Dashed lines in Photoshop

Amp34 · 18 Feb 2009 at 16:15

Possibly a strange request but i'm making a map in Photoshop and I need dashed and/or dotted lines around different areas. Is there any way to do this without doing it freehand? (The lines will not be straight, so I can't use the line tool)

Also what is the point of the (non colour fill) pen tool? When not using the fill option the line seems to be pointless as you can't use it to define areas to fill or make it a permenant line? :confused:

Thanks

Ice Globe · 18 Feb 2009 at 16:32

Pen tool can be used to extract parts of images if you complete the circuit with the small circle icon (when you reach the initial anchor point).

Otherwise you can draw lines using the pen tool by "stroke path".

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You can achieve a dotted line along a path you choose, by anchoring points on the image. Select the pencil, then open the brush palette (tends to be on top toolbar (icon looks like a document with top-right corner snipped/folded)). Then set the pencil size to how big you want the dots to be (experiment probably best).

Under Brush tip shape, change your pencil size, and set spacing to 1000%, untick all other options on the left (eg. shape dynamics, scattering etc.), now don't change your brush or pencil options any further.

Select the pen tool (check its set to "paths" at the top), and anchor your points whereever. When done, right-click on your path-line, select stroke path, and choose pencil. Voila hopefully.

If you get to grips with the pen tool, you can create perfect curves by anchoring 2 points, and then putting another anchor point between the 2 you created, then hold ctrl-and click and drag the middle anchor point to produce a curve.

GravyMonster · 18 Feb 2009 at 16:33

You can do dotted/dashed lines in PS like this, however they'll look better (and it'd be easier) in illustrator.

Also, the point of the non colour fill pen is to allow you to move the points of the shape around first before filling or stroking the path - although again this is better and easier in illustrator.

Amp34 · 18 Feb 2009 at 18:01

Right, i've managed to get a round brush, but I can't work out how to make the brush strokes rectangular, rather than oval?

Ice Globe · 19 Feb 2009 at 00:45

Amp34 said:
Right, i've managed to get a round brush, but I can't work out how to make the brush strokes rectangular, rather than oval?

Change roundness in the brush options to 0%

Amp34 · 19 Feb 2009 at 00:59

That seemed to make it just very oval and not square, I have sort of fixed it now though, and finished the map.

Thanks for the help.