In this Photoshop tutorial, we'll turn an ordinary photo of a girl into a vector drawing.

This is a rather difficult lesson that will take you a lot of time, but it's worth it! Thanks to this lesson, you will understand how vector images of people are drawn.

We are not using any filter here, only the Pen tool. If you don't know how to use the Pen Tool, see .

Find the photos you want to turn into vector art.

Duplicate it and go to the menu Image> Adjustments> Posterize (Image - Correction - Posterize) and select the desired number of levels there. The more levels, the more detailed your vector image will be.

Highlight the girl's face and neck (exposed areas of the skin) with Use the eyedropper tool to select the color of the skin from the photo. Fill the selection with this color.

Outline the hair again, fill it with black and place this layer below the face layer.

Since we have lost some areas of hair on the temples and on the forehead, we need to finish them. Do this on a new layer above the face layer.

Circle the edges of the clothing. Remember that every detail must be solid. We will draw shadows later...

And now, based on your posterized base and the original image, decide on a new level that you will paint, and with its color.

NEVER TAKE COLOR FROM THE POSTERIZED LAYER! THE COLORS ON IT ARE INCORRECT, YOU NEED IT ONLY TO DRAW THE LEVEL.

Continue painting the tones on the skin. Layers with shadows should be superimposed on each other according to the following principle: light layers - at the bottom, dark ones - at the top.
When you are done with the skin, merge all these layers.

Since we have two layers with hair, make a new layer on the very top and draw light strands on it.
If the hair in your photo is dark, then it will be easy to do, and if it is light, then you will have to more accurately draw the shades obtained during posterization.

Do the same with clothes.
If you look at the original photo, you will notice that the necklace is missing from the drawing. It's okay, so be it.

If the person in the photo is a little overweight or has some detail that you don't like, then just remove it!

Edit all remaining details...

Now work on the eyes. First, on a new layer, draw the shape of the eye. Then create another layer and draw eyelashes. Then merge both layers together.

On top of the black eye shape, draw a slightly smaller white one. And inside the white one there are several circles, from which the pupil will turn out.

We draw lips. First draw the shape and fill it with the main color.

Draw shadows and highlights on the lips, as well as in the mouth (if necessary).
Here, as you can see, a substrate for the teeth is drawn - this is the basis of the gums and the shadow of the teeth.

And in the end, draw the teeth themselves and highlights on them.
Remember that all shadows and highlights must be grouped with the main color.

And after several hours of working on this photo, now look at the result! We sincerely hope that you yourself like what you have drawn.

How to make a vector image in Photoshop is often asked. As you know, Photoshop is a program for processing raster graphics and is not intended for working with a vector. Special graphic editors work with vector graphics. But if you really need it, but there is no time to study a new program, then with the help of some manipulations you can convert the picture into a vector.

What is a raster and vector image and how do they differ

A raster image is also a grid of pixels (dots). To all of us, the familiar digital photo is just a bitmap image. A vector image does not consist of pixels, but of geometric primitives: straight lines, rectangles, and other shapes.

If you reduce and then significantly increase a bitmap, its quality will be irrevocably spoiled. Since each pixel is a dot of a certain color, and all together these dots make up a picture. When the image is reduced, extra pixels are discarded, so it cannot be restored to its original appearance.

Scaling a vector image allows you to resize without losing quality. This is possible due to mathematical recalculations of the dimensions of the geometric shapes that make up the image.

A raster image allows you to reliably convey visual information, a vector image does not have such an advantage. Vector graphics images can be useful for rendering logos and outline drawings. You will not get photographic beauty from them. Or it will be very complex images, consisting of a huge number of primitives that actually replace pixels.

A simple example of how to convert a raster to a vector

So, the vector consists of geometric shapes. Photoshop has tools for creating paths. The contour is a geometric figure. To make a vector image in Photoshop, you need to create an outline of the image. The tools of the group will help us with this. Select: Rectangular Marquee Tool, Elliptical Select Tool,** Magic Wand Tool , **Quick Selection Tool And "Pen" / Pen tool.

In order for the vector to turn out to be neat, it is worth choosing a bitmap image of the highest quality possible, otherwise the contours will need to be drawn manually.

Open the bitmap image in Photoshop (the most common bitmap format is JPG). Logos, contour drawings, sketches are very easy to process. To get a vector sketch of a portrait, you can first convert the portrait to a sketch using "Filter Galleries", or use ready-made pop art. How to work with "Filter Gallery" and quickly create pop art from photos, we talked about in previous articles. For this example, we will take a ready-made pop art portrait. We deliberately prepared it from a photo of not the best resolution. Therefore, the vector version will show us a noticeable difference.

To work with contours, you need to call the tab "Contours" / Path to the layers palette. To do this, go to the menu "Window" / Window and check the box "Contours" / Path. The bookmark will appear on the layers palette.

The image has 4 colors (the background is not counted). We take the tool "Magic Wand"/Magic Wand Tool and select the first color. To select all areas scattered by islands across the image, hold Shift.

With the first color selected, select the tool "Lasso" / Lasso or Rectangular Marquee Tool and, without removing the selection, click the right mouse button. In the context menu, select Make Work Path.

In the dialog box, specify the maximum smoothing "Tolerance" / Tolerance(from 1 to 10; the lower the number, the better the contours will repeat). We press Ok.

Bookmark "Circuit" the first loop will appear. On the image, it will be noticeable in the form of curves with dots. They can be aligned and adjusted with a tool Node Selection/Direct Selection Tool. With this tool, select a point and either adjust the curve by moving the antenna of the point, or move the arc itself.

Bookmark "Circuit" change the name of the circuit. To do this, double-click on it and change the name in the dialog box.

We do all the described steps with the rest of the colors. As a result, we get four contours for each color.

Having received the contours, it remains to create a vector. Go to bookmark "Layers" / Layer on the layers palette, create a new layer Shift+Ctrl+N. We set the main color to the one in which we will color the first contour.

Back to bookmark "Circuit", we become on the first contour. In the main menu under "Layers" / Layers choose "New Fill Color" / New Fill Layer - "Color"/Solid Color. In the window that opens, click Ok.

Now going to the bookmark "Layers" / Layers, you will see the first vector layer on the new layer.

In the next dialog box, as usual, specify the file name and path.

That's all. The method is quite simple.

If you often have to work with vector images, perhaps this article will inspire you to learn new graphic editors. In any case, you have learned another useful method. We wish you great work.

Learn more about Photoshop in courses.

Tools for working with vector in Photoshop appeared a long time ago, but they began to be used in work relatively recently. This is due to the fact that for a very long time they were “raw” and because. The vector in Photoshop is not a specialized tool for work, and it has not been finalized. But everything changed with the release of Photoshop CC.

Why you need a vector in Photoshop

First I want to tell you why I use vector in Photoshop. There are many proven vector editors. The most common are Illustrator, CorelDraw, Xara. Most often I am engaged in web design, which means that my work is not the final result. Those. before becoming a website, interface, application, the layout will get to the layout designer. Most layout designers are fluent in Photoshop, but very superficially familiar with Illustrator. Therefore, the desire to “shove” everything into one file is quite logical. It's great when a layout designer receives one PSD which contains a complete layout, and even with the ability to edit elements. Change the button color, change the radius of the menu form, increase or decrease the block without losing quality - in 2 clicks and 1 minute! Vector in Photoshop allows you to do this without any special skills.

Features of working with a vector in Photoshop

If you have worked in any vector editor before, then a lot of things will seem familiar. But it takes a lot to get used to. All work in Photoshop is built with layers, this also applies to all vector tools.
1. To easily edit a vector in Photoshop, you need to place each shape on a separate layer.
2. Operations of “merge”, “subtraction”, “superimposition” are best applied to no more than two objects.
3. After the “merge”, “subtraction”, “overlay” operations, the contours of the original objects remain available for editing.
4. Raster styles can be easily applied to all vector objects. It is very convenient.
5. You can apply transparency to vector objects and apply filters to them.
6. Individual layers and layer groups with vector objects can be easily cloned inside a document or copied to another PSD document.
7. Label each layer and group layers - this will save a lot of time.

Basic Primitives

As in any vector editor, the vector in Photoshop has ready-made primitives. Basic primitives:
“Rectangle”, “Rounded Rectangle”, “Ellipse”, “Polygon”, “Line”, “Custom Shape”. For each shape (at any time) you can set the thickness / type / color of the stroke and fill. Additional properties are available for specific primitives. For example, for a polygon, you can set the number of corners, and for a rectangle with rounded corners, you can set the rounding radius.

Basic tools

To draw an arbitrary vector or edit an existing one (including the contour of primitives), you must use the tools “Pen” (draw an arbitrary contour), “Pen +” (add new anchor points to the finished contour), “Pen-“ (delete anchor points from the finished contour), “Free pen” (draw an arbitrary contour by hand), “Angle” (change the bends of the contour curves, set the types of connections between the anchor points).

To illustrate the process, a short video from which you will learn:
1. How to create a primitive
2. How to draw an arbitrary vector shape
3. How to edit the outline of a primitive
4. How to edit the outline of an arbitrary vector shape

Basic Vector Operations in Photoshop

There are 4 operations available in total: “Merge shapes”, “Subtract front shape”, “Merge shapes in overlay”, “Subtract shapes in overlay”. All these operations are available through the main top menu. Layers > Merge Shapes, or through the “Properties” toolbar (top menu Window > Properties).
Attention! Before starting any operations to merge vector shapes, make sure that the layers of these shapes are selected in the “Layers” toolbar (turn it on F7 or Window > Layers).

A short video illustrating the basic operations of "merging shapes" in Photoshop.

Change color, size and apply styles

Here we come to the most interesting. Vector in Photoshop allows you to resize both up and down without losing quality. To do this, select the desired layers in the "Layers" toolbar, press Ctrl+T (or Command+T if you have a MAC) and dragging the markers of the selected path with the mouse adjust the size. In order for the size to change proportionally, you need to hold down the Shift key.


Short video:
1. Resize a Vector Shape
2. Change the Fill Color of a Vector Shape
3. Add Style to the Vector Shape

Download PSD Example (Free)

To make it easier for you to figure out how to use a vector in Photoshop and see how these tools can be applied in practice, I am posting an Infographic file made by me completely using vector tools.

Ask a Question

If something doesn’t work out for you or if you have any questions, write in the comments and I will help you figure it out. You can also watch videos using vector tools.

Despite the fact that Photoshop is a raster graphics editor, some vector tools are also provided in its toolset. Vector tools are designed primarily for creating editable curves - contours. In order to refresh your memory, we recall that the difference between raster and vector graphics is in the way of storing and describing graphic information. Vector drawings are stored in the form of mathematically described curves, which do not lose quality when scaling, and are subject to easy and flexible editing at any time. First, consider the principle of constructing vector curves.

Vector contours are built on segments that have key nodes and control points. Key nodes limit the segment from two sides, and control points allow you to control the bending of the curves.

Group tools are used to create curves pen. Tool pen tool designed to create curves by key nodes. The principle of operation of this tool is to specify the key points of the contour segment. If, when specifying a control point, without releasing the mouse button, move it, then a segment will appear at the key point containing checkpoint. Further mouse movements already directly affect the control point, and, in turn, the bend of the segment. The next left-click will set the next control point, and so on.

The Pen tool can work in two modes - creating curves and creating so-called shapes - closed vector areas. Switching between these modes is carried out by buttons - contour creation mode, - shape creation mode. If you are working in the form creation mode, then the contour you create will always be considered closed and, as a result, filled with the color you have chosen. Physically, in the Layers palette, a layer mask is created based on the vector drawing. The layer itself is filled with the color you choose (choose the color on the properties palette).

The principle of working with a vector mask differs slightly from the principle of working with a raster mask, only the means differ. If, in the case of working with a raster mask, you changed it using drawing tools, then in this case, changing the shape of the mask occurs using vector tools.

In order to convert a vector mask into a raster one, you need to call the context menu of the vector mask and select the item Rasterize Mask. As a result, you will get a regular layer mask. Otherwise, working with a layer mask in the vector version does not differ from working in a raster version.

Vector drawings are convenient because at any time it is very convenient to change the shape of the curves of this drawing. There are a number of tools for this. For example, the tool (adding key points - nodes) - adds key points on the curve in the place where you click. The tool can remove extra points on the contour by clicking on the point to be removed. In fact, switching to these tools is not necessary at all. Pay attention to the switch Auto Add/Delete on the properties palette. If this mode is enabled (checked), then the Pen Tool will automatically switch to the Add Point Tool (when you place it over the path) and the Point Delete Tool (when you place it over an existing point). If the mode is disabled, then deleting and adding points will be possible only when using the appropriate tools.

The bending of curves is controlled through control points. Use the tool to select a control point Direct Selection Tool. Selecting the node to be edited (clicking with this tool on the node being edited). Then by moving the control points you affect the curvature of the curve in the region of the selected node. You can also move selected nodes with this tool. Tool Path Selection Tool designed to work with the curve as a whole, as with an object - for moving and transforming. For vector objects, the Free Transform mode is applied, exactly the same as for raster areas.

An important tool for working with key nodes is a tool called Convert Point Tool. The purpose of this tool is to convert node type. There are two types of key nodes in Photoshop vector graphics - smooth And corner. The meaning of smoothed key nodes is that the control points of two curves converging at the same node Always on the same virtual line.

Another type of node, as we said, is called a corner node. The meaning of this type is that virtual lines passing through the control point of one of the segments and the common key node of both segments can converge at any angle.

The type conversion tool works like this - if the node is smooth (and by default nodes are created smooth) then clicking the conversion tool will change the node's type to angular. If, after pressing the mouse button, do not release it, but simply drag it, you will be able to control the bending of the segment at a particular node.

We started by highlighting two modes of operation of the Pen Tool. The first is the shape creation mode, and the second is the outline creation mode. Let's dwell on the mode of working with contours.

In this case, your path will not automatically fill and form a vector layer mask and layer. In this case, your outline will be purely virtual and not related to layers. To work with such paths, there is a palette called Path. All operations with contours are concentrated in this palette.

In the Path palette, paths (paths) are placed as layers in the Layers palette, and there can be several unrelated vector paths on one vector layer. Path controls are located on the bottom line of the Path palette. Painfully familiar pictograms with a trash can and a clean leaf have not changed their purpose in this palette either, i.e. respectively, this is the removal of the vector layer and the creation of an empty vector layer.

Until now, we have been thinking why in such an absolutely raster editor as Photoshop these vector tools are needed. A simple example of using vectors in Photoshop is again working with selections. As you can see from the figure, a number of Path palette icons are designed to convert a path (path) to a selection path and vice versa. In fact, after getting some skills in working with paths, you will realize that it is much easier to adjust a vector path to the shape of a selection than even using a fairly flexible quick mask. So if you want to edit the selection you can always convert it to a path (outline), then edit it and convert it back to a selection again. If you want to apply operations like Stroke and Fill, traditional for selection paths, then they are also at your disposal.

Boolean operations work somewhat unexpectedly. You can create paths in any of the logical modes, be it addition or subtraction. At this stage, you will not notice any action. But don't be fooled by the fact that you've found a bug in an almost flawless program. In fact, Photoshop remembers in which mode you created the path (the office writes ...) and as soon as you order the program to create a selection outline from your hodgepodge of paths, Photoshop will remember everything and perform all the operations that you prescribed to it when creating paths. The Create Selection Path from Path dialog box allows you to set the most important settings regarding selection paths (but only if you use the Make Selection command on the Path palette menu).

Please note that you can set the feather radius (Feather), enable or disable Anti-Aliased anti-aliasing. In the Operation section, you can set the logical mode for the newly created selection. The options in this section become available only if one selection path already exists. Accordingly, if you select the New Selection operation, the selection created will replace the existing selection; the Add to Selection option will add a selection created from a path to an existing selection; Substruct from Selection - will subtract the created path from the existing selection.

Tool Free Form Tool allows you to create a vector path in simple drawing mode, like a brush. Hold down the left mouse button and simply move the mouse to draw the outline you need. This tool has one main feature that makes this vector tool similar to the Magnetic Lasso tool, and that is the option Magnetic. The principle of operation is the same, the tool looks for contrasting borders and draws a contour only there. Otherwise, the contour created by this tool does not differ from the usual contour.

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Everyone who works with graphic editors sometimes has to deal with both vector and raster graphics.

What if we needed to add some Photoshop special effects to the vector file. Today I will show you how to work with vector files in Photoshop.

1) Just drag and drop AI or EPS file into PHOTOSHOP. We see:

2) The size is very important here - after all, in Photoshop the image will become raster, and it will be difficult to increase the size without losing quality. Therefore, it is best to take a large size immediately.

3) When we opened our file, all the images were on the same layer. In order to work with each of them separately, you will have to use a selection, for example, the Rectangular Marquee Tool, and then cut to a new layer.

4) Since we are not sure what size the image will have to work with, we will convert it to a smart object. Just right-click on it and select the appropriate item. It turns out that the object has become similar to a vector object in terms of characteristics, and it can be increased as you like.

5) In this example, I copied one of the skulls and then turned it into a smart object, and stretched both objects. So far no difference can be seen

6) But let's zoom in on the image. The difference is obvious!

7) All that remains to be done is to place everything as it should). You can use layer properties (Image>Adjustments) and blending options (Right click>Blending options).

And yet why is it better to open vector images in vector editors?

Because here you can change not only the sizes, correct lines, colors, which is not always easy in Photoshop, especially for a beginner.
Finally, you should know that in Photoshop you can paste an image directly from Illustrator - just select the desired image in illustrator, Ctrl+C, and then ctrl+v at PhotoDhop.
Further, the procedure is identical to that described above.