Multiple Sharp Outlines

[BunnyBoy21]

I am having some serious problems with something that should pretty basic.

The lines behind the text is what I am trying to recreate in photoshop. I thought I knew how to do this because when I had a text layer I could simply "Convert it to a shape" but I can only convert it to a smart object for some reason.

What I did after a while was trace it and defined a custom shape for it however for some reason the tip and end of the shape do not get stroked properly it looks like this:

Is this something that needs to be done in illustrator? I have never used it but I can try. I just need to know what I am doing wrong and why this is so damn hard.

I even tried making about 4 layers and re-sizing them to replicate the main image but it doesn't work.

Please Help

 

[ALB68]

I think you may have answered your own question. I'm sure you can do this in PS but just looking at what your doing, I would think AI would be a better choice. The whole thing can be created as vectors and AI is great for ordering objects, front, back etc. This would be especially true if the content is going to be used to apply a cut vinyl decal to the police car. Plotters and Cut and Print printers need vector lines to work with.
PS is a great program for certain tasks and I was kinda like you. I used PS and Corel Draw for vectors and then I decided to learn AI. It is great and I will not go back. I use both PS and AI together to create what I need and the interface between the two really works well.

 

[ibclare]

Larry is right. AI is best. However, you can create the vector in PS. All depends on the resolution and final output. If you use the pen tool, which is simple and basic for this kind of shape, you'll get a smooth and totally filled shape as you want.

With the pen tool, click a point to start and a point to end. Without letting go of the tool, use the handles to curve the shape.



Next, hold alt/opt and click on that second point.

Now pick your next point, drag the handles again to get the shape you want. You may need to move the points around a bit. Hold ctl/cmd, click, and shift them as needed. Then alt/opt click on that point again and finish your path by connecting to the first point.



Finally, activate the selection. Go to the paths palette, ctl/cmd click it and fill with your choice of color.

You can then use layer effects>stroke (at bottom of layer panel, you'll see the fx and strok is the lowest option in the dropdown.

 

[hawkeye]

No need to make it a selection, just set the foreground color ad hit the fill icon in the paths palette.