Bézier paths

[Cloud]

PSE4 for Mac: How do I create Bézier paths? I looked for a pen tool and could not find it, nor any other tool that would draw smooth custom curves.

Eventually I gave up and loaded the .psd file in to Gimp, and used its pen tool.

Is this missing in PSE4? I very wet-behind-the-ears when it comes to PSE4, so I'm hoping I'm just me. If it is missing in PSE4 (Mac), would an upgrade to PSE6 (Mac) fix this?

[photoshopsusieq]

Alas, PSE DOES NOT have the Pen Tool. It's only in the full version of Photoshop. An upgrade would not help with that particular problem but I'm sure there are other wonderful features that would come with the upgrade.

[Cloud]

Oh. That's rather a downer. Glad now I didn't get PSE6.

So how do I draw smooth lines in PSE4? Is it free hand with the pencil tool or nothing?

I'm not sure I can live totally without a pen/path/smooth curve tool, and since I ended up opening my files in Gimp I also ended up doing it all in Gimp. Which mean I'm not learning PSE4.

I got PSE4 due to Gimp's lack of pressure sensitivity on a Mac, but it seems I've just swapped one problem for another. Oh well. I will go back to PSE4 when I next need a pressure sensitive tool.

[ljameso1]

2 things on PSE that come to mind are the brush tool and the shapes tool. Maybe they would be adequate substitute?

[Cloud]

2 things on PSE that come to mind are the brush tool and the shapes tool. Maybe they would be adequate substitute?
I thought the brush tool was freehand like the pencil, but with fuzzy edges? Please excuse the technical terms :p The pen tool is a path creator and can be used to make smooth lines (by stroking the path) so avoiding shaky hand drawing.

I guess the shapes tool could be used in some circumstances, but the shapes are very limiting. I was trying to ink a sketch, so I don't think they would help.

I'd be very happy to be corrected on any or all of this. I've not used PSE4 for long so I'm probably missing many important technique, functions, options, etc. The above is juts my current understanding. :o

[Wendy]

Hi Cloud ..

There isn't a substitute for the pen tool ...

I use CS3 and the Pen tool is one of the things that I use the most .. :)

Wendy

[TonyW]

There is a plug-in available that adds paths and bezier curves functionality to PSE and both Mac and Windows versions are available. It's been mentioned a few times but I still haven't heard from anyone who has actually tried it - but it may well do what you want.

http://www.humansoftware.com/pages1200/PathsElem/HSpathsfram11.html

Tony

[Cloud]

Wendy,

I use the pen tool a far bit it seems as I keep wanting to use it while I've been playing with my new PSE4. That surprised me as I had not realised how much I depended on it (when using Gimp).

Tony,

That 3rd-party plug-in may well be my solution, and although it irks to spend more money, it not too expensive a risk to just buy it and see.

However, there's so much to learn with PSE4 I feel I need to be up the curve a little further before I start installing non-standard add-ins. Also, Gimp does a reasonable job with paths, so I'm not out in the cold :)

[Wendy]

Hi Tony ...

I don't think that we have heard from anyone who has bought it ... and there doesn't seem to be a demo either

Wendy

[ljameso1]

Here's all the ways could try in PSE(that I could think of)

[Cloud]

Um, that's interesting, Linda. Didn't realise there were quite so many possible work rounds. I'll see if I can workout how to use them all - good learning exercise for me if nothing else :)

Just for info, this is what I was working on when I run in to the lack of paths in PSE4. The sketch was in PSE4, but this close up is in Gimp after stroking the paths.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb319/cloudy-thoughts/scraps/th_g.jpg (http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb319/cloudy-thoughts/scraps/g.jpg)

[ljameso1]

Looks cute! I bet you eventually will figure out a way to make this program dance. One more thought, if you succeed in drawing "just the right arrow" save a copy on a transparent background as a psd so can re-use.