Learning how to use the Pen Tool in Photoshop is a great place to start when it comes to exploring the capabilities and potential of the software.

1. How to Use the Photoshop Pen Tool – Photoshop Beginner Tutorial
Learning how to use the Pen Tool in Photoshop is a great place to start when it comes to
exploring the capabilities and potential of the software.
1. The Basics
The Pen Tool has three main settings: Create a new work path, create a new shape layer, and
fill pixels. Starting with “create new work path” is a good idea, as this is the most commonly
used option for the Photoshop Pen Tool.

3. 2. Using a New Work Path
Now you have selected the “create a new work path” option from the path palate, select the
“add to path area”.

4. 3. Pen Tool
Once the new work path has been selected, take the Pen Tool from tool bar and click on a
blank canvas. You will notice that each click assigns anchor points. You can create a straight line
between these points by holding shift when you click.

7. 4. Delete Anchor Point Tool
You can remove anchor points if necessary by right-clicking on the Pen Tool icon and selecting
the “Delete Anchor Point Tool”.

8. 5. Add Anchor Point Tool
You can also add more points by right-clicking on the Pen Tool icon and selecting the “Add
Anchor Point Tool”.

9. 6. Convert Point Tool
This option can be used to alter the properties of connecting lines and moving anchor points
around. Once selected, click on one of your anchor points and hold and drag – you will notice
that it affects the curve of the line.

10. 7. Moving Anchor Points
With the Convert Point Tool active, you can also alter the location of anchor points. Simply hold
down “crtl” while clicking on the anchor point and drag – you can now move the anchor point
around.

11. 8. The Tangent Line
The Tangent Line appears when you enable the Convert Point Tool for the Photoshop Pen Tool.
This allows you to control the curvature of your lines. You can create very sharp angles by
simply clicking on one of the ends of the Tangent Line and dragging the mouse. You’ll notice the
curve you created previously will bend sharply depending where you and how far you drag.

12. 9. Moving the Whole Path
Finally, you can manipulate the whole path you have created by selecting the Path Selection
Tool using the toolbar. This will allow you to drag the whole path to a new location.

13. Do you want to practice the pen tool to create a clipping path for a product image? Just read
another tutorial on how to make a clipping path using pen tool to get the desired image part.
Or click here to see details about clipping path.
Created by:
Rokaiya Yeasmin Munni
Senior Graphic Designer and Deputy Manager(SEO)
of http://www.clippingpathindia.com/