Graphics Zone - Shapes

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Photoshop's Shapes :: Design Scalable Anti-Aliased Shapes to use Again and Again!

by BarryHilton, Adult NetSurprise

Welcome to our tutorial on Shapes for Photoshop 6. First start by making a new image 300 pixels wide and 200 pixels high (File > New), ticking the 'Content - White' check box to give your new image a white background.

Then go to the main tool menu (with all the small icons) and select the Pen Tool (it looks like a fountain pen nib). Then while holding Alt on your keyboard click once near the top left corner, then while continuing to hold Alt click again diagonally towards the lower right corner... continue around your image to make a starburst shape holding Alt all the time (this keeps the line straight), like in our example below...

When you complete your starbusrt, the cursor will have a tiny round circle next to it showing that it will 'join' with your original start line and complete the selection. When your finished realease Alt on your keyboard :o)

Next, select the Shape Tool from the Main Tool menu (the Shape Tool is next to the Pen Tool). If you can't see the Shape Tool Options go to the Windows menu at the top of the screen and select 'Show Options'.

Now, you'll see a row of shapes (rectangle, rectangle with rounded corners etc) click on the one that looks like a squashed spider on the right (this selects which menu your shape will be added to).

Then, go to the Edit Menu at the top of the screen and select 'Define Custom Shape', chhose a suitable name for your shape and click OK, your shape will then be added at the bottom of the list of shapes (click the little down arrow to the left of the shape icons on the Options Menu).

Now, make another new image like we did above... then, select your shape by clicking on the little down arrow to the left of the shape icons on the Options Menu and selecting your shape at the bottom of the list. Click near the top left corner of your image and while holding your mouse button drag your Shape towards the bottom right corner... release your mouse button when you're happy with the size.

Click on your new layer on the Layers Menu to select it (it will go blue), if you can't see the Layers Menu then go to the Windows Menu at the top of the screen and select 'Show Layers'. Then right click on the layer name and choose 'Rasterize Layer' to fix your shape in place. Now look at the top of the layers menu and find a small square with two grey dots and two white dots, it's on the left hand side at the top, next to 'Lock:'... Tick the box to the left of the icon. This will make your shape have Anti-aliased or smooth edges without jaggies when you fill it with a color.

Now, select a new color from the Swatches Menu (If you can't see the Swatch Menu go to the Windows menu at the top of the screen and select 'Show Swatches'). Then select the Paint Tool from the Main Tool menu (looks like a paint can) and click in the center of your shape to fill it with color...

The Shapes have transparent backgrounds so they can be overlapped with other obects or text and can be used over and over again at different sizes without redrawing them...

Have fun with shapes :o)