Changing the Pen tool in Photoshop typically refers to adjusting its settings and options to control how it creates paths or shapes.
You can access the Pen tool's options by clicking the gear icon in the Options bar at the top of the Photoshop workspace. This action, as mentioned in the provided reference, will bring you to the "path options" menu.
Accessing Pen Tool Options
To modify the behavior and appearance settings of the Pen tool:
- Select the Pen Tool from the toolbar (it looks like a fountain pen).
- Look at the Options bar located at the top of the screen, just below the main menu.
- Find and click the gear icon (sometimes also called the "Options" or "Settings" icon) within the Pen tool's Options bar.
Clicking the gear icon (as referenced at 0:04 in the video) opens the Pen tool's Path Options.
Clicking this gear icon reveals a dropdown menu or panel where you can adjust specific settings for the Pen tool.
Common Pen Tool Settings You Can Change
While the reference specifically points to accessing "path options," this menu often includes settings that affect the visual feedback and precision when drawing paths. Typical options found here or nearby in the Options bar include:
- Rubber Band: This option, often found within the gear menu, displays a preview line segment between the last point you created and the current position of your cursor before you click to set the next point. This helps visualize the curve or line you are about to draw.
- Auto Add/Delete: Determines if clicking on an existing anchor point with the Pen tool deletes it, or clicking on a path segment adds a new anchor point.
- Pen Mode: In the main Options bar (not typically under the gear icon, but relevant to "changing" the tool), you can switch between modes like:
- Path: Creates vector paths that can be used for selections, masks, or shapes.
- Shape: Creates filled or stroked vector shapes directly.
- Pixels: Creates rasterized lines directly on a pixel layer (less common for typical Pen tool use).
- Appearance: Settings related to the color and thickness of the path lines displayed while you are drawing (these are temporary visual aids, not part of the final path).
By adjusting these options, particularly the "Rubber Band" setting accessible via the gear icon, you can significantly change your workflow and precision when drawing with the Pen tool in Photoshop.
