Paint Shop Pro: Part 2 of our Free PSP Training Course

Editing Paths

Use the Pen tool to transform vector objects by editing their nodes, contours, and paths. Objects created with the Symmetric Shape and Preset Shape tools are automatically created as paths, but those created with the Rectangle and Ellipse tools need to be converted to paths before you can work with them.

To convert a vector object to a path, right-click on the object and, from the shortcut menu, select Convert to path:

Note:

The Convert to Path command is also available from the Objects menu.

The object is converted to a path, displaying the nodes as small transparent squares:

You change the object’s shape by moving its individual nodes, and by adding and deleting nodes as necessary to fine-tune the contours.

To move a node:

1. From the Tools toolbar, select the Pen tool.
2. On the Tool Options palette, click the Edit Mode button.
3. Click on the object.
4. Click on a node and drag it to a new position:

The object’s shape changes as a result:

The more nodes an object has, the more precise you can make the contours. Add ne
w nodes as necessary to change the shape of the object:

1. From the Tools toolbar, select the Pen tool.
2. On the Tool Options palette, click the Edit Mode button.
3. Click on the object.
4. Hold down the Ctrl key and click to add the node. When you move the mouse over a contour where a node may be added, the cursor says +ADD.

Below, four new nodes have been added to the object:

Click and drag the new nodes to change the shape of the object:

A node can be deleted by selecting the node and pressing the Delete key. Note, however, that this removes both the node and the surrounding line segments, opening the contour, if it was previously closed:

To close an open contour, right-click on one of the nodes and, from the shortcut menu, select Edit, and then Close:

The contour is closed: