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Pen Tool with Shape Layers: Part One
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Select the Pen Tool option (Press the letter P on the
keyboard). Hold the mouse click and the drop down option reveals five different Pen options.
- Using Pen Tool with Shape Layer

This basically creates a Vector Color Filled Shape based on the foreground color
of your choice and the Anchor Points you define to create your Shape.
I started with an Anchor Point at 1 and worked my way to around to connect back to 1 again.
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I've connected the Anchor Points to create
a Rectangle Shape.
Helpful Tips: Easy Selections
* Hold the Control Key and Click the Rectangle Shape to auto select.
* Use the 'Direct Selection Tool (A)' to select it.
* Or turn on Photoshop's 'Auto Select' Feature.
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Remember this Shape is edit able at anytime, meaning as long as the Anchor Points remain, I
can use the 'Add Anchor Point Tool, Delete Anchor Point Tool or Convert Point Tool' to redefine the Shape the
way I see fit.
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Let's use the 'Convert Anchor Point' Tool.
Click & Drag on the second (#2) Anchor Point that was created in the Shape in the direction
of the arrow.
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Once you've done that, now appears two more
Anchor End Points, I labelled A & B. All this does is allow curvature control between two continuous
Anchor Points.
So 'A' controls the curvature between Anchors 2 and 1.
Likewise, 'B' controls the curvature between Anchors 2 and 3.
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So all I did was simply Convert one Anchor point to give it this Shape.
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Now use the 'Direct Selection Tool'

With the Direct Selection Tool selected, click on the 'A' End Anchor Point and drag in the direction
of the arrow that I have shown. Then, go ahead and click on the 'B' End Anchor Point and
move in the direction of the arrow I have shown.
The End picture shows the results.
Helpful Hint:
To move the entire Shape use the 'Path Selection' Tool as in the above image.
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'Add Anchor Point Tool'

Select the 'Add Anchor Point Tool' and click once in the Area that I have done(Red arrow indicator and labeled 5). A new (A & B) End Anchor
Points appear. Switch to the 'Convert Anchor Point Tool' and drag in the directions of the red arrows.
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Just getting you into the habit - click on another
area on the edge of the Shape as I have started to 'Add Anchor Point'. Then switch to the 'Convert Anchor Point Tool'
to redefine the (what I have been calling A & B) end points.
The more you practice the quicker you'll apprehend the geometry behind the the Pen Tool.
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The Anchor Points I have encircled in red. Now Select the 'Delete Anchor Point Tool'
and ckick on the original #2 Anchor Point. The area between Anchors 5 & 3 will converge into one.
(Anchor 5 was created in step #9 above.)
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The 'End Shape' I have captured is the result of this exercise.
The others are deviant examples of the 'End Shape' and quick examples using
the 'Pen Tool'.
Go to Part Two: Pen Tool with Paths
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