How to Draw Unfilled Vector Shapes in Photoshop

Although it is easy to draw a filled shape in Photoshop, the method for drawing an unfilled shape in Photoshop isn’t obvious—you need to remember a few extra steps. This Adobe Photoshop tutorial will show you how to draw an unfilled vector shape. Using this method you can draw unfilled circles, ellipses, squares, rectangles, rounded rectangles, and polygons.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop

1. 
    
   Photoshop tools palette

   From the tools palette, select a shape tool. You can use any of the shape tools—ellipse, rectangle, rounded rectangle, or polygon.

2. 
    
   Photoshop options bar

   On the options bar, select the icon for shape layers and the icon for create new shape layer. These settings will automatically create a new Photoshop layer each time you draw with a shape tool.

3. 
    
   Photoshop polygon shape tool options panel

   On the options bar, adjust the settings for the shape tool you selected. Each shape tool has different options. Some of the options will appear directly on the options bar; for others, you will need to display an options panel. To display the options panel, click on the drop-down menu next to the shape icons.

4. 
    
   Don't worry!

   Draw the shape. The shape is filled at this point. Don't worry, by the end of this tutorial you will have an unfilled shape.

5. 
    
   Photoshop layer fill setting

   On the layers palette, set the layer fill to 0%. The entire shape disappears after you change the layer fill.

6. 
    
   Photoshop layer styles menu

   Bring up the layer styles dialog box. You can do this by either choosing Layer > Layer Style > Stroke from the menu, or by choosing the layer styles icon at the bottom of the layers palette.

7. 
    
   Photoshop stroke layer styles box

   In the layer style dialog box, adjust the structure and fill settings to set the width, position, and color of the stroke. Click OK when you are finished. You now have an unfilled shape. Because this is a vector shape, you can modify the layer later if necessary.

[Psalmist4M]

on 10/17/2009 Photohop is so intimidating to me. Thanks for the details and tips. Great write-up. 5*s