How to make clean clipping paths in Photoshop
When combining the graphic elements of Adobe Photoshop CS5 in a page layout program, such as Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress, you may want to compose the graphic objects on a colored background. Unfortunately, when you carry the graphic in your design, the background behind the objects darkens the background tone and spoils the effect you're trying to create. The solution to your problem is simple: Create a clipping path in the Photoshop file and create its background disappears.
Instructions
1 Start Adobe Photoshop CS5. Select the "Open" option from the "File" menu and browse to the location of the document to which you want to add a clipping path.
2 Press the "F" key on the keyboard to place your display of the file in full-screen mode and surround the document window with neutral gray. Select the "Zoom" tool from the toolbox by clicking its icon or pressing the "Z" key on your keyboard. Click in the file window to zoom in on the document until you are seeing 200 percent and can see the edges of objects clearly.
3 Open the "Paths" panel by choosing "Paths" from the "Window" menu. Select the "new path" option from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the "Paths" panel. Select the "Pen" tool from the toolbox by clicking its icon or pressing the "P" key on your keyboard.
4 Find a starting point from which to start drawing the clipping path service. Right-angle corners make ideal starts because straight lines are easy to draw and sharp corners form simple endpoints at which to close a route.
5 Draw a pixel or two within the edges of the graph so that your clipping path will exclude all of the background colors from your Photoshop file. To draw a straight line, click once to start the line and again to complete the first line segment. To draw a curve, click and drag the pointing device. Use as few control points as possible to make your clipping path easy to exit.
6 Draw around your object until it ends where it started. Hover over the first control point you drew. The shape of your cursor turns into a hollow circle, indicating that it will close and complete its way when clicked.
7 Switch to the "Direct Selection" tool by selecting the corresponding icon in the toolbox or pressing the "A" key on your keyboard. Examine your path for bumpy spots that don't follow the shape of the graph as well as you like. Click on a control point with the "Direct Selection" tool and move the control point or adjust its control handles to change its position or the shape of the path at that point. Use the "Direct Selection" tool to manipulate the shape of segments of your path between control points.
8 When the clipping path is complete, choose the "clipping path ..." from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the "Paths" panel. Choose your path name from the popup "path". You can leave the "flatness" value blank.
9 Save the document in the TIFF format. Place it in your page layout.
To improve your path drawing skills, select the "Type" function and add the capital letters "E", "K" and "U" to a practical Photoshop file. Make the guy big enough that you can see it clearly. Add a path to the "Paths" panel in the practice file and use the "Pen" tool to draw around the letters.
2 Press the "F" key on the keyboard to place your display of the file in full-screen mode and surround the document window with neutral gray. Select the "Zoom" tool from the toolbox by clicking its icon or pressing the "Z" key on your keyboard. Click in the file window to zoom in on the document until you are seeing 200 percent and can see the edges of objects clearly.
3 Open the "Paths" panel by choosing "Paths" from the "Window" menu. Select the "new path" option from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the "Paths" panel. Select the "Pen" tool from the toolbox by clicking its icon or pressing the "P" key on your keyboard.
4 Find a starting point from which to start drawing the clipping path service. Right-angle corners make ideal starts because straight lines are easy to draw and sharp corners form simple endpoints at which to close a route.
5 Draw a pixel or two within the edges of the graph so that your clipping path will exclude all of the background colors from your Photoshop file. To draw a straight line, click once to start the line and again to complete the first line segment. To draw a curve, click and drag the pointing device. Use as few control points as possible to make your clipping path easy to exit.
6 Draw around your object until it ends where it started. Hover over the first control point you drew. The shape of your cursor turns into a hollow circle, indicating that it will close and complete its way when clicked.
7 Switch to the "Direct Selection" tool by selecting the corresponding icon in the toolbox or pressing the "A" key on your keyboard. Examine your path for bumpy spots that don't follow the shape of the graph as well as you like. Click on a control point with the "Direct Selection" tool and move the control point or adjust its control handles to change its position or the shape of the path at that point. Use the "Direct Selection" tool to manipulate the shape of segments of your path between control points.
8 When the clipping path is complete, choose the "clipping path ..." from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner of the "Paths" panel. Choose your path name from the popup "path". You can leave the "flatness" value blank.
9 Save the document in the TIFF format. Place it in your page layout.
Tips and Warnings
If you are used to working in Adobe Illustrator, your knowledge of its drawing tools will help you use similar path tools in Photoshop. Turn off the visibility of the main Photoshop layer in the "Layers" panel and examine its clipping path for itself. When you look at the road yourself, it is possible to detect the areas that you would like to improve.To improve your path drawing skills, select the "Type" function and add the capital letters "E", "K" and "U" to a practical Photoshop file. Make the guy big enough that you can see it clearly. Add a path to the "Paths" panel in the practice file and use the "Pen" tool to draw around the letters.
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