For years I figured the pen tool was one of those baffling tools in Photoshop that only a handful of people understood.
Every once in awhile I would bravely select the it and then try to figure out just what the heck it was good for experientially (by that I mean I would use it and hope its purpose would become clear through the end results).
It never did ...
Even using the pen tool was a challenge! It seemed to have a mind of its own so after a few minutes of frustration it was returned to its little hidey-hole on the tool bar and ignored for months.
I have recently come to learn that it is a very useful tool if you want a precise selection with a very sharp, well defined edge. As a matter of fact, there are those who insist that the Pen Tool is the best selection tool in Photoshop!
Let's find out if it's true ...
Mustang Badge
You see that little Mustang in the middle of the grill? That's what will be cut out and removed using the Pen Tool.
Now maybe you are thinking that you could do a better job with one of the selection tools - probably not.
Mustang Front
The Tools
The Pen Tool lives in the tool bar and when you click the flyout you will see all of the different ways it can be used.
Pen Tool FlyOut
The one we will use to do most of the work is the top one - the Pen Tool.
Less time will be spent with the other ones as they are mostly used for editing the path we create (Adding, Deleting and Converting Anchor Points). The Freeform Pen Tool acts very much like the Magnetic Lasso because it tends to cling to edges but when the path is completed the result is not as accurate as the Pen Tool.
There are also some options that need to be selected on the Options Bar at the top of the screen. They are highlighted on the screen shot of the Options Bar.
Pen Tool Option Bar
There are a few very powerful reasons why the Pen Tool is so useful.
You can easily zoom in and out to see how things are coming along.
You can pan around the screen with the space key and if you have your Wacom Tablet set up with the lower pen button set to the space key then it is even easier to pan about.
You can save your path and open it again. If you have ever become involved in a big selection job and had to leave it then you had to leave the file open and hope no one messed with it or start over again later.
If you are not happy with a path it is a simple matter to change it and just be happy.
You have to know that the first few times you use the Pen Tool you will likely find it confusing and annoying. The darn thing does not act like any pen you have ever used.
Ready to learn how to use the Pen Tool? OK - let's get going ...
The Steps
Open an image that contains an object you want to cut out.
Zoomed In
The image has been converted to Black and White because there was an annoying blue cast on the edges of the horse. If I knew I was going to do a Pen Tool webpage with this picture then I would have used a flash when I took the shot.
It just goes to show that you should always take the best shot up front!
Choose a starting point and place an anchor point by tapping your pen or left clicking your mouse. It is way easier to use this tool with a Wacom tablet but if truth be told - you can create a good path with a mouse as well.
Lift your pen and select a second anchor point position and don't lift the pen or release the mouse button. Place your pen on the tablet (left click if you must) and without lifting the pen (or releasing the left mouse button) start dragging away from the second anchor point.
Starting
As you drag your pen (or mouse) the handles will get longer and when you change the orientation the line between the first and second anchor point will start to bend or become a curve. Keep adjusting the line by moving the handle until you have a nice smooth curve that just touches the edge that you want to cutout.
When you are satisfied lift your pen or release the mouse button.
Now you have the start of your path - do the same thing over and over and over again until you have completely outlined the object your are cutting out.
The first few times you use the Pen Tool to make a path it probably will drive you nuts until you get a grasp on how the little handles work.
Hang in there - you will get it and it will be worth it.
Video of a Simple Selection
When you get back to where you started by going completely around the object you will see a little circle right next to the pen tool. The little circle is telling you that clicking on the next anchor point will complete the path.
When it is complete then you have a nice little path right around the object which you can turn into a selection!
Making A Selection
You make a path into a selection in the Paths Palette.
Select Red Box To Create A Selection
Now switch over to the Layers Palette and press Ctrl-J (Windows) or Cmd-J (MAC) to create a new layer with the selection.
Turn off the Background layer (click the little eyeball) and you will see the results of your diligent work!
The Finished Cut Out
A video of the more complicated cut out with the Pen Tool.
Return to Photoshop Tutorials from the
Pen Tool
page.
