Ok. The pen is driving me insane.

In my mind, it either has a serious design flaw, or I'm using it like a moron.

Here is my problem...I can't trace irregular shapes with it.

Im bad at explaining things, so Ill just show you.

Ok, So first I click...




Then I click again, and hold this time. I move my mouse and fit the line to the curve.



...so far so good...

I click again. This time, the line curves to the point I clicked on...but it fits in.



Next point.

Click. Hold. The line curves again to the point I clicked on, instead of making a strait line...This time it doesn't work out. I cant get it to follow the line I want it to.




Someone. Please school me. This tool would be amazing if it would just stop curving all over the place when I want a strait line...

Alt or Option click on the last point and you'll start fresh again.

Sorry, after a few glasses of Chardonnay, that's the best I can explain it.



Once you get the hang of the pen tool, you'll love it.

The pen tool is a very complex tool to learn to use, but its essential that you learn how to use it. Instead of reinventing the wheel, and showing or telling you how. instead, WATCH THIS VIDEO.

Ok, first of all you get the magic wand and select the yellow shape.

And secondly, you use a Zune?!?!?! Hahahahaha!

And thirdly, with a bit of practice (and if you don't care for perfect curves), by simply clicking around the desired cut out, then converting into a selection, it's not too difficult to cut out shapes and objects using the pen tool.

http://photoshopcontest.com/tutorials/15/pen-tool-as-mask-selector.html

One of he better pen tool tuts, but practise does help.

ok i dont mean to derive the option of the pen tool... in your screen shoots of the yellow blob on the white b/g a more faster and fail safe approach would be to use the magnetic lasso tool... i say this only as it would be your fastest and easiest way of selecting the yellow blob from the white area...and if you are truely lazy just select the magic wand and click on the white area... apple j and delete the selection... leaves you w/ the yellow blob...

you need to hold alt down or the apple key for mac's, and drag the leading anchor point in line with edge of the surface you are tracing, an close to the middle point if you are on a curve to give yourself more control.

See Rein's basics:

http://photoshopcontest.com/tutorials/15/pen-tool-as-mask-selector.html

apple j = windows version of creating a duplicate layer...

Dont know if this is the case mate but I learnt to use the pen tool by doing shapes just like that, and in the beginning it was and some times still is a pain.

But its a good tool to use

Thanks loads Tarmac for video, really useful


Thanks, Ex, for bringing subject up, I was finding paths frustrating as well

Dude.

Alt clicking anchor points FTW.

Thanks everyone, everything was really helpful!

And I totally get it now.

1. -_-

2. I know...it sucks...

3. Thats what I have been doing...until now...because of one video an the "alt" button.

don't get me wrong i use the pen tool when needed but there are other options and i was telling 2 other ways for the dude to achieve shape selections...

Keep working on learning the pen tool!!!
It is an amazing tool and will rocket you above all the other puny photoshop users.

He's just using the yellow blob as an example.
I don't think he really has a problem selecting from that particular Image.