Drawing

Question 1

SHAPE, PATH, PIXELS

Answer 1

When drawing with the shapes tool the output can be drawn in 3 different ways -
Shape Layer - An independent vector shape layer is drawn above the current layer.
Path - The shape is recorded as a path in the paths pallett for use with other operations.
Pixels - A solid raster of the shape will be painted on the current layer.

Question 2

SHAPE CONSTRAINT

Answer 2

Drawing of shapes can be modifies with two keys.
Shift - Will constrain dimensions so a perfect square or circle is drawn.
Alt - Will draw the shape from centre outwards instead of top left.
Holding down both will combine functions.

Question 3

SHAPE PROPERTIES

Answer 3

Shape properties including stroke and fill can be adjusted in the options bar and the properties palette.

Stroke and Fill colour and Stroke size and style are available in options with the following additional features in the properties panel -

Stroke Align - This selects whether the stroke is drawn on the outside, evenly centred or inside edge of the shape.

End Caps - Square or rounded line ends

Corner Joins- Square rounded or cropped corners.

Corner Radius - Can be adjusted universally or individually for each corner.

Question 4

MERGING SHAPES

Answer 4

Shapes can be combined by selecting two or more and using the merge layers command ctrl+E or right clicking and selecting unite shapes.

Either will result in the selected shape layers merging with only the external lines visible as the path.

Individual paths can still be moved around and duplicated etc and the shape will update accordingly. However fill and stroke options will now apply to all shapes on the merged layer.

Question 5

SHAPE COMBINATIONS

Answer 5

Once shapes are combined the why they interact can be modified using the tools in the options bar and properties panel - Subtracting front shapes, Intersecting Areas or Excluding Overlapping Sections.

This in turn can be modified by moving the relative position front to back of each shape using the shapes stacking options on the options bar.

To convert the final shape to a standard shape layer, select Merge Shape Components from the bottom of the path operations list on the options bar.

Question 6

CHANGING SHAPE FILL

Answer 6

A shapes fill colour can be changed by selecting the colour picker from the options bar or properties panel.

Selecting a colour with the eye dropper then selecting the shape and using the fill with foreground colour Command ctrl+Backspace.

Double clicking the shape layer to bring up the colour picker, sampling anywhere on the canvas and then pressing enter to confirm.