Working with Paths and Selections

Using the Pen toolset, you can trace portions of an image and store them in the Paths palette. You can then create selections based on saved paths. This means that working with paths gives you the ability to save difficult selections in a document—similar to working with alpha channels and masks. To create a path, start out by pressing P to access the Pen tool, and then click the Paths option in the Options palette. If you forget to click this option, Photoshop creates a vector mask (the default setting) when you trace with the Pen.

Locate a starting point to begin tracing the image. Click and drag to create a series of connecting points that result in an outline of the image. Clicking with the Pen creates a point, and dragging with the mouse creates a curve in relation to the previous and next points placed on the path. Every curve contains its own set of control handles that can also be adjusted. Points, segments, and control handles can also be moved and modified by using the Direct Selection tool. To temporarily access the Direct Selection tool and edit the path as you draw it with the Pen, hold down F/Ctrl.

You can create a corner point by using the Pen tool to click on an anchor point of a curved path immediately after drawing it. Then press the Option/Alt key and drag to create a new control handle that is facing in a different direction. Click and drag again to create the next curved segment of the path. The cursors for the Pen tool change as you position them over different points and segments of a path and as you add certain key modifiers.

Adding and Deleting Points
You can add points to a path by using the Add Anchor Point tool. Doing so allows you to add  intricate curves, corners, and bends to your outline path. To temporarily access the Add Anchor Point tool as you draw with the Pen, hover over any path segment and click. You can delete points by using the Delete Anchor Point tool. To temporarily access the Delete Anchor Point tool while working with the Pen, hover over any point and click. Keep in mind that deleting points can drastically change the appearance of  a path. It is also possible to delete an anchor point by selecting it with the Direct Selection tool and pressing the Delete/Backspace key. Doing so results in an open path, whereas using the Delete Anchor Point tool does not.

Converting Point Direction
Use the Convert Direction Point tool to change the direction of a selected point’s curve on an existing path. Click any existing point to reset the curve handles. Click and drag the handles to change the curve. To temporarily access the Convert Direction Point tool while working with the Pen, hover over any point or direction handle between two segments and press Option/Alt.

Joining and Closing Paths
To join two line segments or open paths, select one with the Direct Selection tool, and then switch to the Pen tool and click the endpoint you would like to merge. Hover the Pen tool cursor over the endpoint of another path until you see the Join Two Paths cursor appear, and then click. The two paths are now joined! To close the open path, click one of the remaining two endpoints with the Pen tool. Hover the Pen tool cursor over the other endpoint until you see the Close APath cursor appear and click.

Naming and Saving Paths
Any time you begin drawing a path with the Pen tool, Photoshop creates a work path in the Paths palette. You can name the path by choosing Save Path from the palette menu. When the Save Path dialog box appears, enter a name in the field provided and click OK. You can also access the Save Path dialog by double-clicking the work path in the palette.

You can save more than one path in the Paths palette. To create a new path, choose New Path from the palette menu or click the New Path button at the bottom of the palette. When choosing New Path from the menu, the Save Path dialog box appears; it does  not appear when clicking the New Path button. The only way to access the Save Path dialog by using the latter method is to Option/Alt+click the New Path button.

Loading a Path as a Selection
One of the major benefits to using paths is that you can convert them into selections. Essentially, paths are extremely accurate saved selections that can be edited at any time by using the Pen toolset and Direct Selection tool. After you’ve created a path, there  are several ways you can base a selection around the path shape. First, select the path in the palette; then use any one of the four following conversion methods:
- Choose Make Selection from the Paths palette menu.
- Click the Load Path As Selection button at the bottom of the Paths palette.
- F/Ctrl+click the path in the palette.
- Press F+Return / Ctrl+Enter