Adobe Photoshop makes it easy to add shapes to an image: you can draw them using a variety of shape tools, or select from a large assortment of predawn shapes. You can arrange vector shapes on separate layers for easy modification and overlay effects. In this tutorial, you'll add both background and foreground shapes to an image and create some flair with gradient and layer effects.
Click on the rectangle tool to reveal the shapes. To create a rectangle for example click and drag to create a rectangle covering the right half of the image. The rectangle uses the foreground color by default. To change the color, double-click the layer thumbnail to bring up the color picker and select a new color.
To create a custom shape select the custom shape tool
Since it's a vector shape on its own level, the sunburst is easy to move or resize. Select the layer and then use the Move tool to move the shape, or choose Edit > Free Transform to resize rotates, flip, or skew it.
Fill the custom shape with a pattern.
Next we'll apply one of Photoshop's pattern effects to make our shape more interesting. Select the new shape in the layers palette, and then choose Layer > Change Layer Content > Pattern. Click the pattern in the Pattern Fill dialog box to open the Patterns palette. Click the black triangle to open the palette menu.
The palette menu shows different sets of patterns--Artist Surfaces, Color Paper, Nature Patterns, and so on--that you can add to your basic patterns palette. Select a set, and then click Append. Click a pattern to apply it to the custom shape. To change your shape back to a solid color or to a gradient, choose the Layer > Change Layer Content command again.
Making your own shape library Making a Shape Path.
Select the pen tool which is next to the shape tool.
You can use a background image to trace around. This will automatically create a new shape layer. You should be able to turn down the opacity of the layer to see the trace properly and then turn it back up gain when you have finished. Turn off the background layer and there you have your custom shape.
To save your shape
Choose edit define custom shape, give it a descriptive name and click ok
Your new shape will now be in the shapes palette.
