Arc custom shapes for Photoshop CC & CS 6 5 4 3 2 1 Elements 2014

Updated: July 22nd 2014

Arc shapes for Photoshop and Elements

Above, one of the arc shapes (for Photoshop etc) from the shapes sets. The shape is applied in black, the arc shape could also be applied in any color as well as with layer styles and gradients and patterns. If the arc shape is applied as a path / selection, the shape can be filled with different effects.

Loading Photoshop shapes

The arc shapes can be loaded into Photoshop by double clicking the CSH file, this loads the designs into the application's shapes palette. You can also right click the CSH shape and open and load the shapes that way. You can also add the shapes file to the presets custom shapes folder (found in the Photoshop folder) and then access the designs via the right side menu of the custom shapes palette in Photoshop. You can also just use the load / replace commands to load all the CSH shapes into the palette. Another option is to use the preset manager found in the edit menu - though this option is not always available in all versions of Photoshop

Vector designs

The arc shapes for Photoshop are vectors - you can apply them as a shape layer (remains as a vector) or path (vector) and pixel (raster) but if used as a pixel designs can be set to any size - though as soon as they set in the raster format, they cannot be easily re-sized. As vector designs, the Photoshop shapes can be copied over to Illustrator and other vector applications and manipulated by the vector tools in those applications (especially useful being the Mirrorme tool and VectorScribe plugin from Astute Graphics)

Photoshop perspective warp and shapes

The arc shapes can be used with the powerful perspective warp tool (found in the edit menu). To use, you must convert the Photoshop shape into a smart object (via the layer menu). You can then apply the perspective warp found in the edit menu in Photoshop. The tool uses two steps to modify the shape, a layout and a warp. You can apply the layout grids in numerous ways such as up and down, disjointed, from left to right, in a grid etc (sadly you cannot save the pins for future use). You can then click the warp and use the defined pins to warp and distort the design in countless ways. Click OK to process the warp to the select custom shape smart object. You can re-edit the perspective warp which is still active. If you wish to apply an additional perspective warp then you can turn the combination of perspective warp and Photoshop shape into a smart object (via the layer menu) and use the warp on that (and this can be repeated over and over)

Text can be added to the arc shapes for Photoshop and elements, you can combine text and the shapes in numerous ways

You can add other elements to the arc shapes in Photoshop - white spots added to the black arc shape

The arc shapes for Photoshop can be filled with many different random colors - millions of different stained glass designs can be created using combinations of arc designs

Styles / layer effects can be applied to the shape 'arc' designs in Photoshop such as adding shadows and more

The arc shapes for Photoshop and elements applied as a shape and transformed / distorted / perspective

You can duplicate the arc shape layers and use the guides to create a distributed grid of the designs in Photoshop

The duplicated arc shapes can be re-colored via the fill / stroke settings for the custom shape tool in Photoshop

Videos about the shapes

You can find all our videos via our graphicxtras channel on youtube. You can find out how to mottle shapes, how to distort the designs, combine with text, load the designs, use as paths, use as shape layers, how to re-color, how to combine the designs into patterns and much more. If you would like to see a video about the arc designs, please contact us and I will try and create a video or two or three on the subject in Photoshop CC 2014 or perhaps earlier (I don't have all the versions of PS active)

A video showing how to create a mottled vector shape design

A quick guide to creating a vector layer mottled arc design in Photoshop CC 2014 using the subtract features

The arc shapes for Photoshop and elements can be filled with all kinds of designs such as white spots and pink spots

Arc shapes for Photoshop - many different designs such as the track design is in the sets (check out the preview links to see the designs included in the individual sets)

Cookie cutter and Elements 12 11 etc

The arc custom shapes can be used as normal shapes in Elements but they can also be used as cookie cutters as well. Select the cookie cutter tool and then you will see the various options on the top options bar such as the design (which can be any of the vector CSH designs) as well as feathering and also crop (which will crop the entire document to the size of the vector design). If the crop is not set to "on" then the design is just placed in the original location (feathered or not) with the full document and all the image outside of the cookie cutter removed. While applying the cookie cutter in PSE, you can constrain the proportions as well as rotate and scale and shear. Once you have the cookie cutter shape, you can always re-apply another cookie cutter to chop even more away from the design. You can use the end result as a wonderful source for strokes as well as patterns. You can also apply visual effects to the cookie cutter design. If you want to have the original image as well as cookie cutter shape then before using the tool, simply duplicate the layer as many times as you wish and use the cookie cutter design on those (in different locations if you wish) and you can then also combine those multiple cut layers using blending modes such as difference to create some truly stunning designs. There are many videos on my youtube channel giving some uses for the cookie cutter

Shapes as layers, pixels etc

You can use the arc shapes in three modes, well four or five or actually more if you convert the designs. The shapes can be used as a shape layer, as a path and as a pixel. In the first two, the shapes are vector designs and can be manipulated in many ways as a vector (though the best application to alter the designs is probably Illustrator). The shape layer can be used with styles as well as smart objects (as can the pixel option). The pixel option is a raster format design and can be combine with layers (if using an existing or new layer) or just on the background. The path option looks the least promising but it can be used to great effect with strokes as well as patterns. The shape layers and paths can be transformed in 1000s of ways, the pixel option can still be transformed but any changes will probably degrade the final image. The path option is great for creating selections and this is done via the path palette. The pixel option is superb for creating elaborate masks by entering quick mask mode via the toolbox and using the designs over and over to create truly complex masks (and selections). So, how do you select the path etc options: top bar of the shape tool (top of the screen). It is now a dropdown in Photoshop CC 2014 and recent versions, previous versions used buttons to change modes.

Pop art arc shapes - the arc shapes can be used with any backgrounds in Photoshop

The shapes are for ???

Photoshop CC (2014)

Photoshop CC

Photoshop CS6 CS5 CS4 CS3 CS2

Photoshop CS1 7 6

Photoshop Elements 12 - 1

Photoshop 14 - 6

Freebies

Commercial use free arc shapes, royalty free download CSH format. Free arc shapes