Photoshop Custom Shapes and Cookie Cutter Shapes for Elements

How to install custom shapes / load custom shapes in Photoshop CS5 CS4 CS3 etc tutorial

The easiest way is probably the file open command, once the file has been selected and loaded you can find the designs in the shapes palette. Another way is via the right side menu of the shapes palette and load / replace the CSH files

1) file > open to load the CSH shapes

2) go to the shape tool

3) Select the shape from the custom shapes palette

You can also load the custom shapes via the edit preset manager command. Updated: December 28th 2011

What is the file format for custom shapes files for Photoshop and Elements

The format is CSH - this is the standard format for both software. There are no details about the underlying structure to the CSH file though (there is a document about the brushes format) but you can find external browsers that can access the custom shapes details. Adobe and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated

Photoshop frames - how to use custom shapes as a frame tutorial

Probably the easiest way is to use the vector design as a path and use the path palette / work path and convert to a selection. You can then invert the selection and fill with black - instant frame

1) Select the custom shape tool

2) go to the top bar of Photoshop and select the 'path' option for the shape tool

3) select a shape (note that not all shapes work well as frames)

4) Draw out shape using the custom shape tool

5) window > paths

6) Make selection - menu in the path palette

7) select > inverse

8) edit > fill with black

Basic custom shape frame in seconds

Designs and Custom shapes tool

The custom shapes tool can be found in Photoshop and PS Elements via the main toolbox. Go to the rectangle tool and expand out the toolset and select the custom shapes tool (it is the last shape tool in the list). Once selected, you will see the shapes palette and additional settings for the tool

Combine Photoshop custom shapes tutorial

Combine Photoshop designs to create new shapes using the 'add to shape area' option for the custom shape layer. A single shape can be combined or multiple different shapes can be combined. Areas can also be subtracted / excluded etc to create a new shape. A single pack of shapes can be used to create millions of different and exciting designs.

1) Select custom shape tool

2) Select shape layer option in top bar

3) Select shape from custom shape palette

4) Apply first shape

5) Select the 'add to shape area' option to add the shape to the original shape

6) Repeat over and over

7) Select the 'subtract' option and again apply shapes but this time the custom shape is removed from the created shape - use to create distressed and mottled designs as well as complex shapes from even a basic set of custom shapes.

You can, of course, combine other shapes to the original shape such as the ellipse shape and rectangle shape.

Designs and Photoshop color modes tutorial

The illustrations can also be used in different color modes so instead of using the shape in RGB, use the artwork in LAB, apply perhaps to the L (Lightness channel) etc. The custom shapes can also be used in duotone and tritone color modes and more

1) open document - CMYK or LAB etc color mode document

2) go to the custom shape tool in Photoshop

3) select color from toolbox

4) select the required shape from the custom shapes palette

5) Apply shape

You can also apply the shapes to a particular color channel or CMYK - cyan or magenta etc

Use as a Photoshop shape layer

The artwork forms can be used as a shape layer that can have a style applied such as metallic or blue gel creating stunning metal / gel designs and more.

Layers can also be transformed, distorted, slanted, scaled, rotated and much more.

Modify the applied style via the layer effects menu.

Designs and Photoshop Blending modes in Photoshop tutorial

The designs can be applied with a different blending mode from normal. Apply the shape in difference blending mode or darken. The shapes can be applied repeatedly. They can also be faded after applying via the edit > fade command. You can also change the apply opacity and blending mode.

1) Select custom shape tool

2) Select fill option (top bar of Photoshop)

3) Set color

4) Set mode from normal to 'darken' or 'difference' etc

5) Re-apply as required

Modify the shape of the Photoshop shape tutorial

The illustrations can be used as is but the artwork can also be modified, as mentioned by the warp and slant and perspective, but also the individual points of the path can be modified, pulled in or out, angled to totally change the logo - all by using the direct selection tool or the other points tools.

Scripting and artwork

Use the artwork in scripts (via listener plugin) to create scripts that can use any design to create backgrounds/borders etc

Uses of custom shapes in Photoshop and Elements

The artworks can be used in 1000s of ways. Use in leaflets, books, illustrations, designs, as layers, as fills, use in web designs, in scrap booking, use in rubber stamps, use in fashion designs, use in tattoos, use on T-shirts, use on surf boards, use as frames, use as overlays and much more.

Photoshop Animations

Use the the artworks in animations. Add designs, the same or different, transform the design, perhaps shrinking or rotating the work and apply the designs across new layers. Go to the animation palette and use the 'create frames from layers' command to create a basic animated film from a set of custom shapes. Export to GIF or even SWF

Photoshop shapes to create patterns

The Photoshop shapes are a great toolkit for use with most of the features of Photoshop as well as Photoshop Elements. The shapes are vectors so they can be used with any size of document. Create a document 1000 x 1000 and then select the Photoshop shapes tool. Go to the shapes palette and select one of the designs (the shape used here is from the custom shapes 12,000 shapes collection). Any number of colors can be used with the heart shapes. The first shape is as below. The key thing to keep the pattern as a seamless designs is to avoid the edges.

Now go to the filter commands and select the other offset command (set the value to half of the document i.e. -500, 500 and wrap around option). Apply the filter to safely split the shape design across the edges (the pattern is still seamless).

Now re-apply another heart or two with a different color, again avoiding the edges of the Photoshop document.

The design can also be rotated, slanted, warped (again avoiding the edges). To save the design as a pattern, go to the edit menu define pattern. Apply using the fill layer command, textures in brushes as well as adding the heart pattern to the heart shapes via the layer style menu 'pattern overlay' in Photoshop. Added: January 1st 2012

Custom Shapes palette in Photoshop and options tutorial

The Photoshop shapes are displayed via the palette. The palette can hold a large range of the artworks (though not every shape created on graphicxtras) and are displayed as a thumbnail. To use an artwork, simply select and then apply. The shapes palette can also be added to via the standard file-> open command as well in later versions of Photoshop and Elements

1) Select the custom shape tool

2) Go to the top bar of Photoshop (custom shapes options)

3) Select the shape dropdown

4) Select the design

5) Apply the artwork as required

There are additional items associated with the custom shape tool such as apply the shape as constrained or unconstrained or a defined size etc or apply from the center etc

1) Select custom shape tool

2) Select defined size (set size as required)

3) Go to the document

4) Click and repeat click to apply the fill design over the entire document (great for a nozzle like effect for shapes)

Displacements / glass distortion for Photoshop (PSP as well) tutorial

Open a new document, apply a shape as a fill or shape layer, flatten, save the document as a PSD file and then use the PSD file in displace filter / glass filter etc

1) New document - set to grayscale color mode

2) Go to the shape tool

3) Set the shape option along the top option bar to 'fill pixels'

4) Set the color for the shape - say black but it can be any color

5) Select a shape

6) Apply shape design

7) Repeat with the same shape or different shapes and different colors

One quick and easy way to create a seamless displacement map or texture file is to use the filter > custom > offset and set the sizes to half of the document size

8) Save file as PSD

9) Use the file with the displace filter etc as required

Photoshop Text and artworks

The illustrations can be combined with text. The text needs to be converted to a shape layer and then additional ornaments can be added to the text via the pathfinder options to add to the layer or exclude or subtract.

Apply Photoshop effects to design shape in CS5 tutorial

The designs can be blurred, stain glass filter applied, distorted, lens flare plug-in, all can be applied to a design, either as a layer, selection or fill.

The shape layer needs to be rasterized before it can be blurred (sharpened isn't perhaps as useful for a vector)

However, with CS5 etc you can use the shape layer as a smart object and this gets around rasterization - also the shape is still active and can be modified at a later point

1) new document

2) select custom shapes tool

3) select the shape layer button

4) go to the shape palette

5) layer > smart objects > convert to smart object

6) filter > gaussian blur (etc)

To modify the shape, simply double click on the smart object and you will then see all the effects etc disappear allowing you to easily modify the shape before returning to 'normal' mode with all the effects still applied as before (just close the modified shape's PSB document)

Quick mask mode tutorial in Photoshop tutorial

Apply a design in quick mask mode to create a quick selection

1) new document or open existing

2) Select custom shape tool

3) set color for the mask

4) Select the shape

5) set the shape option to be 'fill pixels' (along top bar of the options for Photoshop)

6) click the mask option at the bottom of the Photoshop toolbox to enter quick mask mode

7) Draw shape or multiple shapes

8) Click the quick mask mode again

You should now see a selection based on the drawn custom shapes - this can be used in countless ways, saved as a selection etc

Cookie cutter tool / scrapbooking in Photoshop Elements

The designs can be used with the cookie cutter tool in Photoshop Elements. Use to create stunning scrapbook designs. The designs for the shapes tool and the cookie cutter tool are the same.

The cookie cutter tool offers a number of features such as feather, skew, scale, rotate etc the custom shape as well as crop the document to the current shape.

Actions and shapes in Photoshop and tutorial

Save the drawing as an action to re-apply the design at a later time.

Apply multiple graphics and save as an action

1) window > actions

2) select custom shape tool

3) select design from palette

4) go to the actions palette

5) right side menu

6) new action

7) record

8) apply design on current document

9) repeat

10) change foreground color

11) apply design again, perhaps different sizes in different locations

12) click the stop recording at the bottom of the action palette

Convert shape into a Photoshop brushes preset tutorial

Create a new document, select the shape tool and set to fill or shape layer and then apply the design with the layer scaling / size / color. Re-apply to build up an interesting brush design. Use the edit menu define brush to create a new brush from the shapes. Paint.

1) Select custom shape tool

2) Set to shape layer or fill pixel option (top bar)

3) Apply shape (or re-apply shape etc)

4) Apply effects etc or change blending mode etc or change shape and re-apply as required

5) edit > define brush preset

6) Saved to brushes palette

7) Select a brush tool as required and paint

Warping custom shapes for Photoshop tutorial

The transform path > warp can be used to warp an artwork form into an arc form / twirled form / warped form and more.

1) select shape tool

2) set the layer option

3) select design from palette

4) set color

5) apply artwork as a layer

6) edit > transform > warp

7) select warp such as flag, wave, arc etc

Shapes recommendations

1) from Iryne Cummins (of Pixlwrks Studio): "I LOVE YOUR STUFF!!! I have the craziest uses for all of this -- I'm a jewelry Designer, and using the shapes, layers and brushes to design jewelry has been phenomenal! I going to write to Photoshop User and tell everyone to buy your stuff"

2) from Ann Brown (annbrownphotography.com) "Thank you for having enough time on your hands to sit and create all these lovelies, Andrew. There are zillions of them and they are very affordable. I'm sure I will find many uses for them"

3) From Carol Goodell Bingham Farms, Michigan, USA Member: MacGroup Detroit/NAPP: "From my perspective, using tools from Abneil Software Ltd/tools/presets/styles/brushes etc. for Photoshop leads me to places and designs I would never have arrived at without them. The path itself is exciting and allows my artist's soul to play freely and happily."

"They're really well made and perfect for what I need. Thank you very much" - Robin, London (UK)

Use shapes as a backdrop frame for text in Photoshop and Elements

This does depend on the shapes pack purchased - many of the shapes are just right for this and some are more outline / line / stroke shapes and require perhaps some combination with other custom shapes or as with the example below where I have used the shape tool and a diamond design from shapes pack 118 and selected the inner part of the design using the magic wand tool and filled the design with blue. The text is then added beneath the hour hand -- "the hour is midnight". Great for many different title sequences - you could even animate the design and the shape if you wish. Added: December 26th 2011