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This wikiHow will show you how to create or import a shape in Photoshop when you're using Windows or macOS. To make your own shape, you can use your desired shape tool (e.g., square, polygon) or draw one with the pen tool.
Steps
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Open your Photoshop project. You can do this from the Photoshop File menu. Alternatively, you can open Windows File Explorer or Finder, right-click the file, select Open With , and then Photoshop .
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Click on the Shape Tool icon. This is in the menu along the left of the application window.Advertisement
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Click a Shape Tool. You can choose a preset line, square, rectangle, polygon, ellipse, or circle. You can create a custom shape by clicking the sloppy star icon.
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Click and hold over the canvas. This will start your shape.
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Drag your mouse to create the shape. Your shape doesn't have to be perfect, as you can edit your shape once it's created on the canvas.
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Edit the shape. You can access the Move Tool from the menu on the left, or you can press M . When your cursor is over the shape, it will turn into a cross-hair icon with four arrows pointing out. This allows you to move the shape to a different location.
- To resize the shape, drag-and-drop the handles on any of its sides.
- You can change the shape's color by clicking on the colored boxes in the menu along the left side of the application window. [1] X Research source
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Open your Photoshop project. You can do this from the Photoshop File menu. Alternatively, you can open Windows File Explorer or Finder, right-click the file, select Open With , and then Photoshop .
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Open the file with the shape you want to insert. You can do this the same way you opened the current project.
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Drag and drop the shape to your Photoshop project. This will be easiest to accomplish if you have the project and image/shape open side-by-side.
- You can access the Move Tool from the menu on the left, or you can press M . When your cursor is over the image/shape, it will turn into a cross-hair icon with four arrows pointing out.
- To resize the shape, drag-and-drop the handles on any of its sides.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I insert a shape in Illustrator?Shari Fairclough is a Social Media & Graphic Design Expert based in Atlanta, Georgia. Shari is a versatile designer with extensive experience in social media marketing, UX/UI design, and graphic print production. She has over 4 years of both freelance and in-house experience working as a UX and Graphic Designer. She currently works as the Social Media & Marketing Coordinator at Guidepost Montessori. In this role, Shari curates engaging content and enhances the school's online presence. In 2022, Shari founded Sunni Aesthetics, a design platform that blends culture, design, and art. Shari holds a Google UX Design certification. Additionally, she studied graphic design at The Creative Circus, has four years of experience working as an assistant teacher, and is certified as a TEFL instructor. Shari has contributed to various publications, including Canvas Rebel, VoyageATL, and 11 Alive, and has film credits on IMDb for her work in "Black Lightning," "The Color Purple," and "The Staircase." She received a BA in Film & Media from Georgia State University.You can insert shapes by using the shapes tool. You can then choose from various shapes such as a rectangle, ellipse, polygon, or star, and start drawing. Click and drag on your canvas to draw the shape to your desired size. If you want a perfect square or circle, just hold down the shift key while dragging your shape. Once your shape is created, you can adjust its properties such as the fill color, stroke color, and stroke weight, in the control or properties panel.
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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about using adobe softwares, check out our in-depth interview with Shari Fairclough .
About This Article
Article Summary
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1. Open your Photoshop project.
2. Click the Shape Tool
icon.
3. Click a shape preset.
4. Click and hold the canvas to start your shape.
5. Drag and drop to end your shape.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 38,131 times.
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