Learning Matters
Pathway “work around” for Photoshop Elements
By Michelle Bradshaw
Photoshop Elements is a wonderful program created by Adobe and is the little brother/sister to the full version of Photoshop and Creative Suites [CS]. Although it might not possess all the whistles and bells of big brother/sister, there are often ways to work around and be able to achieve the same or at least a similar look.
Photoshop Elements does not have a pathway per se. Let’s open a new blank document 3600 x 3600 pixels and a resolution of 300 and see what can be achieved.
Start by placing the grid over your workspace. From the menu- View > grid or the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl [cmd on a mac] + ‘ [apostrophe key]. The grid is useful for assisting in placement.
It will look like this.
Create a new layer: From the menu- Layer > New > Layer and name it ‘shape’.
Select the custom shape tool [keyboard short cut 'u']. It is nested with the rectangle tool.
For this tutorial, I am going to select the Hexagon shape as I like the straight lines.
Create a new layer and name it brush dots.
Select the brush tool [keyboard shortcut B] and choose a hard round brush. For this tutorial, mine is set at 50. Next click on the brush dynamics from the option bar and set the spacing at 200 [adjust as needed]. Click the brush on your shape where you would like the dots to begin. Hold the shift key and click where you would like that row of dots to end. Continue to click >sift > click until you’ve traveled around your shape.
Since the dots are on its own layer, you can clip a paper to them, or ctrl[cmd on a mac] + click for the marching ants then make the shape layer active and press delete. You would then have them punched out!
If you would like to be a bit more adventuress and try to place the dots in a circle, give this a try.
New blank layer- name this one straight.
Select your brush size,[I kept mine at the same settings] click at the spot to start , hold the shift key and click where you would like it to stop.
From the menu: Filter >distort > polar coordinates
Check Rectangular to Polar and click ok
Duplicate this layer: Layer > new > layer via copy or Ctrl [cmd on mac] +j
Image rotate> flip layer vertically or rotate layer 180. Switch to the move tool [V] and place into position.
When happy merge the 2 layers.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will participate in this month’s challenge by Meagan’s Creations.
Happy Scrapping.
Michelle
November 13th, 2012 at 10:08 am
I’ve used that circle workaround before – it’s a great little tip to know! Photoshop Elements 10 does include text paths, it was what got me to upgrade last year when 10 came out. It’s still not as fully featured as the paths in the Photoshop Creative Suite, but it handles text around the outside of a shape quite well!
November 13th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Thanks Michelle! Love learning the work-arounds so I can participate in the challenge! Your instructions are clear and easy to follow!
November 13th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
OMG! I was trying to find out how to do this all day yesterday… little did I know all I had to do is open up my Google Reader! Much thanks!
November 13th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Happy you enjoyed this tutorial. Yes…although pse 10 and above kinda supports a text path, it can become difficult to master for the effect one wants.
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