How to Use the Pen Tool for Selections in Adobe Photoshop

Posted on 16th June 2023

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used program for crafting layouts, graphics, logos, and photos.

The pen tool is one of the most essential and versatile tools in Photoshop.

The pen tool can be used to create a variety of different selections, including straight lines, curves, and complex shapes. In this article, we’ll show you how to use the pen tool to create selections in Adobe Photoshop.

How to Use the Pen Tool for Selections in Adobe Photoshop

1. Choose the pen tool from the toolbar.

The pen tool is located in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. It looks like a pen icon.

2. Select the desired mode from the options bar.

There are three different modes that can be selected from the options bar:

  • Create a new path: This is the default mode. Use this mode to create a new path or shape.
  • Add to path: Use this mode to add to an existing path or shape.
  • Subtract from path: Use this mode to subtract from an existing path or shape.

3. Begin drawing your selection.

Once you’ve chosen the desired mode, you can begin drawing your selection. To draw a straight line, click and drag the pen tool to the desired location. To create a curved line, click and drag the pen tool while holding down the “shift” key.

4. Complete your selection.

To complete your selection, click on the “anchor point” icon in the options bar. This will create a final point in your selection. You can also double-click on the pen tool to complete your selection.

5. Edit your selection.

If you need to edit your selection, you can use the Direct Selection tool to select individual points and anchor points. You can also use the pen tool to add or delete anchor points.

6. Save your selection.

Once you’ve completed your selection, you’ll need to save it as a “path” in order to use it later. To do this, go to the “Paths” tab in the options bar and click on the “Make Work Path” button. This will create a new work path that can be used later.

The pen tool is one of the most essential and powerful tools in Adobe Photoshop. The pen tool can be used for a variety of tasks, but one of its most common uses is for making selections. With the pen tool, you can select any object, no matter how complex, with precision and accuracy.

Here is a quick guide on how to use the pen tool for selections in Adobe Photoshop:

1. Firstly, open the image that you want to make a selection from in Adobe Photoshop.

2. Then, select the pen tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen.

3. To make a selection with the pen tool, you will need to click around the perimeter of the object that you want to select. As you click, small anchor points will be placed around the object.

4. Once you have clicked around the entire object, double-click on the last anchor point to complete the selection.

5. You can then move the selection by clicking and dragging it to the desired location.

6. To deselect the selection, simply click on the “Deselect” button in the top toolbar.

The pen tool is an extremely versatile tool that can be used for a variety of tasks in Adobe Photoshop. With a little practice, you will be able to make accurate selections with the pen tool in no time at all!

The Pen tool is one of the most useful selection tools in Adobe Photoshop. Here are some tips on how to use the Pen tool to make selections:

If you’re making a complex selection, it’s often helpful to start with the Pen tool. The Pen tool allows you to create precise selections by drawing paths. You can also use the Pen tool to select an object in a photo and then move or copy it to another location.

To use the Pen tool, first select it from the Tools panel. Then click on the image where you want to start drawing your path. As you move the mouse, you’ll see a line appear. Click again to add another point to the path. Continue clicking to add more points.

To close the path, click on the first point you created. You’ll see a small circle appear next to the Pen tool cursor, indicating that the path is closed.

Once you’ve created a path, you can use it to make a selection. To do this, make sure the path is selected in the Paths panel, and then click on the “Make Selection” button at the bottom of the panel.

You can also use the Pen tool to create a freeform selection. To do this, select the Freeform Pen tool from the Tools panel. Then click and drag on the image to draw a path. As you move the mouse, you’ll see a line appear. Release the mouse button when you’re done.

The Pen tool is a powerful selection tool that can be used to create precise selections or freeform selections. With a little practice, you’ll be able to master this versatile tool.

If you have any questions please let me know.

To complete your selection with the Pen tool, do one of the following:

To close the selection border to the starting point, position the Pen tool over the starting point, and click. Photoshop displays a small circle next to the Pen tool pointer when it is positioned over the starting point.
To keep the selection border open, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and click the starting point.

You can also adjust the width of your selection at any time by clicking and dragging on the selection border. To add to your selection, press Shift as you click and drag on the selection border. To remove from your selection, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you click and drag on the selection border.