2 Correct answers
Community Expert
,
Feb 15, 2024
A Script can create an »arrowhead« for a stroked Shape Layer.
// create arrowhead for shape layer with stroke and one subpathitem;
// 2024, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
// check stroke;
try {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var layerDesc = ex
Community Expert
,
Feb 27, 2024
A piece of advice regarding Photoshop Scripting:
This Script utilizes ExtendScript and this is essentially on legacy-status (without a definitive timeline, but it might at some time be removed from Photoshop altogether).
So if you want to dig into Scripting you may want to focus on the newer UXP Scripting right away.
Explore related tutorials & articles
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Community Expert
,
Community Expert
,
You and me both brother.. it's 2024 and this is still not done. Sadness.
The workaround is still to:
- draw a curved shape with the pen tool
- switch to a line and draw the arrowhead
Annoying part is that the pen tool needs a stroke and the line needs a fill and there is no button to quickly switch fill and stroke color sadness again 😞 so you end up fiddling a lot in the upper left corner to achieve something as basic as a curved wine with an arrowhead. Insane right?
Photoshop are you listening to your users? Or is AI features all you can think of now? So sad 😞
By @RV999
1) Photoshop cannot be listening, on the other hand if you make a proper Feature Request that will register at Adobe. No promises on an implementation, though.
2) Please keep a civil tone and don’t call things »Insane« just because you want them to be different (which may make perfect sense in your workflow but you have not chosen to elaborate on that).
3) Why do you want to create a vector line with an arrowhead in Photoshop instead of a proper vector application?
Please read this and act accordingly:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/using-the-community-discussions/adobe-support-community-guidelines/td...
Explorer
,
Thank you dear @c.pfaffenbichler excuses for the tone, frustration is hard to control sometimes.
I attach typical scanarios of image-collages with annotations/callouts. I do this kind of visual collages very often.
I would love to be able to do the arrowheads on curved lines in Photoshop without having to create these separately in Illustrator, it just doesn't suit my workflow and what about users that only have the money for a Photoshop subscription? Not everyone has all apps! As you see I normally just draw the arrowheads (or even the whole arrow) by hand becaise that's faster but sometimes when the work needs to be more quality I take the steps mentioned above, it takes a long time...
Community Expert
,
As mentioned previously a Script can be used to create »arrowheads« for Shape Layers with a Stroke.
Curiously the Shape layers created via the Script appear closed even when they are open, so I used a work-around to avoid the connecting line but that causes doubling with dashed lines.
Community Expert
,
A Script can create an »arrowhead« for a stroked Shape Layer.
// create arrowhead for shape layer with stroke and one subpathitem;
// 2024, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
// check stroke;
try {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var layerDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theStroke = layerDesc.getObjectValue(stringIDToTypeID("AGMStrokeStyleInfo"));
var theStrokeWidth = theStroke.getUnitDoubleValue(stringIDToTypeID("strokeStyleLineWidth"));
// if stroked shape layer is selected;
var thePath = collectPathInfoFromDesc2023 (myDocument, myDocument.pathItems[myDocument.pathItems.length-1]);
if (thePath.length == 1) {
var thePoint = thePath[0][thePath[0].length - 3];
if (thePoint[0][0] != thePoint[2][0] && thePoint[0][1] != thePoint[2][1]) {var thePoint2 = thePoint[2]}
else {var thePoint2 = thePath[0][thePath[0].length - 4][1]};
var thePoint1 = thePoint[0];
var theAngle = getAngle (thePoint1, thePoint2);
var thePointBefore = createPointAtAngleAndDistance(thePoint1, theAngle-45, theStrokeWidth);
var thePointAfter = createPointAtAngleAndDistance(thePoint1, theAngle+45, theStrokeWidth);
// create arrowhead;
var theArray = [[[thePointBefore, thePointBefore, thePointBefore, false], [thePoint1, thePoint1, thePoint1, false], [thePointAfter, thePointAfter, thePointAfter, false],false,1097098272]];
var theX = rectangleShapeLayerToPolygon(theArray, theStroke);
} else {alert ("please select a stroked shape layer with only one subPathItem")};
} catch (e) {alert ("please select a stroked shape layer with only one subPathItem")};
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
};
////////////////////////////////////
////// create shape layer and then change the path to maintain an open path //////
function rectangleShapeLayerToPolygon (theArray, theStroke) {
var idpixelsUnit = stringIDToTypeID( "pixelsUnit" );
var idcontentLayer = stringIDToTypeID( "contentLayer" );
// =======================================================
var desc254 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idnull = stringIDToTypeID( "null" );
var ref5 = new ActionReference();
ref5.putClass( idcontentLayer );
desc254.putReference( idnull, ref5 );
var idusing = stringIDToTypeID( "using" );
var desc255 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idtype = stringIDToTypeID( "type" );
var desc256 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idcolor = stringIDToTypeID( "color" );
var desc257 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idred = stringIDToTypeID( "red" );
desc257.putDouble( idred, 0.000000 );
var idgrain = stringIDToTypeID( "grain" );
desc257.putDouble( idgrain, 0.000000 );
var idblue = stringIDToTypeID( "blue" );
desc257.putDouble( idblue, 0.000000 );
desc256.putObject( idcolor, stringIDToTypeID( "RGBColor" ), desc257 );
desc255.putObject( idtype, stringIDToTypeID( "solidColorLayer" ), desc256 );
var idshape = stringIDToTypeID( "shape" );
var desc258 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idunitValueQuadVersion = stringIDToTypeID( "unitValueQuadVersion" );
desc258.putInteger( idunitValueQuadVersion, 1 );
var idtop = stringIDToTypeID( "top" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idtop, idpixelsUnit, 1111.492188 );
var idleft = stringIDToTypeID( "left" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idleft, idpixelsUnit, 413.148438 );
var idbottom = stringIDToTypeID( "bottom" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idbottom, idpixelsUnit, 1827.453125 );
var idright = stringIDToTypeID( "right" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idright, idpixelsUnit, 1107.109375 );
var idtopRight = stringIDToTypeID( "topRight" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idtopRight, idpixelsUnit, 0.000000 );
var idtopLeft = stringIDToTypeID( "topLeft" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idtopLeft, idpixelsUnit, 0.000000 );
var idbottomLeft = stringIDToTypeID( "bottomLeft" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idbottomLeft, idpixelsUnit, 0.000000 );
var idbottomRight = stringIDToTypeID( "bottomRight" );
desc258.putUnitDouble( idbottomRight, idpixelsUnit, 0.000000 );
var idrectangle = stringIDToTypeID( "rectangle" );
desc255.putObject( idshape, idrectangle, desc258 );
desc255.putObject( stringIDToTypeID( "strokeStyle" ), stringIDToTypeID( "strokeStyle" ), theStroke );
desc254.putObject( idusing, idcontentLayer, desc255 );
executeAction( stringIDToTypeID( "make" ), desc254, DialogModes.NO );
////////////////////////////////////
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
// thanks to xbytor;
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
var ref1 = new ActionReference();
ref1.putEnumerated( cTID('Path'), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
desc1.putReference(sTID('null'), ref1);
var list1 = new ActionList();
for (var m = 0; m < theArray.length; m++) {
var thisSubPath = theArray[m];
var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc2.putEnumerated(sTID('shapeOperation'), sTID('shapeOperation'), thisSubPath[thisSubPath.length - 1]);
var list2 = new ActionList();
var desc3 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc3.putBoolean(cTID('Clsp'), thisSubPath[thisSubPath.length - 2]);
var list3 = new ActionList();
for (var n = 0; n < thisSubPath.length - 2; n++) {
var thisPoint = thisSubPath[n];
var desc4 = new ActionDescriptor();
var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc5.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[0][0]);
desc5.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[0][1]);
desc4.putObject(cTID('Anch'), cTID('Pnt '), desc5);
var desc6 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc6.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[1][0]);
desc6.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[1][1]);
desc4.putObject(cTID('Fwd '), cTID('Pnt '), desc6);
var desc7 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc7.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[2][0]);
desc7.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[2][1]);
desc4.putObject(cTID('Bwd '), cTID('Pnt '), desc7);
desc4.putBoolean(cTID('Smoo'), thisPoint[3]);
list3.putObject(cTID('Pthp'), desc4);
};
desc3.putList(cTID('Pts '), list3);
list2.putObject(cTID('Sbpl'), desc3);
desc2.putList(cTID('SbpL'), list2);
list1.putObject(cTID('PaCm'), desc2);
};
desc1.putList(cTID('T '), list1);
executeAction(cTID('setd'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
};
////// collect path info from actiondescriptor, indices start at 1, not 0 //////
function collectPathInfoFromDesc2023 (myDocument, thePath) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
// based of functions from xbytor’s stdlib;
var idPath = charIDToTypeID( "Path" );
var ref = new ActionReference();
// check if thePath is an index or a dom-path;
if (thePath.constructor == Number) {
ref.putIndex(idPath, thePath)
}
else {
thePath.select();
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "Path" ), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
};
// get stuff;
var desc = app.executeActionGet(ref);
var pname = desc.getString(cTID('PthN'));
// create new array;
var theArray = new Array;
var pathComponents = desc.getObjectValue(cTID("PthC")).getList(sTID('pathComponents'));
// for subpathitems;
for (var m = 0; m < pathComponents.count; m++) {
var listKey = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getList(sTID("subpathListKey"));
var operation1 = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getEnumerationValue(sTID("shapeOperation"));
switch (operation1) {
case 1097098272:
var operation = 1097098272 //cTID('Add ');
break;
case 1398961266:
var operation = 1398961266 //cTID('Sbtr');
break;
case 1231975538:
var operation = 1231975538 //cTID('Intr');
break;
default:
// case 1102:
var operation = sTID('xor') //ShapeOperation.SHAPEXOR;
break;
};
// for subpathitem’s count;
for (var n = 0; n < listKey.count; n++) {
theArray.push(new Array);
var points = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getList(sTID('points'));
try {var closed = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getBoolean(sTID("closedSubpath"))}
catch (e) {var closed = false};
// for subpathitem’s segment’s number of points;
for (var o = 0; o < points.count; o++) {
var anchorObj = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(sTID("anchor"));
var anchor = [anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
var thisPoint = [anchor];
try {
var left = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Fwd "));
var leftDirection = [left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
thisPoint.push(leftDirection)
}
catch (e) {
thisPoint.push(anchor)
};
try {
var right = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Bwd "));
var rightDirection = [right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
thisPoint.push(rightDirection)
}
catch (e) {
thisPoint.push(anchor)
};
try {
var smoothOr = points.getObjectValue(o).getBoolean(cTID("Smoo"));
thisPoint.push(smoothOr)
}
catch (e) {thisPoint.push(false)};
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(thisPoint);
};
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(closed);
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(operation);
};
};
// by xbytor, thanks to him;
function cTID (s) { return cTID[s] || cTID[s] = app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
function sTID (s) { return sTID[s] || sTID[s] = app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
// reset;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
return theArray;
};
////// get an angle, 3:00 being 0˚, 6:00 90˚, etc. //////
function getAngle (pointOne, pointTwo) {
// calculate the triangle sides;
var width = pointTwo[0] - pointOne[0];
var height = pointTwo[1] - pointOne[1];
var sideC = Math.sqrt(Math.pow(width, 2) + Math.pow(height, 2));
// calculate the angles;
if (width+width > width) {theAngle = Math.asin(height / sideC) * 360 / 2 / Math.PI}
else {theAngle = 180 - (Math.asin(height / sideC) * 360 / 2 / Math.PI)};
if (theAngle < 0) {theAngle = (360 + theAngle)};
// if (theAngle > 180) {theAngle = (360 - theAngle) * (-1)};
return theAngle
};
////// radians //////
function radiansOf (theAngle) {
return theAngle * Math.PI / 180
};
////// rotate and scale point //////
function createPointAtAngleAndDistance (thePoint, theAngle, theDist) {
var newX = thePoint[0] + Math.cos(radiansOf (theAngle))*theDist;
var newY = thePoint[1] + Math.sin(radiansOf (theAngle))*theDist;
return [newX, newY]
};
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