Create Shapes in Photoshop (Shape Tools and Pen Tool)
Photoshop’s vector Shape tools let you create crisp, scalable graphics. You’ll set up a document, draw basic shapes, style them with fills and strokes, then use the Pen Tool for custom shapes and path refinements.
Step-by-step instructions
Create a new document and add a background
Go to File → New, choose a Web Large template, uncheck Artboards, and click Create.
Drag a background image into Photoshop, press Enter/Return to place it, then delete the default Background layer in the Layers panel.
Draw basic shapes with the Shape tools
Select the Rectangle Tool (U). Click‑drag to draw a rectangle; hold Shift for a perfect square.
In the Options bar or Properties panel, set Fill color (e.g., pink) and Stroke color (e.g., white).
Increase Stroke weight; change Stroke style to solid or dotted as needed.
Round corners via the corner radius controls in Properties or by dragging on‑canvas corner widgets.
Explore other shape tools
Click‑hold the Rectangle Tool in the toolbar to access Ellipse, Triangle, Polygon, and Line tools.
Use Ellipse Tool for circles (hold Shift) and Triangle/Polygon for geometric shapes.
Create custom shapes with the Pen Tool
Add a new layer for organization.
Select the Pen Tool (P) and set the mode in the Options bar to Shape.
Click to add straight points; click‑drag to add curved points with handles; continue to outline your shape.
Close the path by clicking the starting point (cursor shows a small circle).
Refine path points and handles
Click‑hold the Pen Tool to choose Convert Point Tool to adjust/convert corners and curves.
Ctrl/Command‑drag points/handles to fine‑tune the shape.
