🔪 TRY THIS if you DON'T LIKE the PEN TOOL: Razor Sharp Selections made EASY!

[@glyndewis]

✅ Grab a FREE PASS for the Lightroom Virtual Summit 2022 here bit.ly/lightroom-vs2022

[@georgetriantafyllides2820]

Pen tool go home. Many many thanks Glyn. Excellent video.

[@glyndewis]

Hey thanks George 😃

[@EDDIEGARAGE]

Hi Glyn there is any software to replace Adobe InDesign thanks

[@glyndewis]

Yeah I believe the people that make Affinity have something … not sure of the name at the moment though

[@NOT_A_TOP_FAN]

It’s Affinity Publisher

[@glyndewis]

@@NOT_A_TOP_FAN Thanks 👍🏻

[@DEADLINETV]

I had to stop the video halfway through. I can't watch this. I might check how this ends and will add to this, but for now; people, just put in the work! Learn the damn tool! It's by far the best selection tool for solid lines out there! There is no better than the pen and your eyes! Trust me! I've been doing this professionally for over fifteen years and I have worked for big clients retouching (and cutting out) products. There simply are no cheats when it comes to fine selection. Yes, it's not easy, but once you get the hang of it, you WILL be forever grateful. Ok, now I will press again. We'll see for how long...

[@glyndewis]

'Just put in the work' isn't the solution for some people. Show me a path made in Photoshop using the Pen Tool and I'll show you a Path made using this method that is EXACTLY the same. Time using Photoshop is irrelevant...a Path is a Path if you've been using Photoshop for 15 years or 15 minutes...big clients or not 😉

[@DEADLINETV]

@@glyndewis I disagree with you, also having trained many interns, who, 'till this day are happy that I told them to hang in there. But for me it's more even so that I feel that people don't want to put the work in it anymore. Cutting corners, settling for less. For some jobs you just have to put in the hours, make the effort. Especially when you want to do this professionally, and more so when you work for print (too). And even with your method, you still need to know how it works and get pretty good at it.

[@glyndewis]

Let's agree to disagree then

[@eoslove2022]

What a boffo tutorial! ,,,reduces my pen tool edit time for most of the work I do. Thanx, mate!

[@glyndewis]

No worries mate...glad you like it 👍🏻

[@GetTheFOutOfMyWay]

Hmm... That seems like a lot of work (for me) vs just using the pen tool and paths. mind you 1. I'm still on CS3 (Lol) and 2. am more self taught than anything. One thing I never got was layer mask. I've even tried the university of KZbin (layer mask tutorials). I don't get how you are able to select a area precisely like I can with the pen too even after those videos. With all this said I probably use the pen tool and path the wrong way to start with also. The best example though in my case is tracing the outline of a car. Much like you did with the plane in this video.

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Nick. Hopefully this is useful for anyone that has issues with the pen tool 👍🏻

[@briangray8924]

could never manage the pen tool Glyn, always ended up so frustated and give up ,this is much better, Thank you

[@glyndewis]

You’re welcome Brian ; hope it’s useful 👍🏻

[@rprabaharanprabu4475]

Fantastic tutorial sir. Thank u very much. Prabu from India.

[@glyndewis]

Thank you so much Prabu ... glad you like it 😉

[@terrymorganphotography]

Hallelujah....Glyn thank you. I knew I wasnt alone in my annoyance with getting to grips with the Pen tool. I've tried (following advice from Unmesh of PIXIMPERFECT for example) and I was beginning to think that I was going to have to knuckle down and get on with it, but your technique using paths is absolutely great...and of course the way you have explained the process makes it even more of a relief because your video is so clear and concise. So pleased you went to the trouble of providing this excellent tutorial !

[@glyndewis]

You’re more than welcome Terry. Unmesh sure has a great video on the Pen Tool and it’s one I’d always recommend to people to check out. If this one I’ve done here also helps folks, then great…Mission Accomplished 😃 Thanks for looking in Terry 👍🏻

[@jshetley2]

Well how brilliant is this! Great video - thanks so much for this.

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome Janis; glad you like it 😃

[@anthonycrothers_Photography]

Superb mate, so well explained and presented as usual. Really useful content, thanks for sharing 👍👍👍

[@glyndewis]

Thanks a lot mate 😃

[@Ranothel]

Great video Glyn, and an awesome picture (he says, with the print of it hanging on his wall... 😉)

[@glyndewis]

So good to hear / know that ... thanks mate 😃

[@robsmith6794]

I had problems using the pen tool and avoided using it for years. I then bit the bullet and forced myself to use it. It was difficult at first but after a relatively short time I got the hang of it and use it for virtually all selections (other than hair and fur). You just don't get the same finish using other selection tools

[@glyndewis]

100% with you there Rob 👍🏻

[@longboardfella5306]

Excellent. For me it’s not this technique versus pen tool as some comments imply. Rather I see it as an entry point for people like me to more gently get familiar with the pen tool. Thanks so much

[@glyndewis]

Exactly that Paul...thanks so much 👍🏻

[@sergedaleiden5597]

Being part of the - I hate the pen tool league - you just motivated me to have another go at it using your workaround. Many thanks Glyn. Your tutorials are just worth a ton of knowledge.😀

[@glyndewis]

VERY happy to read this Serge … cheers 👍🏻

[@jonathangolgota]

great video, this save my times 👍, i usually using pen tools from zero 🤣. great tutor 🙏👍

[@glyndewis]

Thanks so much Jonathan

[@pierrewakim4885]

The long awaited tutorial... Thank you so much dear friend!

[@glyndewis]

You’re very welcome Pierre 👍🏻

[@edmundhayes7982]

Incredibly useful tutorial. Thank you.

[@glyndewis]

You’re more than welcome Edmund 👍🏻

[@pn2030]

love this technique. thank you 🙂

[@glyndewis]

You’re welcome Pradeep 👍🏻

[@dunnymonster]

Likewise I used to struggle using the pen tool but after perseverance one day everything just clicked. It's definitely worth learning it and for most of my cut outs I do use the pen tool. The technique you showed today however still has great merit even if you are a pen tool master. It's a very quick way of creating the basic path and allows you to fine tune it which is often faster than starting a path yourself from scratch. Excellent tutorial 👍

[@glyndewis]

Thank so much 👍🏻

[@sonjon1000]

From a pen user, thankyou for really really relevant information

[@glyndewis]

Thanks so much

[@forumhound]

Brilliant, I do use the pen tool, but this is another great option, thanks Glyn.

[@glyndewis]

Thanks so much

[@williamcarter6374]

Brilliant stuff Glyn, thank you very much!

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome William; thanks for taking a look

[@julesselmes]

Yet another game changer! “Thanks a million” again Glyn

[@glyndewis]

Thank you Julian

[@TimothyBennett]

Great video as always. I am pretty good with the pen tool, however this may be a faster way. Thanks for sharing.

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Timothy 👍🏻

[@charlesmerry3274]

Yet again another very informative video. Thank you.

[@glyndewis]

Thank you Charles

[@rarindraprakarsa4376]

Awesome way to make a selection with path ...especially for geometrical subject. It doesnt looks really works for human subject, isnt it?

[@glyndewis]

Paths are great for anything that has straight lines and curves but for hair and such like, then other tools / techniques would be more appropriate. We can combine each of the tools and techniques though to end up with one great selection 👍🏻

[@rarindraprakarsa4376]

@@glyndewis Thanks. Yes combination of some selection tools 👌

[@DylanRichardson841]

Thanks for sharing. There is so much editing power in Photoshop and you showed me something new that if / when I need it I won't be afread to give it a try.

[@glyndewis]

That's so good to hear Dylan...thanks 👍🏻

[@wendygrant2735]

Definately a friend of Unmesh Dinda. *Use the pen tool!*

[@glyndewis]

😃 Absolutely and yes indeed...Unmesh is a friend of mine 👍🏻

[@jaimee.campuzanot.2702]

Waoooo very good tutorial Glyn, you are so great!!!!

[@glyndewis]

Really appreciate that…thanks 😃

[@SumeetH-kc3eh]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO LEARNED A LOT.

[@glyndewis]

You’re more than welcome Sumeet … thanks for taking a look

[@geraldinebryce594]

This is great never use pen tool I just get it right so thanks for this 👍

[@glyndewis]

No problem Geraldine; hope it helps

[@bosscoman]

I love the pen tool! Will definitely try these methods

[@glyndewis]

Cheers 👍🏻

[@markdemarte6744]

THANK YOU GLYN!!! I have always understood the value of a path vs pixel selection, but like you, I could never get the hang of it to use the Pen Tool. This tip is a God-send. Paths are in my life from now on!!

[@glyndewis]

So glad you like this and it’s useful 😃 Thanks so much Mark 👍🏻

[@richardmendoza4389]

Another eye-opening video, Glyn. Although I don't have the latest version of Pshop, it's boiling down to me learning how to use the Pen tool. There are just instances where it will do the job the most efficiently as well as effectively. Thanks for sharing!

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome Richard; thanks so much for taking a look 👍🏻

[@alexandrugrecov8964]

I discovered this myself a few months ago, after years of working with photoshop. Great tutorial mate !

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Alexandru...works a treat huh 😃

[@giovannapicceri9022]

Great video! Thank you

[@glyndewis]

You’re welcome Giovanna … thanks for watching

[@hryzkonemyria4868]

Thanks, well explained as always.

[@glyndewis]

Thanks a lot Hryzko 😉

[@heipuntnl]

Just brilliant. Thanks!

[@glyndewis]

Thanks so much Geert

[@replaylounge]

this life saver killer tip....

[@glyndewis]

Glad you like it ... thanks for taking a look 👍🏻

[@jayl8818]

Always learn from you Glyn!

[@glyndewis]

That's great to hear...thanks Jay 👍🏻

[@kbqvist]

Great tip Glyn, thank you!

[@glyndewis]

Glad you like it Karsten 👍🏻

[@zimmatron]

Quality tutorial thank you

[@glyndewis]

Thank you Trevor

[@parishkohanim8532]

Great video! Would you consider doing a tutorial on the use of the Curvature Pen Tool? It's a lot easier than using the old pen tool. Thanks

[@wawanbalik]

Thanks Glyn, grand as usual!

[@glyndewis]

Thanks a lot 😃

[@crismi144]

Woow thankyou soooo much!

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome 👍🏻

[@b991228]

Is there a way to import to Photoshop a simple SVG file and save it in a vector as a a custom shape. It would be something like a simple shape, single color shape of a camera.

[@londonken]

Great video, very clear

[@glyndewis]

Thanks a lot Ken

[@digigoliath]

Wonderful!! TQVM!!

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome ... thanks for watching

[@BaderAlBanna]

Merci very much :)

[@glyndewis]

You are welcome!

[@mayavichy4987]

An awesome tip!

[@glyndewis]

Thank you Maya

[@b991228]

A great tip to dumb the pen tool!

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Jim … Glad you like it 👍🏻

[@kevsart2376]

Great tutorial

[@glyndewis]

Cheers 👍🏻

[@manos39al]

Great Help!

[@glyndewis]

Thank you

[@LIZANO262]

Muchas gracias .Saludo

[@glyndewis]

😃👍🏻👍🏻

[@domipro123]

SUPER Tip!

[@glyndewis]

Thank you 😃

[@BestICan]

Great tip.

[@glyndewis]

Thanks 👍🏻

[@PaulHoward]

Love it!

[@glyndewis]

Hey, thanks Paul 😃👍🏻

[@RemiManWithVan]

Genius

[@glyndewis]

Thanks 😃👍🏻

[@JKele]

Genius!

[@glyndewis]

Thanks so much Judit

[@marclabro]

super !

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Marc 👍🏻

[@loizoschristodoulides602]

AMAZING

[@glyndewis]

Thank you 😃

[@PeteLoughlin]

Very good tip here thank you.

[@RussellBCaC]

I love the pen tool but this has to be a great time saver for getting your initial path!

[@glyndewis]

Thank you Russell…glad you like it 😃👍🏻👍🏻

[@1b1uster]

Your video is SERIOUSLY COOL! You must have been a teacher in another life!

[@glyndewis]

Really appreciate that William...thank you 😃

[@frank1crayon]

Glyn, my friend, for over 10 years now you just keep making me better at this. Thank you 😉

[@glyndewis]

Makes me happy! Cheers Frank

[@speel1959]

You always explain as simply as you can Glyn so that even a complete novice finds it as easy as 1,2,3. Thanks again for these useful hints, tips and tricks. Very much appreciated. 👍🙏👍

[@glyndewis]

Thanks for that Stephen 👍🏻

[@jrcunha4335]

AMAZING NO DOUBT. Thank you so much for sharing . At some point I found was too many information at the same time, all those methods could’ve been divided in different videos. The magic in digital is that there is many ways to do the same thing as long as the result is the one expected. The idea is to safe time and to be less frustrated with the work and I appreciate people like you with that knowledge. Thanks again 🙏🏽

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome 👍🏻

[@NOT_A_TOP_FAN]

I wish Affinity had this capability. I find making selections difficult with Affinity Photo. But not enough to make me want to go back to subscription Photoshop lol

[@glyndewis]

😉

[@notmyname8527]

Wow! Feels like you made this just for me. Most of my work involves some compositing and when I have to edit 100 pics a day, the Pen Tool is too cumbersome. Thank You a thousand times.

[@glyndewis]

Glad you like this and it’s useful…thanks 👍🏻

[@cathyweatherston560]

The pen tool is something I always avoided as I thought it was too complicated to use. I’m definitely gonna give this a go. Thanks 🙏🏻. Great tutorial 😊

[@glyndewis]

Glad you like it Cathy; thanks for having a look 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jgriesman]

Didn't know this. Still, I can't/won't use the pen tool for clean up. Would this method also work with the curvature pen tool, which isn't that bad?

[@glyndewis]

You wouldn't really need to use the Curvature Pen Tool with this as the Anchor Points will already be added so you can easily adjust them with the Direct Selection Tool ,Pen Tool (adding / deleting) and the Convert Point Tool 👍🏻

[@gavinheppenstall766]

I hated the pen tool untill, I discovered the curviture pen tool. I find it much easier to use. Great video Glyn 👍

[@glyndewis]

Thanks Gavin

[@nickbowman3505]

These tips should prove extremely useful - thanks very much Glyn

[@glyndewis]

That’s great to hear; cheers Nick 👍🏻

[@bijuarayakkeel]

Thanks a lot Glyn for the amazing technique to make the life simpler as far as selection is concerned 👍🏼

[@glyndewis]

You’re more than welcome Biju 🙂

[@lastpreacher9093]

As a newbie to Photoshop, still battling with mastering the Pen Tool, this video and the techniques shown are just super. Much appreciated.

[@glyndewis]

More than welcome…thanks for tuning in 👍🏻

[@josharpman]

Great video! One question though: Would I see a difference, with the two methods of layer mask versus vector mask, if I would then increase the size of the object?

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Jos. To answer your question, no not in this case ... the pixels along the edge become equally as visible.

[@edytagirgiel3168]

What a great video! This is exactly what I needed to know for those product photos and cut outs. Thank you soooo much!

[@glyndewis]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@MisterEner]

Genius

[@glyndewis]

😃

[@Lewis100ism]

That saves a lot of time, even if you are used to working with the pen tool. Great tutorial. Thanks

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Hans 👍🏻

[@sfrancfrancnrm8640]

Tks for showing how advanced latest PS is and how to make better use of it.

[@glyndewis]

You’re welcome; thanks so much for taking a look 👍🏻

[@lamarrion]

Some people just lazy. I was frustrated by the pen tool but I kept at it and one day it just clicked and it works. Not better way to make a precise selection than the pen tool.

[@glyndewis]

I wouldn’t say lazy…it’s just not for some people. Definitely worth sticking with it though as you say.

[@markburke2935]

I love the pen tool, I use it all the time, (more often in Illustrator), but I use it in Photoshop too. 😉

[@glyndewis]

Yeah once you get the hang of it, there’s no going back 😃

[@kennethrohen5963]

Is the Spitfire flying over a field of opium poppies? 🤪

[@glyndewis]

🤪

[@keyboardcoverbyathulaariya5282]

This is a great tutorial for me .Thank You a thousand times

[@glyndewis]

You're welcome

[@otryization]

Wow this is a game changer for me. Thanks for sharing.

[@glyndewis]

That's great to hear...cheers 👍🏻

[@chefmike8888]

I learned the pen tool and love it too. It’s easy to control once it clicks. Definitely a great subject to cover. Thank you.

[@chefmike8888]

The work path always being accessible is a bonus as well.

[@glyndewis]

Yeah even in a JPEG … very handy indeed 😃👍🏻👍🏻

[@jaspergoodall3206]

Ok, I’ll try this. BUT… just try selecting something like a fern with any of the ai selection tools - they are pretty pathetic tbh. They miss really obvious areas that a magic wand would see easily. I don’t know what Adobe did, but they made a weird algorithm that can’t see internal corners, even if they are super contrasty. I’m afraid that most of the time, for what I do, (cut out a lot of plants) it’s back to the old pen tool 🙄 but I’m gonna try using the magnetic lasso, and then your hack - that could be the perfect combo. 👍

[@glyndewis]

There's never going to be one tool that is a 'catch all' ... a combination of tools is always the way to go so having options is a good thing

[@jaspergoodall3206]

@@glyndewis for sure. I just always get exasperated by the new object select tools and I'm trying to understand how Adobe are designing them. I just find it really odd that they consistently miss really obvious areas of contrast, particularly in inside corners and gaps. They're ok for really straightforward shapes on easy backgrounds, but quite quickly become useless. I would LOVE to see the auto mask brush from Camera Raw /Lightroom brought over to photoshop and implemented as an option for the brushes as well as a stand alone selection device that does not 'intelligently' jump onto areas that it thinks you might want to select like the quick selection tool does. I don't need AI I just want really good contrast detection and wish adobe would spend more time on this over AI. 😊

[@martingjsmith]

What a revelation - thank you Glyn!!

[@glyndewis]

more than welcome Martin 👍🏻

[@joshua_david38]

Does it work with a human subject with detailing hair?

[@glyndewis]

You wouldn't want to have pin sharp lines and curves on the hair which is what a path will give you but you could use that for selecting the person; the hair would need to be another tool / technique 👍🏻

[@joshua_david38]

@@glyndewis please show me that technique...For learning😊

[@michaelmccrory2220]

Making time consuming tasks, simpler. Excellent tip. Thanks Glyn 👍

[@glyndewis]

Cheers Michael

[@michaelmccrory2220]

That's very kind Glyn, your tutorials and helpful tips are your prize and gifts. Thank you. 👍

[@glyndewis]

@@michaelmccrory2220 It's spam Michael

[@michaelmccrory2220]

@@glyndewis oops!

[@itailu]

While you’re using the pen tool hold command/ctrl to use the direct select tool, no need to use A.

[@glyndewis]

Yeah I know mate…keeping it simple which is why I didn’t mention about Command / CTRL for Convert Point Tool also 😉👍🏻👍🏻

[@itailu]

@@glyndewis ok ❤️

[@ImageniesVault]

I love the Pen Tool...

[@glyndewis]

Me too 😉

[@JHJohnson]

I tried this and mine didn’t do the overlay

[@glyndewis]

Are you on about using the Object Selection Tool? If so then click on the 'wheel' in the options bar and make sure you have Auto Show Overlay ticked.

[@JHJohnson]

@@glyndewis let me double check. Ty

[@zakdelarocha]

Nice trick!! Tnx!!

[@glyndewis]

Thanks

[@roderashe]

The way I make paths is to Make two passes around the object. The first pass I will pretty much just make straight line so it’s all chunky. Then the second pass I will go in between the anchor points and select we’re actually add a new anchor point and just drag it to where it should be to follow the curve. This goes very fast!

[@glyndewis]

Nice

[@pietervanhofwegen]

Top! Thanks

[@glyndewis]

Thanks Peter 👍🏻