How To Make a Custom Shape in
Photoshop
Have you looked at the custom shapes on offer
around? Have you thought how much easier it
would be to have templates such as frames,
brads, eyelets, mats even alphas as shapes? Here
then are a few tips and pointers to help you
make your own custom shapes in Photoshop.
1. Take your template or photo, and outline the shape you want with the
magic wand. If you have selected a
difficult patterned object, then tap outside
shape with mouse, go to select and choose
inverse.
2. Find the path palette (usually placed underneath the layer
palette if you are working with the default
workspace). At the bottom of the palette
are a number of little icons.
3.
Touch your mouse over them to read them and then click on the one that
says "make path from selection". On your shape
you will now have a faint black line instead of
the marquee or marching ants. This has made a
path around your shape which the custom shape
maker will recognise.
4.
Now go up to edit and from the dropdown menu
choose "make custom shape", give it a name and
click ok. Voila, you have a new custom shape
which will appear in the dropdown for custom
shapes.
5.
To save your new shapes go to the preset manager
(to be found either in the flyout for the the
tool or in edit at the bottom). Then save your
new shape or shape set.
You can learn from making basic shapes and go on
to try more complex shapes as you're outlining
with the marquee tool improves. Practice is what
makes perfect! This is a lot of fun as you can
make shapes from things you had never thought of
before. It is also such a time saver.
