Tolerance values can range from 0.5 to 10 pixels and determine how sensitive the Make Work Path command is to slight changes in the selection shape. The higher the tolerance value, the fewer the anchor points used to draw the path and the smoother the path. If the path is used as a clipping path and you have problems printing the image, use a higher tolerance value. (See “Printing image clipping paths” on page 467.)

3 Click OK. The path appears at the bottom of the Paths palette.

Adding color to paths (Photoshop)

You can add color values to a path by filling or stroking it. Filling a path is the same as creating a rasterized shape using the shape tools. (See “Creating rasterized shapes” on page 202.)

Filling paths with color

The Fill Path command lets you fill a path with pixels using a specified color, a state of the image, a pattern, or a fill layer.

Important: When you fill a path, the color values appear on the active layer. Make sure the layer you want is active before beginning. You cannot fill a path when a layer clipping mask or text layer is active.

To fill a path using the current Fill Path settings:

1Select the path in the Paths palette.

2Click the Fill Path button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

To fill a path and specify options:

1Select the path in the Paths palette.

2Fill the path:

•Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Fill Path button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

•Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the path to the Fill Path button.

•Choose Fill Path from the Paths palette menu. If the selected path is a path component, this command changes to Fill Subpath.

3For Use, choose the contents for the fill. (See “Filling and stroking selections and layers” on page 249.)

4Specify an opacity for the fill. To make the fill more transparent, use a low percentage. A setting of 100% makes the fill opaque.

5Choose a blending mode for the fill. (See “Selecting a blending mode” on page 241.)

The Mode list includes a Clear mode that lets you erase to transparency. You must be working in a layer other than the background to use this option.

6Choose Preserve Transparency to limit the fill to layer areas that contain pixels. (See “Locking layers” on page 290.)

7Select a Rendering option:

•Feather Radius to define how far inside and outside the selection border the feather edge extends. Enter a value in pixels.

•Anti-aliased to create a finer transition between the pixels in the selection and the surrounding pixels by partially filling the edge pixels of the selection.

For more information on these options, see “Softening the edges of a selection” on page 166.

8 Click OK.

Stroking to paint path borders

The Stroke Path command lets you paint the border of a path. The Stroke Path command allows you to create a paint stroke (using the current settings for your painting tools) that follows any path. This is completely different than the Stroke layer effect, which doesn’t mimic the effect of any of the painting tools.

Important: When you stroke a path, the color values appear on the active layer. Make sure the layer you want is active before beginning. You cannot stroke a path when a layer clipping mask or text layer is active.

To stroke a path using the current Stroke Path settings:

1Select the path in the Paths palette.

2Click the Stroke Path button at the bottom of the Paths palette. Each click of the Stroke Path button builds up the opacity of the stroke and in some cases makes it look thicker.

To stroke a path and specify options:

1Select the path in the Paths palette.

2Select the painting or editing tool you want to use to stroke the path. Set the tool options, and specify a brush from the options bar. You must specify the tool’s settings before opening the Stroke Path dialog box.For information on specific tool settings, see “Retouching images” on page 192 and “Using the painting tools (Photoshop)” on page 222.

3To stroke the path, do one of the following:

•Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Stroke Path button at the bottom of the Paths palette.

•Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the path to the Stroke Path button.

•Choose Stroke Path from the Paths palette menu. If the selected path is a path component, this command changes to Stroke Subpath.

4If you did not select a tool in step 2, choose a tool from the Stroke Path dialog box.

5Click OK.