Clip art is an easy and enjoyable way to add some visual interest to documents and presentations. There are various techniques for creating clip art in Photoshop; it’s important that users know how to utilize their tools effectively.
One of the key tools for creating clip art is the pen tool, enabling you to draw paths which can later be copied and pasted into new images.
Shapes
Clip art can make an enormous impact when designing a business logo or simply looking for some exciting shapes to incorporate in a design project. Utilizing built-in shapes in Photoshop or drawing them yourself using the Pen tool are just two methods available to you; alternatively there are online sources where you can download clip art files directly and use them directly in Photoshop for inspiration purposes.
To create a shape on the canvas, click to set a starting point, hold down the mouse button as you drag away from it and release. Your shape will appear as a path outline with fill and stroke created automatically. Furthermore, you can modify its width, height, X/Y values or rotation angle by clicking its property name (for instance “W” for width) then using scrubby slider to change values as needed.
Make a custom shape using the Shape tool from the toolbar by clicking anywhere on the canvas and selecting its edges with your mouse. A dialog box will open, asking for width and height in pixels before clicking OK to complete your custom shape, which will then appear as its own layer in Layers panel.
Use the Pen tool in Photoshop to draw a path and then transform it into a shape – this may prove more challenging, but can produce some fascinating and novel results!
Once you’ve drawn a shape, select its layer and click Edit > Define Custom Shape to save it for reuse later. This will save it for future reuse.
One effective technique for working with shapes is enabling the Show Reference Point when using Transform command in the Preferences dialog box. This feature will move the reference point for selected shapes every time they rotate or resize – an invaluable time-saver when working with large or complex figures.
Colors
Clip art can be created in various ways. Some designers use Photoshop to create raster images, then export them as clip art; while CorelDraw creates vector image files which can then be exported as clip art. There are also websites offering royalty-free clip art downloads. These websites allow their users to use this material for personal, educational or non-profit uses without incurring further royalties fees.
Adobe Photoshop offers several methods for coloring clip art. One way is to apply gradients directly on existing layers. Another approach involves adding solid color fill layers – usually used to replace specific colors within an image – or add brush-based fill layers which add details. Finally, there’s always the possibility of brush-based fill layers, perfect for adding details into an image.
Blending colors is an indispensable skill when working with Photoshop, enabling you to make images and shapes appear more lifelike and create backgrounds and textures more quickly and efficiently.
Photoshop offers numerous tools for blending colors, but some basic techniques should be known by all. Begin by selecting an image or shape you want to modify; select Edit > Fill Layer or Edit > Fill Selection and set options within the Fill dialog box before choosing a fill color and applying options within this dialog.
Once you’ve selected a color, you can easily modify it by altering its Blend Mode, Opacity and Color settings. Furthermore, you can add patterns from our patterns library or even change width and height for an even more precise effect.
Layer masks allow you to limit the Color Fill layer’s effect to only certain layers below it, by default it appears indented below each thumbnail image in the Layers panel.
Text
If you want to create custom clipart, begin by searching for an image you would like to use and opening it in Photoshop with the shapes tool enabled so that you can cut out a shape surrounding it and save as a clipart file – ready for use in whatever document needs it!
There are various methods available in Photoshop for adding text to a photo. One is using the Horizontal Type Tool found in the toolbar or by using keyboard shortcut T, while another method involves writing along an actual path with Type On A Path Tool which allows for writing along any specific line or path – perfect for creating titles that perfectly fit frames or centering shorter text inside of shapes.
Adobe Photoshop gives you the power to add various text effects, from curvier or outlining font to creating 3D text effects and making text look more realistic.
Warp Text provides another effective means of adding text to photos by enabling you to move and change its direction while still keeping its color and font unchanged. Plus, using gradient fills for your text fill can add some style and flair.
Images
Clipart is a collection of pre-made images used to add visual interest to a document, typically found online libraries but also drawn by artists themselves. Common subjects for clip art include animals, plants and objects. Clip art not only adds style, but can help convey essential information quickly.
Create clipart in Photoshop requires using several tools, including the Pen Tool and Layer Blend Modes, in order to produce clean and clear images that do not detract from text. To start creating clipart using these methods, find an image suitable for clipping from photos or sketches and import it into Photoshop before selecting File > Save As PNG and saving your file transparent. This makes editing it much simpler!
Once your file has been saved, you can begin experimenting with various colors and layout options. You can alter its shape by flipping, rotating or mirroring it. The Layers panel provides an overview of all of an image’s layers that make up its composition; using it you can move or hide individual elements if necessary. In addition, Color Wheel and Channel Mixer help visualize particular hues ranging from harmonious groups through complementary and analogical hues.
Another approach for creating clipart in Photoshop is through online image editors like Pixlr or Canva, both of which come equipped with features designed specifically to help create what you want – like Pixlr’s Pen Tool that enables tracing detailed drawings or outlines.
CorelDRAW allows you to turn photos into clip art quickly using its PowerTRACE command, by isolating an image by removing all color groups that do not correspond with pink and yellow – this way creating vector images which can then be resized, moved around freely on any background and used for logo design as well as graphics projects.