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Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 23, 2018
Answered

How to make a tapered brush stroke?

  • November 23, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 64284 views

Hi all.

Photoshop CC 2019 on both Mac and Windows.

How do I make a brush stroke that tapers to a slimmer width at each end? I would like to apply it to a vector path in Photoshop. I do NOT have a pressure-sensitive tablet. Seems to me that I used to be able to make a brush stroke that tapered off on both ends of the path (a few versions/years ago). I cannot figure out how to do it with PS CC 2019.

Any ideas?

      Correct answer Semaphoric

      In the Brush Settings panel, under Shape Dynamics, set Pen Pressure to control Size Jitter. Then, from the Paths panel menu, select "Stroke Path...". In the dialog that pops up, select "Brush" for Tool, and check the "Simulate Pressure" box.

      This setting is sticky, and will remain in effect until you turn it off by un-checking the box, so you can just use the Stroke Path icon in the Paths panel, or press Enter with the Brush tool active.

      5 replies

      S
      switepine
      Participating Frequently
      November 14, 2023

      Some of the answer directions do not jive w PS 2024. Can we revisit this question? It is easy in Fresco but hard to grasp in PS.  photoshop 2024 how do I adjust my brush to start at a fine point and end in a fine point like you can in Fresco?

      Trevor.Dennis
      Community Expert
      Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 14, 2023

      Use a hard round Pressure Affects Size preset, or create it in Brush Settings

       

      Lay out a path with the Pen tool

      Right click the Path and choose Stroke Path

      In the pop-up dialog window make sure Simulate Pressure is checked.

      And OK the stroke.  You need to set your brush up before this

      Note: with this set up, you can create future strokes by clicking on the icon (my yellow highlight) at the bottom of the Paths panel.

        B
        Bego de Apoita
        Participant
        September 16, 2024

        Thank you!!

        R
        Robert27410525ye78
        Participant
        December 2, 2022

        Don't listen to these guys. Just copy and paste what the last guy said...
        Open your Brush setting from the ribbon up top. Left of the folder icon with a brush in it.
        Click the down carat. Click the settings gear in the upper right corn of the drop-down look to the bottom of the list and see Legacy Brushes. In Legacy Brushes -> Default Brush 5 or 6 down is the brush you're looking for.

         

         

          Mike Witherell
          Community Expert
          Mike WitherellCommunity ExpertAuthor
          Community Expert
          November 24, 2018

          Jane, two of them, ... plus some of their friends!

          Mike Witherell
          jane-e
          Community Expert
          jane-eCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          November 23, 2018

          Mike, why Photoshop and not Illustrator?

          Semaphoric
          Community Expert
          SemaphoricCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
          Community Expert
          November 23, 2018

          In the Brush Settings panel, under Shape Dynamics, set Pen Pressure to control Size Jitter. Then, from the Paths panel menu, select "Stroke Path...". In the dialog that pops up, select "Brush" for Tool, and check the "Simulate Pressure" box.

          This setting is sticky, and will remain in effect until you turn it off by un-checking the box, so you can just use the Stroke Path icon in the Paths panel, or press Enter with the Brush tool active.

            Trevor.Dennis
            Community Expert
            Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            November 23, 2018

            There's not a lot more you could add to that, as that is the way to do it.  Simulate Pressure is symmetrical, but if you stroke a path with a brush set to Fade, then it operates in the direction the path was constructed.  If you have a bunch of these to do, then the little Stroke icon at the bottom of the Paths panel is a godsend, but like  Semaphoric has  said, it will use the last used settings.

            You can obviously adjust brush size and hardness on the fly.   This can be useful when you  are not sure about brush thickness.  Start  off thin and stroke the path, and keep increasing brush size  and clicking on the Stroke icon.  Then undo backwards if you go too far.

            Semaphoric
            Community Expert
            SemaphoricCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            November 23, 2018

            Using Fade would be a good option if you wanted to have the stroke be the same width over most of its length, tapering only near the ends. You would add two new, empty paths. In the original path, select one end point, and Edit > Cut (Control+ X), and paste it into one of the empty paths. Do likewise with the other end point.

            In the two new paths, click on the end points with the Pen too. This makes them the final point.

            Finally, stroke the truncated original path (the "middle") with a plain brush, and the other two paths using Fade.

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