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What Is the Path Tool in Photoshop?

Last updated on January 26, 2023 @ 12:10 pm

The Path Tool is one of the most essential and powerful tools in Photoshop. It allows you to create and edit vector shapes, which can be used for everything from creating detailed illustrations to adding simple shapes to your photos.

The Path Tool is located in the Tools palette, which is located on the left side of the Photoshop workspace. To access the Path Tool, simply click on the icon that looks like a pencil drawing a path. Alternatively, you can press the letter P on your keyboard to select the Path Tool.

Once you have selected the Path Tool, you will notice that your mouse cursor has changed into a crosshair icon. To create a new path, simply click on the point where you want to start drawing.

Then, click and drag your mouse to draw the path. As you move your mouse, you will see a line appear behind it. This is the path that you are creating.

You can continue to add points to your path by clicking on different areas with the mouse. As you add more points, the path will become more complex. If you make a mistake while drawing your path, you can press the Backspace or Delete key on your keyboard to remove the last point that you added.

Editing Paths

Once you have created a path, there are a few different ways that you can edit it. First, you can select individual points on the path and move them around by clicking and dragging them with your mouse. This is useful for making small adjustments to your paths.

PRO TIP: The Path Tool in Photoshop can be used to create and edit paths. Paths can be used to create selections, mask images, and fill in colors. When using the Path Tool, it is important to be aware of the layer order. The bottom layer will be the first layer that is affected by the path.

If you want to delete a point from your path, simply click on it with the Path Tool and press the Backspace or Delete key on your keyboard. You can also add new points to an existing path by clicking on the path with the Path Tool and then clicking where you want to add a point.

Converting Paths To Shapes

One of the most useful things that you can do with paths is convert them into shapes. To do this, simply select your path with the Path Tool and then click on the “Make Work Path” button in the options bar at the top of the screen. This will convert your path into a shape layer.

What Is The Path Tool In Photoshop? The Path Tool is one of Photoshop’s most essential and powerful tools allowing users to create and edit vector shapes – perfect for anything from detailed illustrations to adding simple shapes to photos!

Kathy McFarland

Kathy McFarland

Devops woman in trade, tech explorer and problem navigator.