Hello, New kid on the block needing guidance..

[dirtyface]

Hello there people,
I'm new to graphics and I'm probabily going to be on here quite a lot in the future as I'm still trying to learn the basics!

Two things to start with, the first being that I'm trying to master one tool at a time and my first tool of choice is the pen (photoshop cs2). I've been through a couple of online tutorials and understand the system of paths but I was wondering how to make an open path that you can turn into a stroke (a line basically and please forgive my crude terminology). When I make a path with the pen I cant stop until I've created a closed path, i.e I cant just create a line! Basic I'm sure but until someone shows you its hard to figure out!

Second is not really a photoshop question but I just bought a mighty mouse and I think its faulty. the two grey side buttons keep clicking on even when I dont seem to be touching them. Is this a common thing cos its really annoying!!

Cheers

[Medley]

I can't help you with the second problem, however......

Set your foreground color (bottom left-hand corner) to the color you want your stroke to be. Make your path, and leave it open-ended. Go to the paths pallette, and look at the icons at the bottom of the pallette. One of them allows you to stroke the path with the foreground color, and it works even if you haven't closed the path.

-Medley.

[tombothetominator]

Welcome.
On the paths question:
You don't have to create a closed path, just put in as many anchor points as you want to get the shape you want, then open up your paths pallette (mine was a tab next to the layers pallette by default, but if you dont see it you should be able to click on the 'Window' Menu and then select 'Paths'.

The path you just created is probably called 'work path' at this point so just right click on it and select 'stroke path'. This should get the job done.

One thing to keep in mind though is that when you stroke it it allows you to select the tool used to stroke it (pencil, brush), and you want to make sure that you adjust those settings (color, brush size, opacity, flow, hardness, tip shape) before you stroke your path the stroke will be created whatever those settings are.

Make sense?

On the mighty mouse: No clue.

Hope this helps.

[tombothetominator]

HAHA Medley beat me to it.

[dirtyface]

Cheers guys, kind of understand a bit better although I still cant stroke a path. I can see the path pallet and finish the path by selecting a new one but when I try to return to a path in the pallet and apply stroke path with brush it wont let me, comes up with the no entry sign (circle with line through it). Have I made a mistake?

Thanks again guys

[tombothetominator]

I can see the path pallet and finish the path by selecting a new one

Okay, I think this may be where your problem is. You dont need to create a new path to finish the one you are working on. Just right click on the 'working path' after you are done making all your anchor points, and you should be able to strok the path.

Stroking isn't available if a path contains no anchor points, so if you are right clicking on the blank path then it wont be an available option.

I hope i am understanding you correctly. Anywho, here is a screenshot of what it looks like when i do it: