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Adobe Photoshop Shape Tools

You use the shape tools to draw lines, rectangles, rounded rectangles, and ellipses in an image. In Photoshop, you can also draw polygons and create custom shape libraries to reuse and share custom shapes.
Each shape tool provides specific options; for example, you can set options that allow you to draw a rectangle with fixed dimensions or a line with arrowheads.

To set tool-specific options:
Select the rectangle tool , rounded rectangle tool , ellipse tool , polygon tool (Photoshop), line tool , or custom shape tool (Photoshop). Set tool options in the options bar. The available options vary by tool. In Photoshop, click the inverted arrow next to the shape buttons to view the options: Arrowheads Start and End
Renders a line with arrowheads. Select Start, End, or both to specify on which end of the line arrows are rendered. In ImageReady, click Shape to define the shape of the arrowhead; in Photoshop, the shape options appear in the pop-up dialog box. Enter values for Width and Length to specify the proportions of the arrowhead as a percentage of the line width (10% to 1000% for Width, and 10% to 5000% for Length). Enter a value for the concavity of the arrowhead (from -50% to +50%). The concavity value defines the amount of curvature on the widest part of the arrowhead, where the arrowhead meets the line.
Note: In Photoshop, you can also edit an arrowhead directly using the vector selection and drawing tools.
Circle
Constrains an ellipse to a circle.
Defined Proportions
Renders a custom shape based on the proportions with which it was created.
Defined Size
Renders a custom shape based on the size at which it was created.
Fixed Size
Renders a rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, or custom shape as a fixed shape based on the values you enter in the Width and Height text boxes.
From Center
Renders a rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, or custom shape from the center.
Indent Sides By
Renders a polygon as a star. Enter a percentage in the text box to specify the portion of the star's radius taken up by the points. A 50% setting creates points that are half the total radius of the star; a larger value creates sharper, thinner points; a smaller value creates fuller points.
Proportional
Renders a rectangle, rounded rectangle, or ellipse as a proportional shape based on the values you enter in the Width and Height text boxes.
Radius
For rounded rectangles, specifies the corner radius. For polygons, specifies the distance from the center of a polygon to the outer points.
Sides
Specifies the number of sides in a polygon.
Smooth Corners or Smooth Indents
Renders a polygon with smooth corners or indents.
Snap to Pixels
Snaps edges of a rectangle or rounded rectangle to the pixel boundaries.
Square
Constrains a rectangle or rounded rectangle to a square.
Unconstrained
Lets you set the width and height of a rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, or custom shape by dragging.
Weight
Determines the width of a line in pixels.
When you're using the custom shape tool, you can choose from a variety of preset shapes. You can also save shapes that you create as preset shapes.
To select a preset shape: Select the custom shape tool and then select a shape from the Shape pop-up palette.
To save a shape or path as a custom shape: In the Paths palette, select a path--either a vector mask for a shape layer, a work path, or a saved path. Choose Edit > Define Custom Shape, and enter a name for the new custom shape in the Shape Name dialog box. The new shape appears in the Shape pop-up palette. To save the new custom shape as part of a new library, select Save Shapes from the pop-up palette menu.

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Author: AB

Date created: February 19, 2003