Photoshop Pen Tool Guide
In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to use the Pen tool in Photoshop to create your own custom shapes. I’ll take you through a series of exercises that will guide you through the basic, essential functions of the Pen tool.
About The Pen Tool
The pen tool is one of the few tools available to you in Photoshop that works with Vector Graphics as opposed to Raster Graphics. Vector Graphics use mathematical statements and points in order to define their shape and other characteristics, and therefore are very scalable. In other words, vector graphics can be scaled to any size without ever losing quality.
With the Pen Tool, we can create lines and curves that can be put together to create custom shapes. If we combine the pen tool with some of the other vector shapes, we can create some intricate, scalable objects (I’ll be covering additional vector tools in other tutorials).
Getting Started
In order to help familiarize yourself with the pen tool, I’m going to take you through a series of examples that will show you how to draw and create some custom shapes.
To begin, Create a New Document (I’m using 284×284 in my example, with default Photoshop Preferences).
Next, let’s enable the Grid. Go to View > Show > Grid, or Ctrl + ‘. Also Enable Snap (View > Snap, or “Shift + Ctrl + ;“).
We enable grid + snapping so that when we draw using the pen tool, we can easily make precise shapes, and curves with little effort.
Now select your Pen Tool from the toolbar, and set it up to work on Shape Layers in the Options Bar.
Select a foreground color of your choice.
Drawing with the pen tool is easy. Simply position your cursor where you’d like to begin drawing, and click to create your first anchor point. Subsequent anchor points will all be connected to the last point drawn, allowing you to create custom shapes. To complete a shape, click the first anchor point.
Go ahead an try it. See what you can create using basic anchor points. I managed to make a very primitive star.
That’s simple enough, right?
Drawing Curves with the Pen Tool
You may have already noticed that something interesting when drawing curves, and dragging after clicking to create an anchor point. The lines begin to curve!
Go ahead and try it. After creating an anchor point, hold down the mouse button and drag in the direction you want your line to curve.
If you follow the below layout, you should be able to create a primitive circle shape.
If you’re still having trouble, here’s a video that illustrates how to create the circle. When you see the icon change into a black pointer, that means that I’m DRAGGING once I create a point.
The curves characteristics are based on the length of these direction points, and at what angle they are drawn at. After some time practicing with them, you should become more familiar with drawing more complex curves. It should also be noted that you can change any directional points with the pen tool by holding Ctrl, or Ctrl + Alt.
Example:
Example Shapes
Let’s take what we’ve learned so far, and apply it in some basic design. If you’re using the same sized document as I am (with default Photoshop grid preferences), you should be able to Copy + Paste these templates in your document, and follow my anchor points easily.
First let’s make a Rounded Rectangle. We already have a custom shape that does this, but sometimes designs call for modified rounded boxes of sorts.
The Rounded Rectangle Shape uses basic curves, and is very simple to create. With some slight modifications, we can make rectangles with only 1, 2, or 3 of the corners rounded, while keeping the rest sharp corners.
Here is another template that focuses on “S” shaped curves, as seen in frequency waves.
“S” curves are used all the time in more complex shapes. They are created by dragging the Directional Points of two sibling anchor points in the same direction.
For our last example, let’s make a “Pen Tool” custom shape!
Creating an exact copy of this shape will require you to have some knowledge of the “Convert Point Tool” as well. Once your points are made, go back with the Convert Point Tool, click a point, then click and drag out the point so that you can manually modify the direction handles for custom curves. Try following the video below:
See how easy it really is? With a little practice and imagination, you can literally design anything you wish with the pen tool.
Conclusion
The Pen Tool provides a very simple way to work on custom shapes and paths inside of Adobe Photoshop, and allows users to easily create scalable objects. There are limitations to what can be done in Photoshop in terms of vector graphics, but that’s what we have Adobe Illustrator for!
It only seems fitting to end this passage with a quote by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” In this case, I’d compare the sword to an ordinary brush used in Photoshop. However, each serves its place in Graphic Design, so it’s up to you as the designer to decide where to utilize each respectively!
178 Comments
A superb tutorial….makes things so much simpler….thanks a zillion!!!!!!!!
Flag as inappropriateThe videos really help. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateA superb tutorial….makes things so much simpler….thanks a zillion!!!!!!!!
Flag as inappropriateNice one
Flag as inappropriatethank you so much for this article… basic techniques, but it really helped me a lot!!!!! Please elaborate more on this tool!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tute
Flag as inappropriatewhere can i submit the homework?
Flag as inappropriateHEY ITS REALLY GREAT TUTORIAL DEAR…..IS HELPING ME A LOT…..
Flag as inappropriateexcelent
Flag as inappropriateThanks, it is a great help for me. You have an excellent site.
Flag as inappropriateThank You for tutorial. already to practice
Flag as inappropriatebefore i’m having a hard time in creating curves in pen tool. now, i can create many curves!!
thanks for the tutorial :)
Flag as inappropriatewaw…
Flag as inappropriateperfeck…
Wow, i found what i want
Flag as inappropriatethank you very much
You are so good
at first it was hard but now it’s joyful
Flag as inappropriateThat was so good.
Flag as inappropriatethanks
thanks it has helped me in my course now w/ arabic as the medium of instruction.
some more pls.
Flag as inappropriatethanks yours tutorial
Flag as inappropriatethanks
Flag as inappropriatey=thnaks
Flag as inappropriatereally really great i never seen before
Flag as inappropriategreat i never seen before.47
Flag as inappropriategreat i never seen before.42
Flag as inappropriateits very nice. Great post
Flag as inappropriateafter you outline an image with the pen tool, how do you “close” that pen tool outline and then delete/cut the image inside the pen tool outline?
Flag as inappropriateafter you use the pen tool to “outline” an image, how do you “close” the shape and then delete/remove the image inside of the pen tool outline?
Flag as inappropriateThis was nice and easy.
Flag as inappropriateThank you
Very nice explanation! Great site too :)
Flag as inappropriateGo ahead
Flag as inappropriatethanks!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial, helped me use the pen tool very much. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateWow, until now I couldn’t figure out how to go from a really curved point in one direction to a straight point in another direction! Thanks that helps a l lot.
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial, thanks.
Flag as inappropriatethanks for tutrail
Flag as inappropriateyou really helped me pass my computers class
Flag as inappropriatethanks a lot!
you are great teacher
Flag as inappropriatethank you
Really great tutorial. It was simply yet i learned alot about pen tool since i never quite gave me the time to learn it. You explain clearly and have supporting videos to watch if you didn´t understand. I was having troubles two times and thanks to a little thinking and your video i realized i was dragging the points to wrong direction :D Thank you very much!
Flag as inappropriateI don’t understand why Adobe still holds on to this stupid pentool after they took over Macromedia. The pentool in Flash works much easier and better. And I still don’t get it after this tutorial.
Flag as inappropriateCould u make a tutorial of how, using this shape of pen, create such a cool shiny pen u have on the last pic?
Flag as inappropriateThis is the best pen-tool/basics tutorial i ever seen
Flag as inappropriateSuperb job!
Could you tell me how do you make those tutorials?? Which programs do you use and how do you send it(in which format)?
Flag as inappropriatebtw gr8 tutorial ;)
This is the first pen tool tutorial that I have been able to understand and apply. Thank you so much.
Flag as inappropriateThanx it helped a lot.
Flag as inappropriateBut what about a vector image tutorial ;-)
please….
Do you know why we can’t make a PERFECT circle with 4 simmetric anchors? I don’t know why, but i did here, rotated and saw that the circle wasn’t perfect! Cya!
Flag as inappropriateYou can, but you’re right, the one shown here isn’t perfect. There is a quicker way to create circle shapes anyways: Just use the shape tool and select the circle shape.
Flag as inappropriateI love the way you explain it. Wonderful site, the best!
Flag as inappropriateWow great, but im really having a hard time using the pen tool… im still trying to figure this one out…
Flag as inappropriateReally nice tut.
Flag as inappropriatei want to thank you for these helpful tutorials!
Flag as inappropriateThanks that cleared up a lot of questions I had.
Flag as inappropriateGreat job! What u guys are teaching is smiply marvellous. It baffles the graphic pros like me
Flag as inappropriateAwosome… thank you sooooo much David.
Flag as inappropriateThis is really a good tutorial…very clear, specific and a very easy to understand.
Flag as inappropriateIn short…you are a very good & thoughtful teacher
Very nice. Liked the fact that teaches you actually examples of how to do things rather than just telling you to do this and that.
Now I know a little bit more about the pen tool. =]
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! The screencasts make understanding what is a complex tool very simple!
Flag as inappropriatehey Man thanks….
I always stuck with that stupid (but more useful) pen tool :)
thanks thanks!
Flag as inappropriatei like you, ur gravatar as well as ur site!
Greetings from North Cyprus. Thank you david. it will realy help me to to skill pen tool:))
Flag as inappropriateVery Nice! I’m Quite Dumm With Pen Tool, But Always Keep Trying!
Flag as inappropriateAwesome!
Flag as inappropriateThe Pen tool is no longer a mystery. I just couldn’t wait any longer in my courses so I skipped ahead a few chapters to find out how to use the Pen tool. Thank you soooo much T9 people. :)
Brilliant Tutorial. Now I can finally understand how to use the pen tool. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
Flag as inappropriateMen you really help with this, you are great!!!! I learned a lot today…thanks bro (sorry for my english I from Mexico)
Flag as inappropriateFor a beginner this is the best tutorial for a tool I’ve seen so far.
Flag as inappropriateLoved this tutorial, excellent teaching!
Flag as inappropriateThis has been something that I have been looking for. The basics for the basics so to speak. Thanks a lot. =D
Flag as inappropriateThanks so much !!! Very helpful. Nice job.
Flag as inappropriatehey um, i just started using the pen tool. im trying to cut out a photo, after i make the path how to i copy and paste the photo in it and not just the path?
Flag as inappropriateHi!
Thanks for the video-tut. My english wasn’t good enough when I tried to read the tut.
I’ve tried other pen-tuts earlier but this one was simple the best. Thank you!
Zara
Flag as inappropriateI think this one of the best guide-line I’ve came across to design powerful graphics. With this skills I can transform any graphic to any form. :-)
Flag as inappropriateBy the way, I know how to do this if I merge the layers…but then it’s not a custom shape anymore…but rastered.
Flag as inappropriateNew question :: maybe you can help
Can I make two separate custom shapes into one shape/one layer. I need to be able to apply layer styles to a shape, but I need them to be one shape (and one layer style) rather than 2 shapes with 2 separate versions of the same layer style.
The part that confuses me is that these are already two separate shapes, two separate layers. I am not taking a shape I created and adding another path to it. I have two already and I need them on the same layer.
Help!
Flag as inappropriateNo apologies necessary! I just wanted to help someone if they found your blog because they had the same question I had. Nonetheless, it would awesome if you published another tutorial. I’m sure we would all learn something! Reading that book made me want to scream!
Thanks again.
Flag as inappropriate@Laura G.: Sorry Laura, I’ve been busy moving recently, and have let some comments slip by unanswered :(
I think I’ll publish a more detailed Pen Tool tutorial soon to compliment this one for users who want to learn more about it like you. I’ll do my best to make it video centered, since so many people seem to learn these tools more easily through that medium.
Flag as inappropriateDavid never emailed with an answer about my question (5 comments ago). I guess it’s a path thing…and if anyone needs to know, I figured it out—in a round about way (after much reading)—here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=BKX2yekYVIAC&pg=PA360&lpg=PA360&dq=Photoshop+sub+path&source=web&ots=P0fB1yYLM_&sig=qC3oVwl_13iEIKGzR-MqBp0hyEo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA358,M1
by searching “photoshop sub path” in Google books. hope that helps someone.
Flag as inappropriatethe best tut I’ve found so far… seriously!
Flag as inappropriateBest tut I’ve ever seen for the pen tool, which admittedly is one of ‘the’ most important tools in the PS arsenal. I even have the Total Training for PS and I find your style much clearer and concise. Kudos for creating excellent tuts.
DB
Flag as inappropriatePhotoshop CS3
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial. This was very helpful even if I’m already familiar with the Pen Tool.
Flag as inappropriateDavid, You should look into making your entire tutorial videoed.
Me, being an amateur would be static about that.
Flag as inappropriateI’m wondering if you know how to make a pen tool shape that has a section cut out of it. You can see what I mean by looking at some of the default custom shapes (the “circle frame” or “blob 2 frame” for instance). There are transparent areas within the rest of the shape. Without rastering it…by the way.
Flag as inappropriate@ Nicole – We don’t have a specific tutorial here covering technique for that, but it’s definitely something we can try to teach in the near future. Until then, I’d try a quick Google Search for “Extracting Images in Photoshop” and see if you can find any useful lessons.
Flag as inappropriateHi! This tutorial was very useful, but I’m still confused as to how to use the pen tool to cut out pictures?? I’m working on the Apple Coldplay iPod commerical tutorial, and got kind of counfused…
Flag as inappropriateI have been searching the net for a useful tut on using the pen tool and I feel lucky that I stumbled upon this one. I specially like the video clips which you inserted cleverly in the areas that needs a visual demo. Thank you David for a job well done.
Flag as inappropriateAbsolutely fantastic tutorial. Thank you for the time and effort spent into educating us pen shy designers!
Flag as inappropriateIt’s a amazing website
Flag as inappropriatereally helped me
thank u very much
Nice , thanks
Flag as inappropriateHey David, thanks for this great tutorial. I had never really understood pen tool before, be it in Photoshop, Illustrator or Flash. You kept it simple and it was really easy to get hold of it, and thus, really easy to get hold of the pen.
Flag as inappropriategreatt wonderfull tutorial , im peruvian maravilloso!!!
Flag as inappropriateNice one! Very useful to learn how to use the pen tool. I was confused cause I did the last one backwards and didn’t know about the convert tool, so I was following your motions and it gives a wrong curve, so I did it opposite and it worked. Powerful tool indeed!
Flag as inappropriateNothing to worry about mate. Just uploaded a video that shows how to create the Pen Shape in the tutorial.
Hope it helps!
Flag as inappropriatesomeon pleaze make a vide of making that f-ing pen tool icon with the anchors.
Flag as inappropriatei cant make the last shape and it pisses me really off
Flag as inappropriateMy first circle didn’t really do justice to the term, but there was improvement from this point on.
David, the video really helps here. Thank you.
Flag as inappropriateI never knew a grid view was available in Photoshop, let alone the “Snap” option. Great tutorial!
Flag as inappropriatevery great tutorial. now i know how to use the pen tool. thank you
Flag as inappropriateUpdate: Jana, I’ve added a video underneath the Circle Diagram for you! Hope this helps you out!
Flag as inappropriate@ Jana – Sometimes, reading, and viewing static images just isn’t enough to explain something, so that’s understandable. I’d suggest playing with the tool yourself some, reading over this again, and then seeing if things are working for you.
I’ll see if I can put together a better animation so that you can actually SEE what I’m doing!
Flag as inappropriateI couldn’t make the circle and I don’t even get how you made the shape before it. Basically I’m still a zero in Pen Tool section lol
Flag as inappropriateYour tutorials are great! I’ve learnt a lot since I’m a noob to Photoshop. Anyway, I managed to create every of the shown shapes but I couldn’t do the pen shape, something went wrong every time I tried. I guess I’ll figure it out somehow.
Flag as inappropriate@ Martin – You can come back and move point(s), adjust curves, and transform points using the Direct Selection Tool (It’s the white arrow above the Pen Tools).
To convert points into a curved segment, you use the Convert Point Tool under the Pen Tools.
To Add Points, or Delete Points, use the Add Anchor Point and Delete Anchor Point Tool. You need to make sure your path is selected first, which you can do by clicking the path icon (shape outline) in the Layers palette.
I may add this up into the tutorial soon for better reference Martin, until then, I hope this helps you!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial, but once i finished a shape and might want to apply some changes later after i deselected the shape, how can i come back to the anchor view and work with the pen tool on the same object?
Cheers :)
Flag as inappropriateHi David,
Great tutorial. I’ve learned already about the Pen in my photoshop/After effects class, but you can never read enough about it to get a better grasp on it.
I had a difficult time doing the rounded rectangle at first, but eventually got it (hard to tell which direction lines for which). The pen tool shape has got me a little stumped. Again, hard to decipher which direction lines go with which point. Hopefully I’ll eventually get it. :OP
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! I’ve been looking for a “Pen” tutorial. Before I knew about this tutorial I sucked at using the pen tool, after this I am MUCH better with it! Thanks a lot!
-Dan
Flag as inappropriateTo go about doing that Kirk, create a new layer, and then begin drawing a new path/shape on top of that layer.
@ Binesh – Thanks mate! I just make sure to spend lots of time polishing the thumbnails so that they look nice!
Appreciate all the feedback, and very glad that so many of you found this tutorial useful!
Flag as inappropriateHow do I make a line with the pen tool and then make another line that is not connected to the first one? Thanks
Flag as inappropriateVery good tutorial.I really learnt how to use pen tool and give curves by studying this tutorial
Flag as inappropriateI don’t know how you make such beautiful thumbnails.
Was the pen coloured in Photoshop or Illustrator ???
Very beautiful. 10/10.
And indeed the pen is mightier than the sword. (thoughAdobe does’nt have one yet.)
Flag as inappropriateThis is a very cool tut. I have used the pen tool in the past but often just get frustrated with it’s complexity. I appreciate this wonderful tutorial that clearly laid everything out and simply showed us how its done ;)
Keep up the awesome work!
Jeffrey
Flag as inappropriatethank youuuuuuu very match
Flag as inappropriatethanks man, this is AWESOME, i learned alot from this, i knew pen tool is powerful and it was hard for me to master it. This tute is gonna be handy for my next sigs. Cheers man.
Flag as inappropriateDude..
…
i cant express how thankful i am to you. O.O
Flag as inappropriateOnly because you’re a noob Ben ;)
Flag as inappropriateWow this tutorial is amazing, helped me so much with the pen tool. I was always scared to even try it out because i could never use it properly. This clears everything up and is going to be bookmarked for a while. Thanks!
Flag as inappropriateTruely the Pen is mightier than the sowrd. I find it ver difficult to use the Pen, but with the help of this tutorial, I’m able to draw our school logo into 3D format. Now the jobs are flowing like river. Thanks for your powerful, successful, useful and helpful tutorial. Respect. From Ghana with love.
Flag as inappropriateThanks, Great Website
Keep up the Great Work!
Flag as inappropriate@ Nir B -make sure that all of your pen options are set of correctly as shown.
@ andreic – thanks mate! We will surely keep writing more great tutorials for everyone!
Flag as inappropriatesweet tut, keep up the good work
Flag as inappropriateThe problem i was trying to solve using this tutorial was not solved.
Flag as inappropriateLets say in the pen example, by the 3rd anchor, the entire thing looses any shape, its as if the poon tool is trying to save a certin proportion… i dont know, if anyone knows what im talking about, and knows which function will change that, please respond, thanks allot!
Haha I’d never thought of using the grid, gonna have to try that out!
Flag as inappropriateGlad you guys learned something new! Just remember to have the “Snap”, and Snap to Grid options enabled, or else it won’t snap to the lines and intersections on the grid.
Also, you can set up your Grid in Photoshop’s Preferences. I’ll go over that in another tutorial though ;)
Flag as inappropriateI’ve been using the pen tool for a while…but i’ve never used the grid. Im deffinately gonna try that from now on.
Flag as inappropriateVery useful tut. Im going to rock this joint…
Flag as inappropriateGreat stuff!
Fantastic tutorial, this cleared a few things up for me.
Thanks!
Flag as inappropriate*Sniff* Greycobra colours. :(
Great tut though, very useful for me (I never use the pen tool).
Flag as inappropriate