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photoshopstarter2012
New Participant
October 11, 2012
Question

CS6 : How to convert a path stroke in a vector shape ?

  • October 11, 2012
  • 7 replies
  • 63785 views

Hello,

When you use the Photoshop CS6 new function stroke on the path of a vector shape, how can you convert the result in a vector shape ?

Merging multiple vector shapes doesn't work. The strokes outlines are not vectorized in the new vector shape.

It's possible to convert in pixel and keep the stroke drawing, but no way to convert in vector.

Illustrator has a similar function in order to vectorize the stroke.

Thanks for your help

This topic has been closed for replies.

7 replies

yvans50147282
yvans50147282
New Participant
September 5, 2017

Hi guys, the problem solved now! Here is the genius who find a way to do it in photoshop: Convert photoshop custom shape stroke to a shape - YouTube

simfreak
simfreak
Participating Frequently
November 15, 2020

Not really much of a genius, since the question was how to convert in photoshop and you are using illustrator. 

 

I would like to know how to do the same thing. I work in both programs, I can do it in illustrator easily, but I prefer to use photoshop most of the time.

alextazh
alextazh
New Participant
February 9, 2016

Guys, I have figured out how to do it and made a video: How to convert photoshop’s custom shape’s stroke to a vectorized path | Alexander Tazh

A7med6161
A7med6161
New Participant
January 25, 2016

convert the stroke layer to smart object and it will keep its thickness as vector shape

    Trevor.Dennis
    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    January 25, 2016

    A7med6161 wrote:

    convert the stroke layer to smart object and it will keep its thickness as vector shape

    I thought I'd just given you your first forum points by 'Liking' your post, but you are still showing 0 points, so I don't know what's going on there.  But, yes you are correct, if not quite explaining it fully. 

    alextazh
    alextazh
    New Participant
    February 9, 2016

    It downscales ok, but upscaling causes blurriness.

    O
    olal37977865
    New Participant
    December 25, 2015

    I so much appreciate this question being asked, and I just can't fathom why this hasn't been implemented yet.
    I know the main program for vactor graphics is Illustrator, but seriously, some tasks are huge others are small, and It's just a hassle to have to copy paste files back and forth, creating an unnessecary amount of files and causing RAM usage.

    Strokes on shapes are now implementet, so @Adobe; please let us be able to expand them also. It would be a nice christmas present for many of us.

    Best regards and happy holidays.

    Ola

      nate_goji
      nate_goji
      New Participant
      April 21, 2015

      No problem, thanks for the clarification.

      A
      Anonymous
      April 20, 2015

      I know this is an old post, but for others who come across - it seems there is an easy way to convert a stroke to a separate shape.

      Choose the object with the stroke. Before converting, decide where stroke is applied - do this in the Stroke Panel - on the outside of the current shape, inside, or aligned in the middle of the current shape's path. Then, go to Object, Expand and click Okay. Fill and Stroke will be 2 separate objects. I noticed that I sometimes have to Ungroup the Objects.

      nate_goji
      nate_goji
      New Participant
      April 21, 2015

      Thanks for posting the solution, however I cannot for the life of me find what you mean to click "Object>Expand".  Where is this located?

        A
        Anonymous
        April 21, 2015

        My apologize - I had read a post about Illustrator above and forgot that this was a question about Photoshop. The instructions I mention are the easy way in Illustrator to do what you asked.

        conroy
        conroy
        Participating Frequently
        October 11, 2012

        .

        Hi and welcome to the forum!

        When you use the Photoshop CS6 new function stroke on the path of a vector shape, how can you convert the result in a vector shape ?

        When you use a Rectangle/Ellipse/etc creation tool in Shape mode (see Options bar) then you do create a vector object (it's actually a Fill layer with a vector mask). The stroke options for these tools only appear when the tool is in Shape mode, anyway.

        Merging multiple vector shapes doesn't work. The strokes outlines are not vectorized in the new vector shape.

        Multiple vector Shape layers do merge into one vector Shape layer as long as all layers being merged are Shape layers. A mixture of layer types will be merged into a pixel layer.

        It's possible to convert in pixel and keep the stroke drawing, but no way to convert in vector.

        Illustrator has a similar function in order to vectorize the stroke.

        If you're referring to Illustrator's trace function then the closest thing in Photoshop is to convert a Selection to a Path. There are many methods for making a selection, such as Magic Wand, Quick Selection, Color Range, Cmd/Ctrl-clicking on a thumbnail, etc. Then you would use "Make Work Path..." command found in the Paths panel.

        P
        photoshopstarter2012Author
        New Participant
        October 11, 2012

        Dear Conroy, thanks but actually I think you don't understand my question.

        I wish to convert the stroke of an vector object, into a new vector shape (including the outlines of the stroke).

        Here is a visual example :

        http://i45.tinypic.com/3535vz7.jpg

        A vector shape with a stroke (new CS6 function). Fill color is transparent, stroke is pink.

        http://i47.tinypic.com/2hgwbcl.jpg

        The outline of the stroke is converted into a new vector shape

        Thanks

        S
        simgust
        New Participant
        June 18, 2013

        Dear Conroy,

        thanks again.

        it's a shade, since Making path from a selection gives an approximated result. As you know, straight lines become curved. Final shape is very poor.

        Sometimes I wonder myself why such evident function are not implemented into Photoshop. Of couse there are thousand others, but I think I'm not the only one users who may appreciate that.


        I've also wanted this for a long time now! Sad to see that it wasn't included in Photoshop CC either

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