EDITORIAL BY WUFCREATIVE

Making your first shape in Photoshop

Zack Wolfe
December 5, 2022
8 min read

Creating your first shape

A short and simple guide

Creating your first shape in Photoshop can be daunting, especially if you're new to the program. However, with a bit of practice and some basic knowledge of the tools and options available, you can quickly create beautiful and complex shapes that can be used in various designs and projects.

To get started, open Photoshop on your computer and click on the "Rectangle Tool" in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. This will allow you to create a rectangular shape. Click and drag on the canvas to create a rectangle of the desired size and shape. You can adjust the size and shape of the rectangle by clicking and dragging the corners and edges.

Once you have created your rectangle, you can use the "Fill" and "Stroke" options in the toolbar at the top of the screen to change the color and style of the shape. The "Fill" option allows you to choose a color for the inside of the rectangle, while the "Stroke" option allows you to choose a color and style for the outline of the rectangle. You can also adjust the thickness of the stroke using the "Stroke Width" option in the toolbar.
In addition to the "Rectangle Tool," Photoshop also offers a variety of other tools that can be used to create different shapes and designs. For example, the "Ellipse Tool" allows you to create circles and ovals, while the "Lasso Tool" allows you to draw freeform shapes. You can also use the "Pen Tool" to create custom paths and shapes.

Once you have created your shape, you can save it by going to File > Save As and choosing a location to save your file. You can then use your saved shape in other projects or designs, or continue to edit and refine it using the tools and options available in Photoshop.

Creating your first shape in Photoshop is a fun and rewarding experience that can open up a world of possibilities for your designs and projects. With some practice and experimentation, you can quickly become proficient in using the program to create complex and beautiful shapes that can be used in various ways.

The breakdown

  1. Open Photoshop on your computer.
  2. Click on the "Rectangle Tool" in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. This will allow you to create a rectangle shape.
  3. Click and drag on the canvas to create a rectangle. You can adjust the size and shape of the rectangle by clicking and dragging the corners and edges.
  4. Use the "Fill" and "Stroke" options in the toolbar at the top of the screen to change the color and style of the rectangle.
  5. To save your shape, go to File > Save As and choose a location to save your file.

Let's try a gradient too!

A gradient is a smooth transition between two or more colors and is a popular effect used in graphic design. In Photoshop, there are several methods for creating gradients, each with its unique set of options and features. In this guide, we will go over the basic steps for creating a gradient in Photoshop.

  1. Open Photoshop on your computer and create a new document or open an existing image.
  2. Select the "Gradient Tool" from the toolbar on the left side of the screen. This tool allows you to create a gradient in your image.
  3. Choose the type of gradient you want to create from the options in the toolbar at the top of the screen. Photoshop offers several gradient types, including linear, radial, angle, and reflected gradients.
  4. Select the colors you want to use for your gradient from the "Gradient Picker" in the toolbar. You can choose from a wide range of preset colors or create your own custom colors using the color picker.
  5. Click and drag on the image to apply the gradient. You can adjust the gradient's direction, angle, and size by dragging it in different directions.
  6. Use the "Opacity" and "Reverse" options in the toolbar to fine-tune the gradient. The "Opacity" option allows you to adjust the transparency of the gradient, while the "Reverse" option flips the gradient so that the colors are in the opposite order.
  7. To save your gradient, go to File > Save As and choose a location to save your File.

With these basic steps, you can quickly create a gradient in Photoshop and add a touch of color and visual interest to your designs. Keep in mind that there are many other options and features available for creating gradients in Photoshop, so feel free to experiment and explore the different options to find the gradient that works best for your project.

We hope you continue exploring and experimenting with Photoshop. The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Article by
Zack Wolfe