Using the Pen tool

E
Posted By
Eljay
Jul 24, 2008
Views
207
Replies
7
Status
Closed
Can someone direct me to a tutorial on using the pen tool, pleeeease?

It’s driving me nuts. I know how to make arcs and curves with it, but I can’t convert it all into a shape that I can then use with fills and such. I just end up with a bunch of independent lines. And at times, it refuses to give me the curve I need. I concluded I can’t figure it out and don’t have the time.

So, any tutorials or coaches out there?

Thanks bunches.

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JJ
John Joslin
Jul 24, 2008
The Pen Tool: Tutorial: The Gurus Network

<http://www.gurusnetwork.com/tutorial/pen>
DM
dave_milbut
Jul 24, 2008
nice one jj. i’ll have to take another whack at that. 🙂
J
jcates
Jul 24, 2008
Hmm… I don’t use the pen tool in PS, only Illy. I may take that tutorial myself.
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Eljay
Jul 25, 2008
How do you all make smooth curves if you don’t use the Pen tool for the path?
JJ
John Joslin
Jul 25, 2008
You could make a smooth selection and convert it.

Why did you ask for a pen tool tutorial if you don’t want to use it?

Is it too much trouble?
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Eljay
Jul 25, 2008
"John Joslin – 11:49pm Jul 24, 08 PST (#5 of 5) You could make a smooth selection and convert it.
Why did you ask for a pen tool tutorial if you don’t want to use it? Is it too much trouble?"

I know how to make selections, but how would you make a selection consisting of multiple and varying custom curves and have them come out smooth without using the Pen tool?

As to the tutorial, I did use it along with others I found. And I’m still not comfortable with the Pen tool, but it will take practice and experimentation. It’s a challenging tool that many shy away from as I’m learning.

For my current project, however, I discovered the Live Trace feature in Illustrator, which I used with some options set. It did a great job creating a vector path that I then moved over to PS. It’ll do until I get the Pen down. Thanks.
JJ
John Joslin
Jul 25, 2008
OK

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