Photoshop Pen Tool: How to Edit E-Commerce Photos?

When it comes to e-commerce product photography, having a clear and professional look is essential. One of the most crucial techniques in Photoshop is the clipping path, which is necessary for product photo editing. High-quality photography is critical in developing a successful business, as many customers decide purchase a product based solely on its photos. Unprofessional or unappealing product photos can drive customers away from your online store. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to create excellent product photos. Photo editing software like Photoshop allows you to enhance any product image for your online store. If you’re new to Photoshop, this article will teach you basic and advanced photo editing techniques using the pen tool.

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What is the Pen tool in Photoshop?

The Photoshop Pen Tool is a versatile and precise tool used for creating vector paths and shapes. Moreover, it allows users to draw straight lines and curves by placing anchor points and manipulating their handles. In addition, this tool is essential for tasks, such as making detailed selections, creating complex shapes, and designing custom paths. It’s widely used for creating clipping paths, which are crucial for isolating and editing parts of an image, especially in product photography and graphic design.

Basic Function of Pen tool

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It’s crucial to understand the basic functions of the Photoshop Pen Tool to edit product images. Knowing how these features work will help you create precise and professional-looking photo edits.

Tool Location

To get started with the Pen Tool, you need to know where to find it in Photoshop. The Pen Tool is located in the toolbar, typically on the left side of the workspace. In addition, it is represented by a pen icon. If you can’t find it immediately, it might be nested with other related tools, like the Freeform Pen Tool or the Curvature Pen Tool. To access it, you can either click and hold on the pen icon to reveal the additional options or press the shortcut key “P” to select it quickly.

Anchor Points

The Pen Tool works by placing anchor points, which are pivotal in defining the shape of your path. Here’s how to use them:

Placing Anchor Points:

Click on the canvas to place an anchor point. Each click will create a straight line segment between points.

Manipulating Anchor Points:

Once an anchor point is placed, you can move it by holding down the Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) key and dragging it to a new location. This adjustment helps fine-tune the path for better accuracy.

Adding and Removing Points:

To add a new point, simply click on the path where you want the new point. In addition, remove an existing point and click on it while holding down the Alt (Option on Mac) key.

Handles and Curves

One of the most powerful features of the Pen Tool is its ability to create smooth curves using handles:

Creating Curves:

Click and drag to place an anchor point. As you drag, two handles will extend from the anchor point, allowing you to shape the curve. Moreover, the direction and length of the handles determine the curve’s direction and steepness.

Adjusting Handles:

After placing a curved anchor point, you can adjust the handles to refine the curve. However, hold the Alt (Option on Mac) key and click on a handle to move it independently, giving you precise control over the curve.

Breaking Handles:

To create a sharp corner on a path, hold the Alt (Option on Mac) key and click on the anchor point to break the handles. Moreover, this action allows you to move each handle separately, changing the curve into an angle.

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How does the Photoshop Pen Tool help edit E-commerce Photos?

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The Photoshop Pen Tool is a versatile and powerful feature that significantly enhances the process of editing product photos. Here’s how it helps:

Precise Selections

The Pen Tool allows for exact selections. Moreover, it’s crucial for product photos where every detail matters. However, you can create precise paths around objects, ensuring that no part of the product is accidentally cut off or included in the selection.

Background Removal

One of the primary uses of the Pen Tool is to remove backgrounds. By creating a path around the product, you can isolate it from the background, making it easy to replace with a plain color, a gradient, or a different image. However, this is especially useful for e-commerce images, where a clean, distraction-free background can make the product stand out.

Creating Clipping Paths

The Pen Tool is often used to create clipping paths, essential for non-destructive editing. A clipping path ensures that adjustments, such as color corrections or exposure changes, affect only the product, not the background. Moreover, it helps maintain a consistent look across all product photos.

Refining Edges

With the Photoshop Pen Tool, you can create smooth, refined edges around the product. However, this is particularly important for products with intricate details or irregular shapes. Furthermore, the tool allows you to control the curvature and placement of anchor points, resulting in a polished and professional appearance.

Adding Shadows and Reflections

The Photoshop Pen Tool can be used to create realistic shadows and reflections by duplicating the path of the product and transforming it appropriately. Moreover, you can add these elements to enhance the visual appeal and depth of the image. The Photoshop Pen Tool also makes the product look more three-dimensional and lifelike.

Enhancing Product Features

The Pen Tool enables you to make precise adjustments to specific product parts. For example, you can select and enhance features like logos, text, or intricate details without affecting the rest of the image. This targeted editing ensures that every aspect of the product is presented in the best possible light.

Composite Images

For advanced editing, the Pen Tool helps create composite images. By carefully selecting and blending multiple elements, you can combine them into one cohesive image. Moreover, this is useful for creating marketing materials or showcasing products in various settings.

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Photoshop Pen Tool Tutorial: Master the Basics and Beyond

The Photoshop Pen tool is handy for various tasks like background removal, refining edges, and adding shadows and reflections. It helps create precise outlines, ensuring your product images look professional and polished. This article will provide the necessary information about how to use the Photoshop pen tool.

Step 1: Open Your Image

Open Photoshop and load the image from which you want to remove the background. Go to File > Open, select your image, or drag and drop the image into Photoshop.

Step 2: Select the Pen Tool

Select the Pen Tool from the toolbar. It is also on the left side of the workspace. It looks like a pen icon. In addition, you can also press the P key to select the Pen Tool quickly.

Step 3: Create a Path Around the Object

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Zoom In: Zoom in to get a closer view of the edges of your object, which allows for more precise placement of anchor points. To zoom in, use Ctrl + + (Cmd + + + on Mac). 

Start Placing Anchor Points: Click on the object’s edge to place your first anchor point. Trace the Object: Continue clicking around the object to set anchor points. For curved edges, click and drag to create smooth curves. Adjust the handles to shape the curve accurately.

Step 4: Close the Path

Connect the Path: Once you’ve traced the entire object, click on the first anchor point to close the path. It creates a closed shape around your object.

Step 5: Convert the Path to a Selection

Make Selection: Right-click inside the path and select Make Selection from the context menu.

Feather Radius: In the dialog box that appears, set the feather radius to 0 pixels for a sharp edge or a small value (1-2 pixels) for a slightly softer edge. Click OK.

Step 6: Remove the Background

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Invert the Selection: Go to Select > Inverse to invert the Selection. In addition, it will select the background instead of the object. 

Delete the Background: First, press the Delete key (or Backspace on Mac) to remove the background. Alternatively, you can add a layer mask to hide it.

Step 7: Refine the Edges (Optional)

Select and Mask: If the edges aren’t perfect, you can refine them using the Select and Mask option. Simply go to Select, then choose Select and Mask.

Adjust Settings: Use tools like Smooth, Feather, and Contrast to fine-tune the edges. The Refine Edge Brush Tool can help with more detailed adjustments.

Step 8: Save Your Work

Save the Edited Image: Once satisfied with the background removal, save your work. Go to File > then click Save As or choose your desired image format (e.g., PNG for a transparent background).

Conclusion

Photoshop’s pen tool is essential for product photo editing because it provides excellent precision and control. It helps users create and adjust paths accurately, which is necessary for cutting out products from backgrounds, making sharp edges, and getting professional results. The different types of Pen Tools—standard, freeform, curvature, and anchor point tools—make it easy to do various editing tasks, from simple selections to detailed adjustments. In addition, users can work faster and more accurately by learning to use the Pen Tool well. Furthermore, it also improves the look of product images, making them more appealing and ready for sale.

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Kaushik Roy

I am a proficient Digital Marketing Specialist skilled in augmenting page rank, generating targeted traffic, optimizing conversion rates, and executing comprehensive SEO initiatives. Additionally, I provide invaluable insights, tips, and strategies for creating authoritative content that empowers companies to adapt to evolving trends and strengthen their online presence.

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