How to Make Curved Lines in Photoshop

To create smooth, curved lines in Photoshop requires you to get familiar with the pen tool. You first create a path with the pen tool, then let Photoshop stroke the path with the brush tool to draw your line. The type and width of the line is determined by the selected brush. With this technique, you will have more control over the precision of a curved line than if you drew it freehand.

Instructions

1. 

   Select the Pen Tool from the tools window (not the Freeform Pen Tool). Near the top left corner, there will be three options: Shape Layers, Paths and Fill Pixels. Select Paths.

2. 

   Click on the canvas where you want the start of your curve to be. A square dot should appear. Click where you want your curve to end (or change direction) and drag while holding down the mouse button to adjust your curve.

3. 

   Release the mouse button when you have the curve you want. Clicking and dragging again will create a new curve along the same line.

4. Select the Brush Tool and adjust the size to how thick you want your curved line to appear. For a crisp line, set your brush to 100 percent hardness.

5. 

   Select the Pen Tool again, and right click anywhere on the canvas and choose Stroke Path. In the pop-up window, select "Brush." If you want your line to be narrower at each end, select "Simulate Pressure." If you want it to be one, continuous width, leave this unchecked.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different brush types and widths for interesting designs.

• To close your line, hover the pen tool over the small square point that was created at the start of the line. You should see the pen tool change to include a small "o" next to it. Click the point to close the path, or click and hold the mouse button while dragging to adjust the curve of the line.

• To adjust the curve of the path, hold down the "Ctrl" key and click anywhere on the curve and drag. Holding down the "Ctrl" key and clicking on the ends of the handles that stick out of a point allow you to adjust the curve as well.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Photoshop Star: Free Photoshop Tutorials