Adobe 29180155 - Photoshop Elements 4.0, Tutorial

Page: 239 / 407

Creating shapes
To the top
To the top
About shapes
Draw a rectangle, square, or rounded rectangle
Draw a circle or ellipse
Draw a multisided shape
Draw a line or arrow
Draw a custom shape
Create multiple shapes in the same layer
In Photoshop Elements, shapes are resolution-independent vector graphics (lines and curves defined by their geometric characteristics instead of
pixels) that can be moved, resized, or changed without losing detail, clarity, or quality. Both text and shapes are created in separate layers.
About shapes
In Photoshop Elements, shapes are vector graphics, which means they are made up of lines and curves defined by their geometric characteristics
instead of pixels. Vector graphics are resolution-independent—that is, they can be scaled to any size and printed at any resolution without losing
detail or clarity. You can move, resize, or change them without losing the quality of the graphic. Because computer monitors display images on a
pixel grid, vector data is displayed on-screen as pixels.
Shapes are created in shape layers. A shape layer can contain a single shape or multiple shapes, depending on the shape area option you select.
You can choose to have more than one shape in a layer.
You can change the color of a shape by editing its fill layer and applying layer styles to it. Shape tools provide an easy way to create buttons,
navigation bars, and other items used on web pages.
Vector objects created with the shape tools in Photoshop Elements
Draw a rectangle, square, or rounded rectangle
1. Select the Rectangle tool or Rounded Rectangle tool. You can select also select the Rectangle and Rounded Rectangle tools
from the Tool Options bar.
Note: Press Alt/Option and click a shape tool to cycle through all the available tools.
2. (Optional) In the Tool Options bar, you can set the following options:
Unconstrained Lets you set the width and height of a rectangle by dragging.
Square Constrains a rectangle to a square.
Fixed Size Draws a rectangle at the exact size you specified in the Width and Height text boxes.
Proportional Draws a rectangle in proportion to the specified Width and Height values.
Radius Specifies the radius of the rounded corner. Smaller values result in sharper corners.
From Center Draws a rectangle from the center of where you begin drawing (usually a rectangle is drawn from the upper-left
corner).