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scotwllm
scotwllm
Inspiring
April 8, 2023
Answered

Is there a difference between paths drawn with traditional pen too and curvature pen tool?

  • April 8, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 1892 views

I've always used the curvature pen tool and wondered why more experienced Photoshoppers use the traditional pen tool. The older tool just seems clunky to me and I can't see any difference.

 

Until now, that is. The attached video starts with a snippet from a  Youtube tutorial about drawing hair. The instructor says that if you have an anchorpoint selected on a path, you can press the Alt  key followed by an arrow key to create a duplicate path. The second part of the video shows me testing that concept successfully.

 

I tried to do the same thing with a path generated by the curvature pen tool. It didn't work. Pressing the Alt-key just deselected the graphic.

Is that how it's supposed to be? Is there a way to convert a curvature pen tool path to a traditional pen tool path?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ajajeh

Ok i found a work around
On the curvuture path you draw, select the point you want to duplicate with the regular pen tool

And then do the Alt + arrow thing

 

Maybe there is something in the programing of curvuture tool which doesn't allow this (since the curves are automated)

2 replies

A
Ajajeh
Inspiring
April 8, 2023

I think they are the same
Make sure you have the path layer selected in the Paths window rather than the design layer

scotwllm
scotwllmAuthor
Inspiring
April 8, 2023

I tested your theory, and it didn't work. I drew a path  on the same layer using the traditional pen tool and the curvature tool. I  held down the Alt key and pressed an arrow key. On the traditional pen tool path, I got the expected duplicate path. On the curvature pen tool, pressing Alt turned the selected anchor point white. It did not duplicate the path.

 

Weird...

A
AjajehCorrect answer
Inspiring
April 8, 2023

Ok i found a work around
On the curvuture path you draw, select the point you want to duplicate with the regular pen tool

And then do the Alt + arrow thing

 

Maybe there is something in the programing of curvuture tool which doesn't allow this (since the curves are automated)

Theresa J
Community Expert
Theresa JCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 8, 2023

A path is the same regardless which tool you use to draw it. You could start with the regular pen tool and switch to the curvature tool. It's really only a matter of preference. Many more experienced Photoshop users prefer the regular pen tool because it has been around since the beginning of time, and change is hard. 

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 8, 2023
    quote

    Many more experienced Photoshop users prefer the regular pen tool because it has been around since the beginning of time, and change is hard. 

    Not to mention that the Pen Tool provides immediate control of the PathPoints and their Bezier Handles. (Edit: … including the first PathPoint)

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