Marquee and Shape Tools

Marquee and Shape Tools

Learn how to use various Shape Tools in Photoshop to create both geometric and custom shapes.

When to use

The Shape Tools have many uses in Photoshop ranging from creating masks to scaleable graphics.

Instructions

Using the Marquee Shape Tools

• Begin by selecting the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) found just below the Move Tool (V) in the toolbar.
• Clicking and holding on this tool will reveal the other Marquee Tools nested inside. This includes the Elliptical Marquee Tool, Single Row Marquee Tool, and Single Column Marquee Tool.
• With the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) selected, click and drag out a 4 sided shape on your canvas.
• Notice that you can drag around freely to change the size of the shape.
• Holding down the Shift Key while you do this will constrain the proportions of the shape, ensuring that it remains a perfect square.
• After releasing the cursor you will see the 'marching ants' around the shape, indicating the active selection area.
• With your selection active, add a New Layer by clicking the '+' symbol in your Layers Palette.
• Switch to your Paint Bucket Tool (G) in the toolbar, and then change your foreground color to anything other than the default black or white.
• You can do this by clicking on the foreground color swatch at the bottom of the toolbar, and using the Color Picker.
• Once you have a color selected, click inside of your active selection area with the Paint Bucket Tool to fill it with solid color.
• After filling the shape with color, you can Deselect the shape by going to the Select Menu and choosing 'Deselect' from the dropdown.
• You can now move your shape around freely with the Move Tool (V). 
• Delete the layer with your solid color square.
• Add a New Layer and switch to the Elliptical Marquee Tool. 
• Click and drag on your canvas to create an ellipse shape, and notice that if you hold the Shift Key it will force the shape into a perfect circle.
• In addition to holding the Shift Key, you can also hold down the Spacebar Key and you will be able to move the selection around freely and change the position.
• After dragging out an ellipse shape and repositioning it to the center of the screen, use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill the shape with a different color.

Using the Standard Shape Tools

• Begin by clicking and holding on the Rectangle Tool (U) and choose the Triangle Tool that is nested with this tool in the toolbar.
• Go to the Properties Panel and change the Fill Color.
• Add a Stroke to apply a black outline to your shape, increasing the 'Weight' to a value of 10 pixels. 
• You also have the option to round the corners of any of these Shape Tools by clicking and dragging inwards on any of the small circle shapes in the corners.
• Notice that you have the same shape options in the Properties Panel that you have in the toolbar along the top of the Photoshop interface.
• If you don't see these options along your toolbar at the top, press the letter 'U' on the keyboard to go back to the Shape Tools.
• Delete the layer with the triangle shape.
• Add a New Layer and switch to the Custom Shape Tool nested with the other Shape Tools in the toolbar.
• Along the top toolbar, you will see a small black icon with a solid white shape inside.
• Click on the icon and you will see a few folders containing preset custom shapes.
• Choose a shape from the 'Animals' folder and click and drag a shape out onto the layer while holding the Shift Key to constrain the proportions.
• Remove the Stroke and change the Fill color using the toolbar along the top of the Photoshop interface.

Hints & tips

• The keyboard shortcut to Deselect is Command/Ctrl + D.
• Holding the Shift Key while creating a shape will constrain the proportions.
• Holding the Spacebar while creating a shape will allow you to change the position of the shape on the screen. 
• Using the Shape Tools allows you to resize them without any loss in quality, whereas the Marquee Shape Tools get blurry when scaled up.
• In addition to changing the Fill and Stroke, you can also round the corners of any of the Shape Tools with hard edges. 
• You also have the ability to import custom shapes or shapes that you download online to use in Photoshop.