In this tutorial, we'll learn the basics of drawing vector shapes in Photoshop CS6 using the simple tools in the Shapes group! We'll start by learning how the tools work "Rectangle"(Rectangle Tool ), "Rounded Rectangle"(Rounded Rectangle Tool), "Ellipse"(Ellipse Tool), "Polygon"(Polygon Tool) and "Line"(LineTool). Next, we will learn how to choose fill and stroke colors for shapes, change appearance strokes, edit shapes through useful properties shape layers and more! We have a lot to learn, so in this tutorial we will focus on the work and properties of the five main tools of the Geometric Shapes group. In the next tutorial, we will learn how to add more complex shapes to our document using the " Arbitrary figure»!
This lesson is designed for users of Photoshop CS6. If you work for more old version program, then study the original lesson "Shape and shape layer in Photoshop".
Most people think that Photoshop is only used for processing pixelated images, and if you were to ask them to recommend a good graphics editor, then in most cases the answer would be " Adobe Illustrator". Indeed, the capabilities of the Adobe Illustrator editor are much wider than Photoshop programs, but, nevertheless, as we will see from this and the following lessons, the various tools of the Shapes group make it easy to add simple vector images to drawings and drawings.
If you don't know what a vector shape is and how it differs from a pixel shape, check out the tutorial.
Tools of the "Shapes" group
Photoshop offers us a choice of six tools in the Shapes group: "Rectangle"(Rectangle Tool), "Rounded Rectangle"(Rounded Rectangle Tool), "Ellipse"(Ellipse Tool), "Polygon"(polygon tool), "Line"(Line Tool) and "Arbitrary figure"(Custom Shape Tool). All these tools are located in one place on the toolbar. By default, the Rectangle tool is visible to us, but if we click on the tool icon and hold down the mouse button, a drop-down menu will appear on the screen with a list of other tools from which we can select the one we need:
Clicking on the Rectangle tool icon will allow us to view the other tools of the shape group
I'll select the first tool in the list, the Rectangle Tool:
Vector shapes, paths and pixel shapes
Before we start drawing shapes, we need to tell Photoshop what type of shape we want to draw, because Photoshop actually allows us to draw three shapes. different types- vector shapes, outlines and pixel shapes. We'll look at the difference between these types of shapes in more detail in other tutorials, but as you and I learned in the Drawing Vector Shapes and Pixel Shapes in Photoshop CS6 tutorial, in most cases you'll be drawing vector shapes. Unlike pixel shapes, vector shapes are highly resizable, completely scalable, and resolution independent. This means that we can edit, resize them as we wish, without losing image quality. Both on the screen and during further printing, the edges of vector shapes remain sharp and sharp.
To draw vector shapes rather than paths or pixel shapes, select the option "Figure"(Shape) in the tool settings panel at the top of the screen:
Select the "Shape" tool mode in the settings panel
Filling a shape with color
Click on the fill color icon
As a result, a dialog box will open, where you will be asked to choose one of four ways to fill the shape, indicated by a separate icon. From left to right, you can see the No Color icon (with a red diagonal stripe), the Color fill icon, the Gradient icon, and the Pattern icon:
4 shape fill options (No Color, Solid Color, Gradient, and Pattern)
Fill method "No color"
As the name suggests, the fill method "No color"(No Color) does not fill the shape with any color. You may ask, why do we need an empty figure? Well, in some cases, you may want the shape to have only a thin outline. Next, we'll look at how to add a stroke to a shape, but if you want the shape to have only an outline without a color fill, select the No Color option:
If you select the "No color" option, the shape will not be filled with any color
Below is a sample shape after applying the No Color option. All we see is the thin outline of the figure, the so-called "contour". The outline can only be seen in Photoshop, so if you print the document or save it to JPEG formats or PNG, the outline will disappear. To make it visible, we need to add a stroke to it, which is what we'll explore next after we've covered all the options. pouring(Fill):
When the fill method is set to No Color, only the outline of the shape is visible (and then only in Photoshop)
Fill method "Pure color"
To fill the shape with color, select the option "Pure Color"(Solid Color) (second icon from left):
Click on the "Pure color" parameter icon
After selecting the Solid Color option, select a color for the shape by clicking on one of the color swatches. The colors you've recently used will appear in the row. "Recently Used Colors"(Recently Used Colors) above the main samples:
Choose a color by clicking on its sample
If there is no required color among the samples, click on the Color Palette icon in the right upper corner dialog box:
Click on the Color Picker icon
Then select the desired color in the Color Picker. Click OK to close the Palette when you've decided on a color:
Choose a color to fill the shape in the Color Picker
Below is the same shape, only this time filled with color:
Our shape is now filled with color.
Gradient fill method
To fill the shape with a gradient fill, select the option "Gradient"(gradient). Then click on one of the thumbnails to select the desired gradient swatch, or create your own using the options below the gradient thumbnails. In a separate tutorial, we'll look at how to create and edit gradients:
First, select the "Gradient" option, and then - the desired gradient swatch
Below is the same shape, only this time filled with a gradient fill:
Our shape is now filled with one of the premade gradient swatches.
Pattern fill method
And finally, choosing the option "Pattern"(Pattern), we can fill the shape with a pattern. Click on one of the thumbnails to decide on the finished pattern. Initially, the program does not offer many patterns, but you can also download additional patterns, downloaded from the Internet or created by yourself, by clicking on the small gear icon (under the Color Picker icon) and selecting "Upload Patterns"(Load Patterns) from the menu that appears:
First, select the "Pattern" parameter, and then - the desired pattern sample
And here's what the shape will look like filled with one of Photoshop's patterns. To close the dialog box "Pouring"(Fill), press the Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) key, or click on an empty space in the Options Bar. If you're unsure about choosing the right color, gradient, or pattern for a shape, don't worry, we'll learn how to change them later:
Shape filled with selected pattern
Adding a Stroke to a Shape
By default, Photoshop doesn't add a stroke around the edges of a shape, but adding one is just as easy as filling it with color. In fact, the parameter options "Stroke" ("Stroke")(Stroke) and "Pouring"(Fill) in Photoshop CS6 are the same, so you already know how to use them!
To add a stroke, click on the stroke color swatch in the settings panel:
Click on the stroke color swatch
As a result, a dialog box will open with the same options as for the fill, except that we now choose a color for the stroke. At the top of the window there are again four icons "No color"(no color) "Pure Color"(solid color), "Gradient"(Gradient) and "Pattern"(pattern). By default, the No Color option is selected. I, in turn, will select the Solid Color option and then set the stroke color to black, choosing from the swatches. Just like with the fill, if the color you want is not among the samples, click on the Color Picker icon in the upper corner to select the desired color manually:
Select the “Pure Color” option for the stroke, and then select the desired color from the color swatches
Changing the Stroke Width
To change the width (thickness) of the stroke, use the parameter "Width"(Width) located to the right of the stroke color swatch in the settings panel. By default, its value is 3 pt. To change the width, you can either enter a specific value directly into the data entry box (by pressing Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) after entering it to confirm the data), or click on the small arrow to the right of the value and move the slider:
Changing the stroke width
Align Edges option
If you look further to the right side of the settings panel, you will see the option "Align Edges"(Align Edges). With this option enabled (checked), Photoshop will align the edges of the shape to the pixel grid so they stay sharp and defined:
Make sure the Align Edges option is enabled
However, for the Align Edges option to work, it's not enough just to select it. You also want the stroke width to be in pixels (px), not points (pt). Because in this moment my stroke width is measured in points (the default unit), I'll go back and enter a new width value of 10 pixels (px):
For the Align Edges option to work, set the stroke width in pixels (px)
Below is a 10 px black stroke applied to the shape:
A simple shape with a black stroke around it
After adding a stroke to the shape, if I go back and click on the fill color swatch in the options bar, choosing a fill method "No color"(No Color), I will only have the outline of the shape with a stroke. The inside of the shape will become empty. It may look like the shape is filled with white, but that's only because the color background document is white, which is what we actually see.
The same shape, with the Fill option set to No Color
More Stroke Options
By default, the program draws the stroke as a continuous line, but we can change this by clicking on the button. "Set Shape Stroke Type"(Stroke Options) on the settings panel:
Click on the "Set Shape Stroke Type" button
As a result, a dialog box will open. Stroke Options(Stroke Options), where we can change the appearance of the stroke from a continuous line to dashed or dashed. Parameter "Align"(Align) allows us to choose the type of alignment for the stroke: inside the path, outside, or in the middle. We can make the ends of the lines to be stroked (option "Ends"(Caps)) rounded, square or thickened, and the connection points of the lines in the stroke (parameter "Angles"(Corners)): sharp, rounded or beveled. When you press a button "More Options"(More Options) located at the bottom of the dialog box, another window will open where we can set specific values for dashes and spaces of the dashed line and even save the settings as a preset:
Stroke Options
Below is a shape with the same stroke, but this time a dashed line is chosen instead of a continuous one:
The appearance of the stroke has changed from a continuous line to a dotted one.
Rectangle Tool
So, we have already learned how to select different tools of the "Shapes" group in the toolbar, how to choose the fill and stroke color, how to change the appearance of the stroke. Now let's learn how to draw vector shapes themselves! We'll start by examining the first shape group tool in the list - "Rectangle"(Rectangle Tool). I'll select it from the toolbar, as I did earlier:
Selecting the Rectangle Tool
The Rectangle tool allows us to draw simple quadrilateral shapes. To draw a shape, click in the document window to define the starting point of the shape. Then, while holding down the mouse button, drag the mouse diagonally to finish drawing the shape. As you move the cursor, you will see a thin outline (contour) of the future figure:
Drag the cursor to draw a rectangular shape. As the cursor moves, a thin outline of the shape will appear
When you release the mouse button, the program will fill the shape with the color you chose in the settings panel:
The program will fill the shape with color as soon as you release the mouse button
Resizing a shape after it's drawn
Once you have drawn the initial shape, its current dimensions will appear in the settings panel: width(Width(W)) and height(Height(H)). In my case, I drew a shape 533 pixels wide and 292 pixels high:
The settings panel shows the original dimensions of the shape (width and height)
If you need to resize a shape after you've drawn it (this method works for all Shapes tools), simply enter new values in the appropriate Width and Height boxes. For example, let's say I need my shape to be 500px wide. This only requires changing the width value to 500px. If necessary, I could also enter a specific height value. If you want the proportions to stay the same when changing the height or width of the shape, first click on the small chain icon between the height and width values:
Next, by activating the chain icon, enter a new height or width value. Photoshop will automatically replace the corresponding value of the second parameter. In my case, I manually entered a new width value of 500px, and because the chain icon was activated, Photoshop also changed the height value to 273px:
Resizing a shape
Resizing a shape before it's drawn
If it happens that you know the exact height and width of the shape before you draw it, there is one handy trick. With the Shapes tool selected, simply click anywhere inside the document. As a result, a dialog box will instantly open where you can enter the desired height and width values. Click OK to close the dialog box and the program will automatically draw the shape:
Click anywhere inside the document to enter the width and height values, and the program will automatically draw the shape
Drawing a shape from the center
Let's learn some simple but useful keyboard shortcuts. If you press and hold the key Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) as you move the cursor, you will draw the shape from the center, not from the corner. This trick works with all the Shape tools, not just the Rectangle tool. Please note that you must first start drawing the shape and only then press the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key. It is also necessary to release the first mouse button and only then the pressed Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key, otherwise the reception will not work:
Press and hold Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) to draw a shape from the center
Drawing squares
To draw a square, place the cursor in the document window and start dragging it, drawing a rectangular shape. Once you have started doing this, press the key Shift and keep holding it down as you move the cursor. Pressing the Shift key will convert the shape to a square. And again, don't forget to click Shift key after you have started moving the cursor, and release it last, otherwise the square will not be drawn. You can combine two key combinations together by pressing and holding the keys Shift+Alt(Win) /Shift+Option(Mac) when using the tool "Rectangle"(Rectangle Tool), as a result of which you will draw a perfect square from the center:
Press and hold the Shift key as you move the cursor to draw a square
Again, as you draw, you'll only see a thin outline of the square, but when you release your mouse button, Photoshop will fill it with the selected color:
The program always waits for you to release the mouse button before filling the shape with color
Shapes tool options
If you look at the settings panel, then to the left of the option "Align Edges"(Align Edges) you will see a gear icon. Clicking on it will open a dialog box with additional settings for that tool of the "Shapes" group, which in this moment selected:
Click on the gear icon
Because I have a tool selected "Rectangle"(Rectangle Tool), clicking on the gear icon will display additional options for the Rectangle tool. With the exception of working with the Polygon and Line tools, which we'll explore later, you won't use this menu very often because we've already covered how to access these options from the keyboard. For example, the parameter "Arbitrarily"(Unconstrained) allows us to draw shapes of any size and aspect ratio, but since by default, all shape group tools work this way, there is no need to specifically select this option. Parameter "Square"(Square) allows us to draw squares with the Rectangle tool, but we can do this by simply pressing and holding the Shift key as we move the cursor. Parameter "From the center"(From Center) is responsible for drawing the shape from the center, but again, we can do this by pressing and holding the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key.
If you choose options "Specified Size"(Fixed Size) or "Set Proportions"(Proportional) and enter values for width and height, these values will also affect the next shape to be drawn, not just the one you've already drawn. Therefore, you need to remember that after drawing the shape, go back and re-select the parameter "Arbitrarily"(Unconstrained), otherwise each new shape drawn will be the same size or with the same proportions:
The options you see depend on which Shapes tool is selected
Editing Shape Layers
Earlier, we learned that in order to draw vector shapes in Photoshop, we need to set the drawing mode to - "Figure"(Shapes) (as opposed to outlines and pixel shapes). When we draw a vector shape, the program automatically places it on a separate special layer called "Shape layer"(Shape layer). If we look in the layers panel, we can see that the shape I drew with the tool "Rectangle"(Rectangle Tool), located on a separate layer-shape "Rectangle 1". The name of the layer will depend on which tool was used, so if I, say, draw an oval with the Ellipse Tool (Ellipse Tool), the shape layer will be called "Ellipse 1":
Each new vector shape is placed on a separate shape layer.
Visually, the difference between a normal layer and a shape layer is that shape layers have a small shape icon in the lower right corner of the layer's thumbnail:
The icon on the layer thumbnail tells us that this is a shape layer.
The main difference between a shape layer and a normal pixel layer is that shape layers remain fully editable. When we previously learned how to choose fill and stroke colors for a shape, I mentioned that we can always go back and change the color even after the shape is drawn. All we need to do is make sure the shape layer is selected in the layers panel and the Shapes group tool is activated. Then just click either on the color swatch fills(Fill), or by color sample Strokes(Stroke) in the settings panel to select a different color. You can also change the stroke width as needed and play with other options. I'll click on the Fill color swatch:
With the shape layer selected, click on the Fill color swatch
Click on the blue color
As soon as I click on the swatch, the program immediately fills the shape with the new color:
Shape color has been changed without having to redraw the shape
And, if we look again at the layers panel, we can see that the shape layer's thumbnail has also changed its color:
When we made the changes, the shape layer's thumbnail also changed its appearance.
Rounded Rectangle Tool
Let's take a look at the second of the Shapes group tools - "Rounded Rectangle"(Rounded Rectangle Tool). I'll select it from the toolbar:
Select the Rounded Rectangle Tool
The Rounded Rectangle Tool is very similar to the Rectangle Tool except that it allows us to draw rectangles with rounded corners. We adjust the degree of rounding of the corners using the parameter "Radius"(Radius) in the settings panel. The larger the radius value we enter, the rounder the corners become. The radius value must be set before drawing the shape, in my case, I will enter the value of the "Radius" parameter, equal to 50 pixels:
Use the "Radius" option to define the degree of rounding of the corners
After setting the radius value, drawing a rounded rectangle is similar to drawing a normal rectangle. First, click in the document window to define the starting point of the shape, and then, with the mouse button held down, drag the mouse diagonally to finish drawing the shape. Just like with the Rectangle shape, as you move the cursor, the program will display a thin outline of the shape:
Drag the cursor to draw a rounded rectangle after you've entered a radius value in the options bar
When you release your mouse button, Photoshop will finish drawing the shape and fill it with color:
When you release the mouse button, the shape will fill with color.
Below is another rectangle with a radius of 150px. This value is so large (for this shape, anyway) that the left and right sides of the rectangle are curved:
The larger the radius value, the rounder the corners will be.
And here is a rectangle with a small radius value of 10 pixels, which only slightly rounds the corners of the shape:
A small radius value rounds corners less
Unfortunately, preview there is no degree of rounding of corners in Photoshop CS6. We can see how round the corners are only after we draw a rectangle. Also, we can't change the radius value while we're drawing the shape, and Photoshop doesn't let us go back and change the radius value after we've drawn the shape. All of the above means that drawing rounded rectangles is essentially trial and error.
If you don't like the rounding of the corners of the rectangle after you've drawn it, go to the menu section "Editing"(Edit) at the top of the screen and select "Undo: Rounded Rectangle Tool"(Undo Rounded Rectangle Tool) (or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Z (Win) / Command+Z (Mac)), as a result of which the shape will be removed from the document. Then enter a new radius value in the Options Bar and start drawing the rectangle again.
Choose Edit > Undo: Rounded Rectangle Tool
The same keyboard shortcuts that we looked at when learning about the Rectangle Tool work with the Rounded Rectangle Tool as well. To draw a square with rounded corners, start drawing a shape, and then press and hold shift. Release the Shift key after you release the mouse button.
To draw a shape from the center instead of a corner, start drawing the shape, and then press and hold Alt (Win) / Option (Mac). And finally, the keystroke Shift+ alt (Win) / Shift+ Option (Mac) will cause a square to be drawn from the center. The keys must be released only after you release the mouse button.
Ellipse Tool
Tool "Ellipse"(Ellipse Tool) allows us to draw ellipses and circles. I'll select it from the toolbar:
Selecting the Ellipse Tool
Just like with the other tools we've covered, click in the document window to define the starting point of the shape, and then, with the mouse button held down, drag the mouse diagonally to finish drawing the shape:
Draw an Ellipse with the Ellipse Tool
Release the mouse button to finish drawing the shape and fill it with color:
The figure is filled with color.
To draw a perfectly even circle with the Ellipse tool, start moving the cursor and then press and hold Shift. To draw an ellipse from the center, press and hold alt (Win) / Option (Mac) after you start drawing. Hold keys pressed simultaneously Shift+ alt (Win) / Shift+ Option(Mac) will let you draw a circle from the center. And as always, release the keys only after you release the mouse button:
Circle drawn with the Ellipse tool
Polygon Tool
Tool "Polygon"(Polygon Tool) is more interesting for us in terms of shape drawing capabilities. I'll select it from the toolbar:
Selecting the Polygon Tool
Whereas with the Rectangle Tool we can only draw quadrangular rectangles, the Polygon Tool allows us to draw polygons with as many sides as we wish. Next, we'll look at how you can even draw stars with this tool! To draw a shape with the Polygon tool, first enter the number of sides you want in the option box "Parties"(Sides) in the settings panel. You can enter any number between 3 and 100. By default, the number of sides is 5, so I'll leave it like this:
Enter the number of sides in the "Sides" parameter box
Once you've set the number of sides, place your cursor in the document window and start dragging to draw the polygonal shape. Photoshop always draws polygonal shapes from the center, so you don't have to hold down the Alt (Win) / Option (Mac) key. Pressing and holding a key Shift once you've started drawing the polygon will allow you to limit the number of corners for your shape and place it on the screen exactly as you want:
A 5-sided shape drawn with the Polygon tool
By setting the number of sides to 3, we can easily draw a triangle:
A simple triangle drawn with the Polygon tool
Below is a polygon with 12 sides. Just like with the Radius option for the Rounded Rectangle tool, we can't change the number of sides after we've drawn the shape, so if you make a mistake, you you need to go to the menu "Editing"(Edit) at the top of the screen and select the item Undo: Polygon Tool(Undo Polygon Tool) (or press Ctrl+Z (Win) / Command+Z (Mac)), then enter a different value in the Sides option box and redraw the shape:
Polygon with twelve sides
Draw stars with the Polygon tool
To draw a star with the Polygon tool, click on the gear icon in the options bar, then select the option "Star"(Star):
Click on the gear icon and select the "Star" parameter
Then click in the document window and drag the cursor to draw a star. Parameter "Parties"(Sides) in the settings panel determines the number of vertices of the star, so if the default value is five, we get a five-pointed star:
Five-pointed star drawn with the Polygon tool
By changing the value of the Sides parameter to 8, we get an eight-pointed star:
Specify the number of star vertices using the Sides option
We can draw a shape that looks like an exploding star by increasing the sharpness of the star's rays with the parameter "Depth of Rays"(Indent Sides By). By default, the value of this parameter is 50%, I will increase the value to 90%. I will also increase the number of star vertices to 16:
Draw a shape that looks like an exploding star by increasing the value of the Ray Depth parameter
And here's the shape I got:
An exploding star drawn with the Polygon tool
By default, star vertices have sharp corners, but we can round them by selecting the option "Smooth Outer Corners"(Smooth Corners):
Select the option "Smooth outer corners"
Below is a five-pointed star with the Smooth External Corners option selected:
The Smooth Outside Corners option softens the angularity of the stars
We can also round the corners at the bases of the star's rays by selecting the option "Smooth Inner Corners"(Smooth Indents):
Select the "Smooth Inner Corners" option.
And again, our star looks completely different:
Painted star with Smooth Inner Corners selected
Line tool
The last of the basic tools in the Shapes group is the "Line"(LineTool). I'll select it from the toolbar:
Selecting the Line tool
This tool allows us to draw simple straight lines, but we can also draw arrows with it. To draw a straight line, first set the line width by entering a value (in pixels) in the parameter box. "Thickness"(Weight) in the settings panel. By default, the thickness value is 1px, I'll increase it to 16px:
The "Width" parameter is responsible for the thickness (or width) of the line
Second, just like with the other tools in the Shapes group, click in the document window and drag to draw a line. To make it easier to draw a horizontal or vertical line, press and hold the key shift, after you've started drawing the line, then release the mouse button and last but not least the Shift key:
Hold down the Shift key to draw horizontal or vertical lines
Drawing guide arrows
To draw arrows, click on the gear icon in the settings panel to open the options "Arrows"(Arrowheads). Choose where you want to add the arrows: at the start of the line, at the end, or at both ends at the same time (if you want the arrow to point in the same direction you draw the line, select the option "In the end"(end)):
Click on the gear icon to access the "Arrows" options.
Below is a line similar to the previous one, except that it has an arrow icon at the end:
Line tool makes it easy to draw guide arrows
If the default arrow size is not to your liking, you can change it using the options "Width"(width) and "Length"(length). We can also add a bend to the arrow using the parameter "Curvature"(Concavity). By default, the value of this parameter is 0%, but I will increase it to 50%:
Change the shape of the arrow by increasing the value of the "Curvature" parameter
And here's what the arrow looks like now. Make sure you select a value for the Line tool options before you start drawing the line, as you can't change them while drawing. If you want to make changes, you'll have to delete the shape and draw it again:
Arrow with Curvature set to 50%
Hide the outline around the shape
Every time we draw a shape in this tutorial, the program draws its thin outline. When we released the mouse button, the program finished drawing the shape and filled it with color. The problem is that if you look closely at the shape you've drawn, you'll most likely see a thin outline around it that hasn't gone away. AT&
1. Picture. Below is a picture of a minicar that will need to be worked on to give it a vector look. Image quality in this case is not so important, as long as there are details for tracing.
2. Process. To get started - right-click the mouse and do one of two things: a) Copy [Copy]. Then in Photoshop "e Edit - Paste [Editing - Paste]. In this method, Photoshop leaves the locked background layer and pastes the image onto a new layer 1 above the background. Double click on the word Layer 1 to select the text and name the layer more appropriately. For example, "theimage".
b) Save Picture As [Save picture as] on the screw. Then in Photoshop File - Open [File - Open] and find where you saved the picture. Maybe on the desktop?.. Note that in the layers palette, the image icon indicates that the image is "indexed" [in short, it's a gif]. Note also that it is blocked. To fix this, just go to Image - Mode - RGB color [Image - Model - RGB] and thereby transfer the blocked layer to the background layer. Double clicking on the background layer will change it to an editable layer. [Rename Layer 0 to be friendlier... For example, "theimage".]
Now let's create a duplicate of the image layer. If you're using Photoshop 7 or CS, create a new layer set to keep all the individual objects. Just click on the folder icon at the bottom of the layers palette, double click on Set 1 and name it like mine.
3. A powerful pen tool. Let's start by creating a stroke around the perimeter of the entire car. Set the foreground color with the eyedropper, taking the color from the darkest part of the image. In this case, very close to black. Now select the pen tool from the toolbar. Make sure the Shape Layers option is enabled [at the top in the options bar], I've circled it in orange.
Now just add anchor points where you think you need to edit the path.
Hint: Ctrl + [Plus on the number pad on the right side of the keyboard] to zoom in. Accordingly Ctrl- reverse action. I recommend using these functions to further refine the image.
4. Connecting anchor points. After creating a path around the car, connect to the first anchor point to create a solid shape. Now hide the theimage copy layer to see the result [Like I did in the image below.] Now let's start manipulating the anchor points to give a more slender shape to our car.
Here's what the layers palette looks like now with the new Vector Shape layer highlighted in blue. Also, if you click on the Paths tab of the Layers Palette, you will see a "path" version of this layer.
5. Converting anchor points. Select the Convert Anchor Points tool and manipulate the areas that need to be transformed to give a clear border to the car.
Make sure the Shape 2 layer is selected.
I started converting points from the wheel. Click on the anchor point and move it in the direction of the black arrow [see fig. fig.] until the path began to follow the contours of the wheel.
Tip: The convert tool creates 2 bezier points to adjust the curvature.
Manipulate with bezier curves to get the contours as close as possible.
Tip: After converting a few anchor points [or anchor points] you will realize that some of the original points are not needed at all. In fact, the fewer anchor points, the smoother the selection will be. Therefore, use the anchor point removal tool.
Here's what happened to me. We will use this shape as a base.
Next, I made a copy of the Shape 2 layer and manipulated the points to draw the dominant color [blue, in this case] of the car. Click on the thumbnail of this layer, take the eyedropper tool and change the color from black to blue #3672BD.
Here's what the car looks like now.
Now let's work on the windows.
Turn on the image copy [black] layer again and hide the Shape 2 copy [blue] layer.
Grab the Pen Tool and in the Options Bar, turn on Subtract from area shape [I've circled it in orange].
Hide the Shape 2 copy layer. Select the Shape 2 layer. Let's start by tracing the windows on the opposite side of the car.
Turn off the visibility of the image copy layer, look at the result.
Subtracting from the black shape created the illusion of transparency.
To apply this effect to the other two windows without adding a new layer, just hold Ctrl+Alt, click and drag this subtractive copy path. [Do this twice.] Now put the duplicates in their places. Use the Convert Anchor Point Tool again for smooth corners and precise shaping.
Apply the same technique on the Shape 2 copy layer to get an image like mine.
Now that we have the basic vector shape of the car, all that's left is to add some new shapes, lines and some textures. We will fill the windows later!
Now, using the Ellipse Tool in the Toolbar, draw the center of the rear wheel, then, while holding Shift, do the same for the front wheel.
For precise positioning, Ctrl+click on the new ellipse, then right-click on the simple ellipse and choose Free Transform Path. Right click again and select Distort. I also started working on the headlights [on a new layer] using the same technique: Ellipse - Free Transform - Distort - Set to Position.
Since new layers have been added, they may have accumulated, it's reasonable to name them correctly. [I thought it was possible to use as few layers as possible, but...]
Next I added a bumper. Again, using the pen tool for tracing, convert anchor points tool to smooth corners and accurately shaping relative to the original. [All this is a long established and accepted tracing practice, honestly!]
Then I applied a layer style to the bumper to give it a chrome effect. Right click on the bumper layer and apply the following settings.
Create a new layer and name it Lines. This layer should be above all. So, on the toolbar, the pen tool is selected, on the options panel, the settings correspond to the specified ones, we start adding anchor points in the direction of the white arrow.
Now set the active color to black [or just press D], press the B key to select the brush tool, now in the options bar set the Brush Preset Picker and select a small, soft-edged brush of about 3. But change the diameter to 2px [try even 1], since even 3 can be many.
To reselect the pen, press P, activate the Lines layer, right click and select the Stroke Path option.
You will be prompted to select a tool with which to create a new stroke. Select Brush from the drop down menu and click OK.
I changed the opacity of the Lines layer to 54% to soften it up.
Next, I continued in the same vein, using the same technique to add other lines.
Added a mirror, wipers and an emblem on the hood.
Tip: For areas that are too small to handle with the pen tool, use the polygonal lasso. Just click and add anchor points like you would with a pen, and when you're done, right click on the selection and choose either the "Create Work Path" or "Fill" option.
For structures like highlights, use the polygonal lasso [L] to trace around those areas, right click and Fill with soft blue [I used #86A9D7].
All that's left to do now is add the details. The detail is up to you. Below is the result of my work after adding details to the headlights, wheels and te de.
I hope you enjoyed the lesson.
16.03.2014 27.01.2018
Such a vector drawing from a photograph is made in a couple of minutes in Photoshop without much effort. All you need to do is apply a couple of filters, functions and adjustment layers. How to do this, read the instructions in this lesson.
With the help of Photoshop, we can convert any drawing into a vector image.
Select a photo and open it in Photoshop.
Make a copy of the layer. Name one layer Girl 1 Layer, and second Girl 2 Layer.
Apply function Image-Adjustments-Thresholds(Image - Correction - Isohelia) for layer Girl 1 Layer.
Set the colors to white and black in the toolbar.
Apply a filter Filter - Sketch - Photocopy (Filter - Sketch - Photocopy) for layer Girl 2 Layer.
Layer blend mode Girl 2 Layer install Multiply(Multiplication) and merge the layers.
Reapply the function Threshold (isohelia)
Now you need to smooth the edges, for this apply a filter Style - Difusse(Stylization - Diffusion)
The vector image is ready.
Now, to somehow transform it, you can color it. To do this, simply take a black brush and correct the lines of the facial features.
For color fill use Paint Bucket Tool (fill). This won't be a problem for you.
Tools for working with vector in Photoshop appeared a long time ago, but they began to be used in work relatively recently. This is due to the fact that very for a long time they were “raw” and because The vector in Photoshop is not a specialized tool for work, and it has not been finalized. But everything changed with the release of Photoshop CC.
Why you need a vector in Photoshop
First I want to tell you why I use vector in Photoshop. There are many proven vector editors. The most common are Illustrator, CorelDraw, Xara. Most often I am engaged in web design, which means that my work is not the final result. Those. before becoming a website, interface, application, the layout will get to the layout designer. Most layout designers are fluent in Photoshop, but very superficially familiar with Illustrator. Therefore, the desire to “shove” everything into one file is quite logical. It's great when a layout designer receives one PSD which contains a complete layout, and even with the ability to edit elements. Change the button color, change the radius of the menu form, increase or decrease the block without losing quality - in 2 clicks and 1 minute! Vector in Photoshop allows you to do this without any special skills.
Features of working with a vector in Photoshop
If you have previously worked in any vector editor, then a lot of things will seem familiar. But it takes a lot to get used to. All work in Photoshop is built with layers, this also applies to all vector tools.
1. To easily edit a vector in Photoshop, you need to place each shape on a separate layer.
2. Operations of “merge”, “subtraction”, “superimposition” are best applied to no more than two objects.
3. After the “merge”, “subtraction”, “overlay” operations, the contours of the original objects remain available for editing.
4. Raster styles can be easily applied to all vector objects. It is very comfortable.
5. You can apply transparency to vector objects and apply filters to them.
6. Individual layers and layer groups with vector objects can be easily cloned inside a document or copied to another PSD document.
7. Label each layer and group layers - this will save a lot of time.
Basic Primitives
As in any vector editor, the vector in Photoshop has ready-made primitives. Basic primitives:
“Rectangle”, “Rounded Rectangle”, “Ellipse”, “Polygon”, “Line”, “Custom Shape”. For each shape (at any time) you can set the thickness / type / color of the stroke and fill. Additional properties are available for specific primitives. For example, for a polygon, you can set the number of corners, and for a rectangle with rounded corners, you can set the rounding radius.
Basic tools
To draw an arbitrary vector or edit an existing one (including the contour of primitives), you must use the tools “Pen” (draw an arbitrary contour), “Pen +” (add new anchor points to the finished contour), “Pen-“ (delete anchor points from the finished contour), “Free pen” (draw an arbitrary contour by hand), “Angle” (change the bends of the contour curves, set the types of connections between the anchor points). 
To illustrate the process, a short video from which you will learn:
1. How to create a primitive
2. How to draw an arbitrary vector shape
3. How to edit the outline of a primitive
4. How to edit the outline of an arbitrary vector shape
Basic Vector Operations in Photoshop
There are 4 operations available in total: “Merge shapes”, “Subtract front shape”, “Merge shapes in overlay”, “Subtract shapes in overlay”. All these operations are available through the main Top Menu Layers > Merge Shapes, or through the “Properties” toolbar (top menu Window > Properties).
Attention! Before starting any operations to merge vector shapes, make sure that the layers of these shapes are selected in the “Layers” toolbar (turn it on F7 or Window > Layers).
A short video illustrating the basic operations of "merging shapes" in Photoshop.
Change color, size and apply styles
Here we come to the most interesting. Vector in Photoshop allows you to resize both up and down without losing quality. To do this, select the desired layers in the "Layers" toolbar, press Ctrl+T (or Command+T if you have a MAC) and dragging the markers of the selected path with the mouse adjust the size. In order for the size to change proportionally, you need to hold down the Shift key. 
Short video:
1. Resize a Vector Shape
2. Change the Fill Color of a Vector Shape
3. Add Style to the Vector Shape
Download PSD Example (Free)
To make it easier for you to figure out how to use a vector in Photoshop and see how these tools can be applied in practice, I am posting an Infographic file made by me completely using vector tools.
Ask a Question
If something doesn’t work out for you or if you have any questions, write in the comments and I will help you figure it out. You can also watch videos using vector tools.
Vector drawings are increasingly used in various printing tools to create beautiful drawings from wood, plastic, metal, paper and other materials. Today, we will figure out how to make a vector drawing with your own hands using Photoshop. Having spent quite a bit of time, we will get a high-quality vector drawing, and we will be able to use it in the future without any problems.
How to convert a drawing to vector?
First of all, it should be noted that converting the figure into vector format only drawings that are depicted on a white background are allowed. If the background is not white, then first you need to remove all unnecessary and clear the background.
1. Using the selection tools, select just the element that we want to turn into a vector drawing, and copy it onto a new layer called "shape". Then we create another layer and completely fill it with white, this layer can be called "background". Now, move the "background" layer under the "shape" layer and merge them. The resulting image is called "Base". Copy the "Base" layer twice and name them "Base_1" and "Base_2". Turn off their visibility.
2. Let's start our operations on converting the picture into vector format. First of all, apply for the "Base" layer, the "Isohelium" correction, in order to get the picture in black and white format. Not always at the first correction we get the picture we need, so we can make several copies of the layers and make corrections with different values until we get what we need.
So we got the most normal effect.
3. Next, we apply a Diffusion filter to the resulting image to remove the jagged edges. The path to enable the filter: “Filter – Stylization – Diffusion” (Filter-Stylize-Difuse). In the window that opens, select "Anisotropic".
4. The next step is to smooth the edges so that they become sharper, for this we press “Image – Correction – Levels” (Image-Adjustment-Levels). In the open window, move the left and right sliders closer to the center. In order to see the result of the correction, it is best to enlarge the drawing up to 300% before opening the levels.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 in the same order.
6. Turn off the visibility of our main layer and turn on the "Base_1" layer. Perform the action "Image - Correction - Isohelia" (Image-Adjustment-Threshold). The parameter is set at level 138.
7. We perform the operations indicated in paragraphs 3.4 and 5 with this layer.
8. Create a new layer and fill it with black. We call it "background". Set it below the "Base" layer. In the "Base_1" layer, change the mode to "Difference" (Difference).
Here's what we get:
9. The result is a little scary picture, but we'll fix it now. Make the Base layer active and add a layer mask. After that, with the help of an eraser, we can remove unnecessary areas on the face and body of the girl.
10. So we got the drawing, now it needs to be converted to vector. Use the Magic Wand, select the entire black area of the picture, and right-click on the image, in the menu that opens, select "Create Work Path". Set the value to 1.0.