How to Use the Pen Tool in Photoshop

Some of the Pen Tool Options

When you use the standard pen-tool, the following options are available in the options bar:

• Add or delete a line segment – You can have as few or as many anchor points along a straight or curved line as you want. Additional anchor points are typically used to refine the curvature of the line.

• Add or delete curved line segments – Curved sections are created by dragging the mouse out from an anchor point, creating handles and maneuvering the handles until the curve is the way you want it.

• Preview a path segment – To access this option, click the pop-up menu to the right of the Custom Shape icon.

• Make the line thicker – To use as an outline.

Create Straight-Line Geometric Shapes

By establishing anchor points with the pen-tool, you can create almost any straight-lined geometric shape imaginable. Once you close the points, you now have what is called a pen path. You can use pen paths to make selections. For example, you can select either what is inside or outside the pen path.

You can move any anchor point or any line of your pen path to change the shape of your figure.

Create Curved-Line Shapes

By clicking and dragging, you can create curved lines between the anchor points. By clicking on the anchor points or a curved line of the shape, you can change the shape by dragging the mouse outward from the anchor point and creating handles. As you lever the handles, the curved line affected will change its shape.

In the same way that you moved the points and straight lines in the geometric shape above, you can also move a curved line you created.

You can turn curved lines into straight lines by clicking on the anchor points. You can then turn them back into curved lines.

In short, you can make any shape you can imagine using the pen tool.

Cut Out (Crop) a Section of a Photo

With the pen-tool, you can segregate an area. This is known as a selection. The pen tool is the most advanced and accurate way to make a selection. It is the best Photoshop option for cutting someone out of a background. The technique may take a bit longer to use than some of the other tools, but it is, without question, the most accurate.

The pen-tool creates what is known as a pen path. Create anchor points by clicking on various spots on the canvas. For example, create anchor points all around, and slightly inside, a person or other object to be cropped in a photo. When the pen path is completed, you can separate the area inside the path (straight and curved lines) from the area outside the path.

Click and drag for following a curve. To change direction or angle, use alt or option.

Other Uses for the Pen Tool

You can create a vector, a tattoo design, a logo or a signature. You can ink in comics by selecting a section and then assigning black or any other color to that area. In a similar fashion, you can change a photo into artwork.

Becoming proficient with the pen-tool will help you tremendously when working with or creating images in Photoshop.