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Shape Shifter - Take 2
Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS5 with Windows XP.
With tons of tools, options, and possibilities, Photoshop is a wonderful playground for any digital scrapbooking aficionado. I love that there are many ways to change the color of a photo or product, to edit the look of an item with layer masks, brushes, and styles, and to customize text and objects with clipping masks and templates. Knowing there is an endless array of topics to discuss with the software, I hope you will indulge me a bit as I expand upon a subject from a previous tutorial: Working with Custom Shapes.
Often when I use any of the shape tools, I place each piece on a separate layer. But how do you work with multiple shapes on the same layer? Let's explore one viable option.
To begin, use the Custom Shape Tool (U) to make a shape on your layout. To create an additional shape on the layer, hold down the Shift key then click and drag your mouse across the page. Don't worry about placement or size yet, because we'll address that in the next step.
As you can see in my layout, I've added three butterflies to my canvas, and they are all lined up like little soldiers. The look may be perfect for some situations, but this time around I am going for "artfully disarrayed."
For the sample, ScrapSimple Tools – Shapes: Butterflies 7201 was used.
With the Shape Layer active in the Layers Palette, choose the Path Selection Tool (A). Click on the shape you wish to edit. You are now able to shift the position of the shape or use Ctrl+T (Cmd+T on a Mac) to transform the size or adjust the rotation. When you are done with one shape, use the Path Selection Tool (A) to click on the next shape you wish to alter.
Note: The Direct Selection Tool is also accessed with the (A) shortcut, but it only selects anchors on your shape rather than the entire figure; we won't be using the Direct Selection Tool in this tutorial.
By using Shift+Click to select more than one shape, you are also able to take advantage of the alignment and arrangement choices on the Option Bar.
In my sample, I rotated all three butterflies and made sure the two on the left were not overlapping.
For those of you working in Photoshop Elements, you may achieve most of the same results with the Shape Selection Tool (U) which is found with the other shape tools in the Toolbox.
Note: The (A) shortcut in PSE will give you the Quick Selection Tool and the Selection Brush Tool which have different purposes than what we are using in this tutorial.
The following screen shot was taken in Photoshop Elements 8.
After you have completed your alterations to the shapes, click the Checkmark Icon on the Option Bar which will dismiss the target path (make all the shapes on the layer active again).
For my sample layout, to make my butterflies more dimensional, I created a copy of the Shape Layer. On the Shape Layer Copy, I used the Path Selection Tool (A) to select each butterfly individually and resize them to 95%; by selecting them individually, each butterfly copy remains centered over its match.
To add color, I used a clipping mask on the Shape Layer with the yellow paper from Fat Quarter Collection Mini and added ScrapSimple Tools – Styles: Vellum 5401 on the Shape Layer Copy. Using the Brush Tool (B) with a soft-edged default brush, I highlighted the center of the wings and shaded the edge of the wings and the body centers. The final touch was adding drop shadows to both shape layers to allow the butterflies to pop off the page.
After seeing how helpful the Path Selection Tool (A) is (or Shape Selection Tool [U] in PSE), I hope you will add it to your digital bag of tricks.
Until next time,
Your pal Marnie
Layout by Marnie Adams
larger view
Tutorial written by Marnie Adams
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