To convert an active selection in Photoshop into a path (specifically, a Work Path), you typically use the Paths panel.
Here is the exact process:
## Steps to Convert a Selection into a Work Path
Converting a selection to a path in Photoshop is a useful technique for creating precise outlines that can be edited or used for different purposes, like creating vector shapes or saving outlines for later use.
Follow these simple steps:
1. **Make a Selection:** Start with an active selection in your Photoshop document. This could be created using any selection tool (Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand, Quick Selection, etc.) or from a layer's transparency.
2. **Open the Paths Panel:** Navigate to `Window > Paths` to open the Paths panel if it's not already visible.
3. **Convert Selection to Path:** In the Paths panel, locate the buttons at the bottom. Click on the button that looks like a circle with lines around it (often the third button from the left, depending on your Photoshop version). This button is specifically for converting the current selection into a new work path.
### Understanding the Tolerance Setting
When you click this button, Photoshop performs the conversion. Depending on your Photoshop version and settings, you might be prompted with a dialog box asking for a **Tolerance** value, or it might perform the conversion using the last used tolerance.
As mentioned in the reference, this **Level** (or Tolerance) setting is crucial:
> * *Level. So you can either set this to a low number of one which will focus on the small. Details. And it will plot down a lot more [points].*
Here's what the Tolerance setting does:
* **Tolerance (Pixels):** This value determines how closely the path follows the selection boundary.
* **Lower Tolerance (e.g., 0.5 to 1.0):** A lower number focuses on smaller details in the selection edge. This results in a path with many more anchor points, creating a very accurate, but potentially complex, path. This is ideal when preserving fine details is critical.
* **Higher Tolerance (e.g., 2.0 or higher):** A higher number simplifies the path by ignoring smaller variations in the selection edge. This results in a path with fewer anchor points, making it smoother and easier to edit, but less accurate to the original selection's fine details.
**Example Tolerance Impact:**
| Tolerance | Detail Capture | Number of Points | Path Complexity | Best For |
| :-------- | :------------- | :--------------- | :-------------- | :----------------------------- |
| Low (e.g., 1) | High | Many | High | Precise outlines, intricate shapes |
| High (e.g., 2+) | Lower | Fewer | Lower | Smooth shapes, simplifying edits |
After clicking the convert button (or setting the tolerance if prompted), a new path named "Work Path" will appear in the Paths panel. This path represents your converted selection.
### After Conversion
Once you have the Work Path, you can:
* **Save the Path:** Double-click the "Work Path" entry in the Paths panel to save it with a custom name. This prevents it from being replaced by subsequent work paths.
* **Edit the Path:** Use the Path Selection Tool (A) or Direct Selection Tool (A) to modify the path's segments and anchor points.
* **Stroke or Fill the Path:** Use the buttons at the bottom of the Paths panel or the menus to stroke (draw a line along) or fill the path with the foreground color.
* **Convert Path Back to Selection:** You can convert the path back into a selection by clicking the dashed-circle button at the bottom of the Paths panel.
Converting a selection to a path provides greater flexibility and precision compared to working solely with pixel-based selections.
