Being in a fast-paced production studio, we produce a lot of
stuff, and I really can't take a lot of time to draw a path. What are
your thoughts?  Obvously, magic wand paths need to be created
carefully, to exclude any background pixels. Secondly, When the
pen tool makes a path, it contains points... when a laso is
converted to a path... does that contain "points" and can that
complicate the image being ripped at pre-press?

Answer
Hi Rich,

Have you thought about using the Quick Mask function? You sound quite Photoshop-savvy, and I don't mean to patronize you if you know all about this -- but just in case you don't use this feature, here's how:

Right below your fore- and background color swatches in your tool palette are two little round buttons. Double-click on the one on the right to set your preferences for Quick Mask. As you'll see in my little movie (link is below), I'm electing to have what I mask show up as selected areas. This is easiest for what you have in mind.

Now choose a paint brush, and paint the areas you want to select and make into paths. As you can see, you can do areas that are independent of each other. When you're finished, exit Quick Mask by clicking on the little round button to the left of the one you originally clicked on to *enter* Quick Mask. You'll have one or more active selections, depending on what you "painted."

Turn these selections into a work path via the Paths palette, and you have your paths.

Here's the link to the little movie (might have to wait a sec while it loads):
http://little-works.com/all_experts/quick_mask_paths.mov


To me, Quick Mask is probably the fastest way of creating selections, and therefore the fastest way of creating paths from those selections. And you can see that it doesn't seem to create a bunch of extraneous points, which is good when it comes to pre-press. (It's always good, if you have the option, to simplify any file of unneccessary points on a path, prior to pre-press.)

Another good feature of Quick Mask is that you can choose any brush you need, for whatever area you need. In Quick Mask, the brush functions normally, and you can adjust it however you want.



To answer your second question, yes, a lasso selection that's converted to a path will contain points. And as I mentioned, it's always best to streamline (simplify) your path prior to pre-press, and clean up any unneeded points.


Hope this helps! I'll post back and amend this answer if I can think of anything that would be faster, but right offhand that's what I'd suggest.

Lisa