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defaultfct5iq0o40oe
Participant
January 30, 2021
Question

Drawing 200 unique shapes on a photo

  • January 30, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 479 views

I want to draw 200 unique shapes on a large photo. Ideally I'd define shapes by clicking on a series of points to create straight lines, which the lasso tool doesn't do.  I'll use the fill feature for each shape.  Is this possible in Photoshop, or what program is best?  The Photoshop tutorials and shape options don't seem to go anywhere near what I want.  Ideas?  Thanks.

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4 replies

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 30, 2021

JJMack
Norman Sanders
Norman Sanders
Legend
January 30, 2021

I believe that rather than the Lasso tool you are looking for the Polygonal Lasso tool, which is nested with the Lasso tool. It makes the total selection with straight lines defined by points you choose. 

Feather set to Zero in the Options bar. To see image through the color set Blending mode to Multiply

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    defaultfct5iq0o40oeAuthor
    Participant
    January 30, 2021

    This might be the winning idea...it's working so far!  Thanks.

    Mohammad.Harb
    Community Expert
    Mohammad.HarbCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2021

    I would prefer in this case to use Adobe illustrator by creating a symbol and using the symbol sizer tool.

     

    then taking them back to photoshop.

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    defaultfct5iq0o40oeAuthor
    Participant
    January 30, 2021

    Thanks.  The shapes need fine adjustments to fit a slanted aerial photo, so I want to create them as a layer on top.  I suspect that means trying in Photoshop or maybe a pdf program...but if Illustrator can do this, I can download it.

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    jane-eCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2021

    You can download a free 7-day trial of Illustrator to test it if you do not own the full Creative Cloud.

    • Create a file with the same specs as the photo, then File > Place the photo and lock the layer.
    • Create a new layer and draw with the Pen tool or Rectangle tool. These will be objects on the layer.
    • Deselect (important), then edit with the Direct Selection tool (white arrow) and move the four corner anchor points into place.

    Do not try a PDF program such as Acrobat. It was not designed for this type of work.

    If you are getting curves, you may be dragging with the Pen tool instead of clicking.

     

    ~ Jane

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2021

    200 Shapes that is a lot of shapes. The Pen tool is a shape tool. You can create any shape you want with it.  All shapes can be created in a single shape layer if a single color stroke and fill is OK,  You can create 200 shape layers if you want. 

    JJMack
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    defaultfct5iq0o40oeAuthor
    Participant
    January 30, 2021

    Thanks for this.  I'm watching tutorials and trying this out.  I can create a draft outline for each shape, but am mystified by how to adjust click points after the fact, because they're always a little off (working on an aerial photo).  Instead they act as "handles" and create curves.

     

    I wish this worked more like the area-finding tool in Google Earth.  

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2021

    You can add custom shapes you create to Photoshop and them drag the out using Photoshop's custom shape tool. I can not believe you have 200 different shapes in mind.  You may even be able to fine a set of custom shapes you can use on the web you can down them for Photoshop. Photoshop Custom Shapes 

     

    Shape can be transformed and also edited with Photoshop vector tools.

    JJMack
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