Connecting a Straight Segment to a Curve Segment in Photoshop

If you need to create a straight segment after creating a curve (or vice versa), you need to convert the point where the path changes from curved to straight. To convert a point, follow these steps:

1. Position your cursor over the second anchor point in the existing curve and press the Alt key (Option on the Mac).
You see a caret (which looks like an upside down V ) next to the pen cursor. Click and release your mouse button over the anchor point. The bottom direction line disappears. You have converted a smooth point into a corner point with one direction line. This action will now allow you to create a straight segment.

It’s no coincidence that the tool icon for the Convert Point tool is also a caret. Whenever you see a caret symbol in Photoshop, it’s an indication that you are converting an anchor point, from smooth to corner or vice versa.

2. Move your mouse to the end of the straight edge you want to select and click and release.
You can press the Shift key if you want the line to be constrained horizontally, vertically, or at an angle with a multiple of 45 degrees. Photoshop connects the two anchor points with a straight segment.