Free Adobe Photoshop Website Designing Video Tutorial - Shape Tools

In this Free Photoshop Website Designing Video Tutorial, we will show you how to use “Shape Tools” (Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, Polygon Tool, Line Tool and Custom Shape Tool) and its functions. Shape Tools are used to draw predefined and geometric paths which you can modify using Direct Selection Tool. You can scale these shapes easily.

We suggest that you first view our "Shape Tools Video Tutorial" to understand this visually and more easily however we have also given steps, tips and options given in the tool options bar of different shape tools. There are six types of Shape Tools i.e. Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, Polygon Tool, Line Tool and Custom Shape Tool. Press “U” to select Shape Tool.

Functions of different Photoshop Shape Tools:

1. Rectangle Tool: Using this tool, we can draw rectangles or squares of any size.
2. Rounded Rectangle Tool: Using this tool we can draw rectangles or squares with rounded corners of any size.
3. Ellipse Tool: Ellipse tool is used to draw ellipses or circles of any size.
4. Polygon Tool: This tool is used to create polygons of any size.
5. Line Tool: Using this tool you can draw straight lines.
6. Custom Shape Tool: This tool is used to draw different predefined shapes.

Steps for using Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, Polygon Tool and Custom Shape Tool

1. Select File > New.
2. Select Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, Polygon Tool or Custom Shape Tool from the toolbar. When you select any shape tool then you can see all shape tools will get appear in the “Tool Options Bar”.
3. Various options will get appear in the tool options bar, related to the shape tool you have selected. You can select any option i.e. shape layers, paths or fill pixels according to your need. If you have selected “Custom Shape Tool” then select any shape from the shape popup, which contains many predefined shapes.
4. Click and drag on the canvas to draw geometric shapes. Remember if you want to draw a blank path then select “Path” from the tool options bar otherwise select “Shape Layers” to draw a filled path.
5. While making your shape if you have selected “Path” option from the tool options bar then to convert this path to the selection, right click inside the path and select “Make Selection” from the given options.
6. A make selection dialogue box will get appear, where you can give Feather Radius if you want to give otherwise leave it as 0 and press Ok.
7. To fill color in the selection, select “Paint Bucket Tool” or “Gradient Tool” from the tool options bar.
   
   

Steps for using Line Tool

1. Select File > New.
2. Select Line Tool from the toolbar.
3. When you select line tool, related options will be shown in the tool options bar. If you want to draw an arrow instead of simple line then select a small triangle given just adjacent to the custom shape tool icon in the tool options bar. A small box will get open where you can define width, length or concavity.
4. Select “Fill Pixels” from the tool options bar(this option will automatically fill the pixels of an object drawn if it selected before creating an object).
5. Now, click and drag on the canvas to draw a simple line. Select “Start” or ”End” check boxes if you want to add an arrow either on any of the side

Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, Polygon Tool, Line Tool and Custom Shape Tool options given in the Tool Options Bar:

When you select any of the Shape Tools related tool options appear in the Tool Options Bar. These options are described below:

Tool Mode Options

1. Shape Layers: This will create a shape in the new layer. This shape can be modified using pen tool options.
2. Paths: This is used to create path for any shape and then it can be used as a selection for a vector mask or to stroke and fill with color. This path can also be modified using pen tool options. Work path is temporary unless you save it.
3. Fill Pixels: This option will fill the shape directly. The pen tool don't work in this mode. When you select this option from the tool options bar then you have following options appear in the tool options bar:
   
   • Mode: There are various options of mode (i.e. Normal, darken, multiply etc) By default Normal is selected. Mode controls how image pixels are affected.
   • Opacity: This will affects the color transparency of any shape drawn.
   • Anti-aliased: Turning on this option will create smoother edges.

Compound Path Options:

1. Create New Shape Layer: This option is used to create new shapes.
2. Add to Shape: This option will add some more area to overlapping path areas.
3. Subtract from Shape Area: This option is used to remove or subtract the area from the overlapping path area.
4. Intersect Shape Areas: Using this option you can restrict the path to the intersection of the existing area and the new area.
5. Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas: This option will exclude the intersecting area.

Other options:

1. Style: This will change the layer style for the shape layer.
2. Color: Color option is used to change the color of newly created shape layer.

When you click on the small triangle (Geometry Options) given just adjacent to the custom shape tool icon, the following options will get appear according to the tool selected:

1. Unconstrained: This option is available for Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool and Custom Shape Tool. By default this option is selected. You can draw your shape freely by selecting this option.
2. Square: This option is available for Rectangle Tool and Rounded Rectangle Tool. You can draw a perfect square or square with rounded corners using this option.
3. Circle: This option is only available for Ellipse Tool. You can draw a perfect square by selecting this option.
4. Fixed Size: This option is available for Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool and Ellipse Tool. This allows you to draw any shape in predefined size.
5. Proportional: This option is also available for Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool and Ellipse Tool. Using this option you can draw above given shapes proportionately.
6. From Center: This option is available for Rectangle Tool, Rounded Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool and Custom Shape Tool. This option allows you to start drawing any shape from center.

Polygon Tool Options

1. Radius: Defines the distance from the center of a polygon to the outer points.
2. Smooth Corners: Renders a polygon with smooth corners.
3. Star: You can draw a star like shape using this option.
4. Smooth Indent: If you don't want sharp angles on the star then choose “Smooth Indent”.

Line Tool Options

1. Start and End: If you want to add an arrow at the beginning of the line then select “Start” and if you want to add an arrow at the ed of the line , select “End”.
2. Width and Length: Using this option you can specify the wideness and length of an arrow.
3. Concavity: You can enter this value from -50% to +50%. This value defines the curvature on the widest part of the arrowhead, where arrowhead meets the line.