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mreviver — Pen Tool Tutorial, Pt.1
Published: 2007-07-18 15:51:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 5121; Favourites: 42; Downloads: 132
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My very first tutorial...! I hope I explained everything right, and that I didn't forget anything.I don't know if "Vector" was the right category, but "Drawing/Painting/Airbrushing" didn't fit, either.
This is Part 1, which shows how to just make a line with the Pen Tool. And it doesn't require a tablet, yay!
This is done with Photoshop 6, by the way.
Please proceed to Part 2 if you'd like (or need) a little more understanding of using the Pen Tool~.
I hope this helps! Please feel free to ask any questions, in case there's something I didn't make very clear. x____x
Please keep in mind that this is just how I like to work. If this doesn't quite suit you, there are other variations to using the Pen Tool.
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Comments: 37
mmmm I usually do my lines by hand, so they come out icky and shaky.
Using the information in this tutorial, very first time touching the pen tool, I will definitely try to remember to show you the results lol
and yes, i am posting in 2014 ;D
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omg finnally i understand! ive read so many of these pen tutorials and yours is the best by far, i understood everything you said^^
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Thank you! I'm very happy that it helped you.
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Thanks for explaining it so clearly!
There are so many little buttons and options in Photo Shop CS3 @-@
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This is pretty cool. It gives me a short understanding of it 
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Thank you, I'm glad you found it helpful. :3
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For the longest time I couldn't figure out how to use that darn pen tool. Your tutorial helped to clear it up. Many thanks!
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Hmmmm. I can't seem to get it to create the line. o.O
I've got a curved line, just as you said (and using the tips from so that it'd work) But i cannot create the line. >.< !!! The options as you pointed out, are greyed and wont click. >.< any suggestions?
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Hmm.. First, can you tell me what version of Photoshop you're using?
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Ah~ I have PS6.
Someone else had noted be at one time, they also have CS2 and couldn't get the line to work. After illustrating it further, she played around a bit with her Photoshop and realized her problem was that she was pressing the wrong button. She sent me this to show me: [link]
Are you using that button or no? ^ ^;; I've never used CS2, so I don't know how it differs from PS6.
Let me know! :3
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I'm using the one with the check mark. Lol.
I eventually got it to work. Yeah, took some fidling. But i dont know what i did to make it work. Then i must of reversed it because it stopped working again >.<
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I'm very sorry I cannot be of more help with CS2. ;___; But I'm certain that there are CS2 pen-tool tutorials here on DA..!
I hope you are able to get it to work again!
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It's such a good tutorial, too bad I'm so lazy that I just stick to my pens. XD But it's good to have tutorials that actually explain and show you everything. =3
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I'm glad you like it! Yes, pens are so much quicker. x___x;;
Haha, I love your sig! XD
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it's great to see a pen tool with detailed and many images... I've been using it for ages, and I'm tired of being asked how it works, lol. however, I think you actually omitted explaining some things which may make people spazz if they're not used to the pen tool...
1) you need to do "new path" before working with the pen tool. otherwise you create a vector shape, not a line. that's why the poster before me had the black shape. it's not unusual, it's just that the setting was different
2) you should have mentioned how shift and control and alt affect the anchor lines. because if I'm not mistaken, unless you hold down control you don't MOVE the anchor tool, you only change its direction. actually here you almost did, I think you just omitted the word "ctrl" because you have the phrase "click on that new point and holding down,..."
eh, here 
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Ah, thanks! ^ ^;;
I made the tutorial going by all the steps I actually do. So, I don't quite know what you mean by making a new path before using the Pen Tool. I've never gotten a weird vector shape.
Also, I've never used Ctrl or Shift or Alt when using the Pen Tool, which is why I didn't put that in the tutorial. To be honest, I don't know what those buttons do while using the Pen Tool, but I've never had any problems while making the lines without them.
x___x;;
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seriously? ok, now I'm curious
now I wonder why you never needed to do the "new path" thing... *blinks* eh, anyway, good job writing the tut
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I'm sorry to have confused you! ^ ^;;;
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he, no biggy, I love this stuff anyway
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True. Perhaps I should try using Ctrl sometime! XD
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I still have trouble useing photoshop...evertime i move that anchor point thingy this black thing shows up and i can't get a straight line D< god i hate photoshop...
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What sort of black thing..?
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i really don't know...but it's definetly not lineart 
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ooh, this is going to be soo useful, I'm just starting to use photoshop and its so darn confusing! thank you!
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Thank you! If you ever have questions about PS, feel free to ask~ :3
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My name is OPEN CANVAS.
xD
(okay...random. xD but but! I think I'll try doing this. For once I'll try since sometimes I can't get smooth lines with my dear tablet...sometimes it looks so weird. xDDDD)
and I don't think it would fit vector...in fact, I don't know what fits vectors..:B
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WEE 8D Thanks so much for making me the tut.. (was that for me btw? 
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You're welcome!
It's for you, for another who'd asked about pen tool'ing, and for anyone else who wanted to know about it~ :3
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Awesome! I featured you on my journal!
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oh~ that thats the pen tool D<...hmmm I shall try this once i put photoshop 7 back on to my computer
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