Working with shape tools

Add vector design elements to your photographic images using the shape tools in Adobe Photoshop.

Published January 28, 2025

00:01

Introduction

Despite being a pixel editing application, Photoshop CC allows us to draw vector shapes quickly and edit them indefinitely.

Though Illustrator CC may have a more comprehensive toolset for drawing and refining vector shapes, you can still build complex shapes from simple ones very easily in Photoshop CC.

Let's take a look at how we can use shapes to transform this image into a stand out banner ad, quickly and easily.

Here I've got some text, but it could use an elegant vector shape to contain it.

00:31

Drawing and combining basic vector shapes

Let's start by selecting the Rectangle tool from the Toolbar.

Since we'll be combining several basic shapes together, let's also head up to the Options bar and click this icon to switch to "Combine Shapes" mode.

Now we can click and drag on the canvas to draw our first rectangle.

You can also hold the Spacebar to adjust the position of the rectangle.

Keep an eye out for the pink smart guides that appear to indicate when we're aligned with another object.

Let's click and drag a second, slightly taller and more narrow rectangle to create a more complex beveled shape.

Then lastly, a third, even taller rectangle.

For this one, we'll head over to the Properties panel and click and drag any corner radius icon until we have two completely rounded sides.

Just be sure the link icon is selected to ensure that all four corners are constrained to share the same change in value.

Looking good.

01:29

Editing and transforming vector shapes

To reposition a shape, you can switch to the Path Selection tool, then click to select a shape and drag it around to move it.

Alternatively, the Direct Selection tool allows us to select individual points on a shape to freely manipulate them.

By holding Shift to select multiple points, we can use the arrow keys to quickly nudge the size and shape of one of our rectangles.

And just like with images made up of pixels, we can press Command T to free transform vector layers or individual shapes.

Now that we've got the shapes nailed down, let's style it.

02:07

Styling shapes with fills, strokes, and blending

We'll head up to the Options bar and set the Fill color to "None".

Then let's add a solid Stroke color and click here to bring up the full Color Picker.

Then, we'll move our cursor over the background and click to sample a nice green color.

Let's brighten it up a bit on the Color Picker so it stands out from the background.

Our stroke is much too thin, so we'll bump up the size until we see a nice thick border appearing.

To achieve even more of a cohesive blend with the background, let's also change the blend mode of our shape to "Overlay".

And press 8 on the keyboard to reduce the opacity to 80 percent.

Looking good.

I've also gone ahead and created a second thinner frame inside using the same technique.

Now, we're ready to save a copy as a JPEG

02:56

Saving the final banner and next steps

so we'll head up to "File", "Save As...", and change the Format to JPEG, then hit "Save".

The final result looks great.

And we created it using basic shapes and simple techniques like combining them.

Now you can explore the other functions on the Options bar for overlapping shapes, like subtracting, intersecting, or even merging your separate life shapes into a single path.

Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time.

Start with some simple shapes, and then combine them to create more complex art using simple techniques.

Note: Watch Create a graphic shape to learn the basics.

Select the Rectangle tool. In the Options bar, choose the Combine Shapes option.
Click and drag on the canvas to draw a rectangle. Tip: Press the spacebar before you release your mouse to adjust the position of the rectangle.
Draw two more rectangles, each a bit narrower and taller than the previous one as shown.
Select the tallest rectangle and adjust any corner radius in the Properties panel. (This adjusts all four corners at once because they are constrained by the link button.) Drag until you have completely rounded sides.
To reposition a shape, choose the Path Selection tool. Select a shape, and then rearrange it.
You can also manipulate individual points or sides. Choose the Direct Selection tool and click an individual point; press Shift to select additional points. Once selected, you can adjust them at once. Tip: Use the Arrow keys to move selected points easily.
With some points selected, press Control+T (Windows) or Command+T (macOS) to access Free Transform to scale, skew, rotate, and more.
When you’re ready to style the shape, click the Fill Color thumbnail in the Options bar and set it to None. Click the Stroke Color thumbnail and click the Color Picker icon in the top right corner. Tip: To pick a color from the image itself, move your cursor over the image and click to sample a color. Adjust the color in the Color Picker. Finally, adjust the Stroke width in the Options bar.
Experiment with the shape layer’s blending mode to unify your vector design and photographic background. Reduce the shape layer’s opacity if needed. Tip: Press a number between 1 and 9 to quickly lower opacity.
Save your artwork for its final use.

Contributor: Joseph T

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Cookies are small text files stored by your web browser when you use websites. There are also other technologies that can be used for similar purposes like HTML5 Local Storage, web beacons, and embedded scripts. These technologies help us do things like remembering you and your preferences when you return to our sites, measure how you use the website, conduct market research, and gather information about the ads you see and interact with.

If enabled:

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