Adobe Photoshop CS3 - Manual (Page 378)

PHOTOSHOP CS3
User Guide
371
Editing paths
Path segments, components, and points
A path consists of one or more straight or curved segments. Anchor points mark the end points of the path segments.
On curved segments, each selected anchor point displays one or two direction lines, ending in direction points. The
positions of direction lines and points determine the size and shape of a curved segment. Moving these elements
reshapes the curves in a path.
A path
A. Curved line segment B. Direction point C. Direction line D. Selected anchor point E. Unselected anchor point
A path can be closed, with no beginning or end (for example, a circle), or open, with distinct end points (for example,
a wavy line).
Smooth curves are connected by anchor points called smooth points. Sharply curved paths are connected by corner
points.
Smooth point and corner point
When you move a direction line on a smooth point, the curved segments on both sides of the point are adjusted
simultaneously. By comparison, when you move a direction line on a corner point, only the curve on the same side
of the point as the direction line is adjusted.
Adjusting a smooth point and a corner point
A path does not have to be one connected series of segments. It can contain more than one distinct and separate path
components. Each shape in a shape layer is a path component, as described by the layer’s clipping path.
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