Create photographic designs with VECTOR LAYERS

When you use a shape tool or the Pen tool in Photoshop, you create a vector layer. Vectors are resolution independent — you can scale them at any time and they maintain their sharp edges like the drawings in Illustrator. You can select any of Photoshop predesigned custom shapes for vectors or create your own shape with the Pen tools. You can also load custom shapes you purchase from third- party vendors. You can add shapes alone or in combination with other shapes to create novel designs or logos. When you draw a shape and create a vector layer, you can add to that shape on the same layer or you can create new vector layers with each shape you draw to create new designs. You can fill and stroke the vector shapes independently and still maintain the crisp Illustrator-type edges. You can add vector layers to any image as a design element or use the shape as a mask by clipping the image to the vector layer.

Note: Photograph copyright © Photospin.com.

Note: This task starts with a new white document set to US letter size.

1 Control+click (right-click) the Rectangle Shape tool.

2 Click the Custom Shape tool.

3 Click the Shape drop-down menu in the Options bar to view the shapes.

4 Click the gear menu button ( ) and click a set of shapes from the menu such as Grime Vector Pack.

5 Click Append in the dialog box that appears.

 

The selected shapes are added to the menu.

6 Double-click a shape in the menu.

7 Click and drag on the document.

A black shape appears on the white document.

8 Click the Path Operations button in the Options bar.

9 Click Combine Shapes.

10 Click and drag on the document again.

A The two black shapes are combined on one vector layer.

11 Click File.

12 Click Place.

13 Click a photo in the Place dialog box that appears.

14 Click Place. 

The photo appears on top of the design.

15 Click the Commit button to apply the placed image.

16 Opt+click (Alt+click) on the line between the photo layer and the vector shape layer to create a clipping mask.

Note: You can also click Layer and click Create Clipping Mask to clip the photo to the shape.

17 Press Ô+T (Ctrl+T) to make the Free Transform anchors appear.

18 Shift+click the anchor points to resize the photo. ( Click and drag on the image to adjust the photo in the shape. ) Click the Commit button to apply the transformation.

The photo fits inside the custom shape.

TIPS

More Options! 

Click the Custom Shape tool and click the vector layer to select it. Click the color box for the Stroke in the Options bar and select a color. Then click the word Stroke in the Options bar and drag to the left to increase the stroke size. 

Try This! 

After creating the first shape, click the Path Operations button ( ) in the Options bar and select New Layer. Then each time you click or click and drag in the document, another vector layer is added with that shape in it. 

Get Creative! 

You can create a grid of different photos by adding multiple vector layers with a rectangular or any other shape, placing one shape just next to the other. Then place one photo layer above each vector layer and repeat steps 16 to 20 for each photo layer.