Tricks Paths & Clipping Groups!

[theKeeper]

Just tripped across a couple things i totally forgot about folks.
Thought i'd share them here while they were still fresh in my brain.

Quick Clip Groups!
When using "Clipping Groups" on your layer(s), you can save yourself a step when adding new layers to the group, by simply holding down CTRL/Cmd while you click the "New Layer" icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette.
No other method/shortcut can be used to do this same funtion.
It saves you having to ALT-click between the new layer and a clipped layer, when adding the new one to the group. Instead, this adds it automatically.

The regular shortcut to group 2 layers is Ctrl/Cmd+G. But this even avoids using that.

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A Trick with PATHS!
After creating a Path, try this cool function and see how you like it. Makes it a bit easier/natural to shape a path the way you want.

Hold down the Ctrl/Cmd key and 'grab' the path line with your mouse pointer. Now drag the line around. Cool huh?!
This is something that is very natural to do in real vector apps, but something either not known, or not mentioned when talking about Photoshop's vector abilities.

But now you know! B7

TIP: The direction the Path line moves when dragging it is controlled by the direction the Beziere handles are pointing in. Also... grab the Path line in different places to control how it moves.

HINT: This can also be performed on Path/Shapes with no Beziere handles added ( like a plain square ). After the Path/Shape is created, just Ctrl/Cmd-drag on any one of the straight lines.

Try it! [slick]

[Sanby]

Kewl, that path trick looks really neat. I gotta try that.

Thnx

Sanby

[MindBender]

Hmm... never really thought about the clipping idea... I use that cmd+clickNewLayer combo to create new layers beneath existing layers so I don't have to build a new layer and then drag it.

Lots of path tricks from more traditional vector apps work in photoshop, but rarely do photoshop only users find them. Using shift to multiply direct point select anchor points on a path will allow you to move entire chunks of a path or segments of a line rather than positioning each anchor. Kind of a similar maneuver.

Good stuff, oh mighty god of photoshop! ... as usual. ;)

[wbiss]

Great info Mark & MindBender!

[AppleCider]

Wonderful stuff! Thanks!

[theKeeper]

Hi guys...

Ya i think more exploration is in order for new users. There are multitudes of undiscovered gems in this program.
Get to it you guys! [upset]

Using shift to multiply direct point select anchor points on a path will allow you to move entire chunks of a path or segments of a line rather than positioning each anchor.

I just want to expand & clarify what MB said here...

The way i use the Path tool is, i don't manually keep switching to the Direct Select tool (by clicking it's icon in the Toolbar). I just stay on the Pen tool and hold the Ctrl/Cmd key to select points. Using this key toggles the select tool off and on. It's much quicker.
I don't know if MB does this or not, but if one chooses to work in this manner with the Pen tool, then in order to select multiple points, you must hold the Ctrl and Shift keys down.
If you choose to manually switch to the Direct Select tool, then use the method MB stated -- just hold the Shift key while clicking on multiple points.

I just wanted this to be perfectly clear for new users. [honesty]

[MindBender]

Well... I do often switch to the direct select arrow in the tool bar, but here is why (has to do with, as you said, the way you work). By the time I'm needing to make the kind of changes that you are talking about, I'm usually needing to affect not only position but directional handles. SO... I will switch to the direct select arrow because the "convert point" tool is a keystroke modifier of THAT tool (cmd+option I believe, hard to say... it's just an automatic motion for my hand. haha). Only in rare circumstances do I work exclusively in the pen tool. Usually I will build my objects and then use the direct arrow for my "clean up". When I'm building a path, I certainly use the modifier keys rather than switch tools manually, that's almost unilaterally the better way to work.

As sirMark said, there are a TON of ways to work with paths, and it really depends on your methods and your personal workflow.

Just my clarification of the afore clarification ;)

[Splash]

Cool info, I like all your tutorials thekeeper!

[theKeeper]

Thanks Splash, welcome to the community. Hope you enjoy your stay. [honesty]