How to Learn Vector Photoshop
Vector graphics are one of the more useful tools in the graphic artist's arsenal. Unlike bitmap-based images, which are basically photographic style images, vector graphic images are made up of simple shapes and colors, looking like cartoons or simple abstractions of photos. Vector images are infinitely expandable without any loss of detail or edge sharpness. Although Photoshop doesn't have the full set of vector tools that a dedicated vector graphics program like Illustrator or Corel Draw has, it does have some basic tools you need to know how to use to create basic vector style shapes.
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Instructions
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Learn to make vector shapes using the "Pen" tool. Start by creating a new layer in the "Layer" panel. Select the Pen from the toolbar, and use it to draw out a simple shape (path) on the canvas. You can set the options at the top to fill this shape with a texture, a color or a gradient. For the purposes of creating a vector style image, you should stick to colors or gradients. If you choose, you can leave the fill option off, and then add them later by clicking on the "Paths" tab, right-clicking the path you see and selecting "Fill." You can also add a stroke around the shape in this way.
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Use the "Shape" tools located near the bottom of the toolbar to create vector shapes in Photoshop. If you right-click on this tool, you get a choice of several shapes like ellipses and rectangles that you can select and draw onto your canvas. As with the Pen tool, you can fill or stroke these shapes. There is also a "Custom Shape" tool that allows you to select from a large number of more detail-preset shapes that you can then draw on the canvas.
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Learn about the importance of using layers in creating vector shapes in Photoshop. It is only by using layers to separate out the various elements of your design that you can create more complex vector images. For example, if you are creating a vector-type image of a car, you might have the outer body shape of the car on the bottom layer, and then have the windows on the next. You can produce doors by using the same color as the body layer, and then adding a thin stroke.
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