A
path is a line
drawn around an area of a photograph
to enclose it, which is then
saved as a path.
A path is created in order that a specific
area of a picture can be selected.
After selecting an area, it can be modified,
or copied and pasted into another
photograph.
A path
is created using
the pen tool.
(Selections can be made using the lasso or marquette tools, also).
On the toolbar, hold your mouse over the tools. A popup box
telling you that tool is appears.
Find the pen tool,
which is on
the left and about seven down. Click
on it to choose it.
Create a series of points around the outside of an object, or an area that you want to select.
Starting point
on left.
Points created
using the pen tool.
Each time you click and release the pen, it makes a point, with
a line between, in a straight path.
Zoom in on the section of the picture
that you want to create a path around.
Click
on the picture with the pen tool, then release
the mouse to
create additional points.
Each time you click, and release the pen to create a point, a straight
line is drawn between the points. (unless you drag the mouse, then you
get a curved line)
This series of points creates a path.
Go all around the object, or area that you want
to select, creating points as you go, then close
the path
by clicking on the beginning point.
For
curved edges, we click,
hold down the mouse, and drag
about an eight inch
from the starting point,
then release the mouse.
If you drag too far, undo it.
(go to edit, undo. )
The direction that you
pull the mouse determines the direction of the curve that the path
takes.
The depth of the curve that you
make is determined by how far out you drag the line away from the point.
The curve goes the opposite direction from the
way you drag.
You control the curve
by how far you drag,
and the direction that you drag.
Experiment by dragging
first one direction, then the other, to see the direction that the line goes
when you pull it. Experiment to see how large the curve gets as you pull the
line longer or shorter..
Once the path is closed, it can be saved as a path.
To modify the points, we need a different tool. Hold your mouse over the pen tool on the toolbar, so that the popout box appears. Choose the white arrow (#6, direct selection tool) from the popout box.
