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J
jilbert
Inspiring
August 19, 2021
Answered

Stroking Paths

  • August 19, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 2807 views

I am working on an action for "stitching" stuff. I am trying to find a way that I can load an object, create a Work Path from that selection, then stroke it with a brush (stitch the object). My issue seems to be with circles. It doesn't matter whether I'm loading an object or using the marque tool, I do not get a nice neat stroke. However, if I draw the circle using the pen, it comes out just the way I want it. 

 

What I'm using for a brush right now is a squished hard round brush (Brush Tip Shape - Size: 25px, Roundness: 20% and Spacing: 600% ... Shape Dynamics - Angle Jitter: 0%, Control: Direction). I'm on a Mac (Big Sur) using Photoshop 2021.

 

Any ideas why this is happening?

 

btw - it works just fine on a rectangle with a little clean up needed for the corners. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jilbert

So sorry ... I didn't get notified that anyone had answered this.

 

What I needed to do is stroke an object (piece of paper, etc.) or allow the user to draw with the marquee tool. It worked as long as there wasn't anything circular (like a circle). 

 

I have come back to add I figured out the problem.  I realized that I was getting too many anker points. This was because in creating the path, I was setting the tolerance to .5 ... changing it to 2 took care of the problem. 

 

All this is for the creation of an action to stroke paths (ie, stitch). Elements users do not have access to paths, but if I create them in Photoshop and save them out, they can use that path. Also, if I have the action create a path from a selection, it will work in Elements. I've found there are several "hidden" Photoshop features in Elements that I can tap into by creating an action in Photoshop.

 

Thanks again for your response.

Jill

1 reply

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 19, 2021

What do you mean by loads an object? How are you using the Marquee tools tool option bar options? How are you creating the paths from selections.  Why are you not using the vector tools for creating paths?

 

Path made fron selectioms are not the best can vary even for quite simple selections to toe be converted to a path. 

 

You can edit the work path created. Improve on what Photoshop created.

It can require a lot of work to fix up a Path Photoshop created from a good selection.

JJMack
J
jilbertAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
August 23, 2021

So sorry ... I didn't get notified that anyone had answered this.

 

What I needed to do is stroke an object (piece of paper, etc.) or allow the user to draw with the marquee tool. It worked as long as there wasn't anything circular (like a circle). 

 

I have come back to add I figured out the problem.  I realized that I was getting too many anker points. This was because in creating the path, I was setting the tolerance to .5 ... changing it to 2 took care of the problem. 

 

All this is for the creation of an action to stroke paths (ie, stitch). Elements users do not have access to paths, but if I create them in Photoshop and save them out, they can use that path. Also, if I have the action create a path from a selection, it will work in Elements. I've found there are several "hidden" Photoshop features in Elements that I can tap into by creating an action in Photoshop.

 

Thanks again for your response.

Jill

J
jilbertAuthor
Inspiring
August 24, 2021

I once discovered Elements+ few years ago but never tried it and hence I was not aware it's designed for Photoshop Elements (I had no idea of its existment for long). On the August 20 I found in linked post it should be used over there and let you use options that for some reason were visually disabled. So as that was fresh information for me I happily mentioned about it in relation to application you use (for scripting purpose). Anyway, if you don't mind, share a link to your website where the self-made actions are available to purchase...


btw I read again an issue you came with and used everything like you originally did, so with 0.5 tolerance when createing a path from circle selection. After stroking it with said settings I got the (un)expected result you showed in bottom part of your attached screenshot. Then I did the same but with around 2.0 value suggested by JJMack and I got the desired result so that from top part of your screenshot.


Due to your description it is what you wanted to achieve, isn't it?


Not to be nitpicky, but I was the one that came up with the 2 px tolerance. I'm sure JJMack would have been able to give me that info if I had provided more info about the issue originally. I come from a vector art background, so I took a closer look at the path I was getting and  the problem was too many anchor points (see attached). That made me realize that I had my tolerance too tight. 

 

I've also attached an example of some output. It's not the only thing this action does, but it's a good example. 

 

As to a link ... if you really are interested in seeing some of my action, the link to the actions in my store is Jilbert's Bits of Bytes. I've done many others that I have just given away. If you would like to see some of these in action, check out my YouTube videos - Jilbert's Bits of Bytes.

 

I did achive what I set out to do and the action should end up in my store sometime next month (testing it now).

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