Create custom shapes from images - Photoshop tutorial

Apr 19th, 2007 by admin 7,030 Views

In this tutorial I will show you how to create custom shapes out of an image in some quick and easy steps. Custon shapes are a powerful tools to make great looking logos and web design. First of you’ll need an image like this:

Photoshop tutorial starting image

Creating custom shapes out of images is easier if the background has an uniform color. In this case the bottle has a white background so that it is possible to use the “Magic Wand Tool” instead of another “Marque Tool”. If you have an image with a complex background you will first need to cut it out from there and this usually takes some time because you have to be precise to obtain a good result.

In this case (uniform background color) select the “Magic Wand Tool” with “Tolerance 20px” and press somewhere on the white background

with the selection active, press right mouse-button and choose “Select Inverse”

press right mouse-button again and choose ” Make Work Path” and set “Tolerance” to 0,5px

In the path window (if it’s not open select “Window –> Path”) you can see a preview of your shape

at the bottom of the “Path panel” you will see a small round and dark filled circle. By clicking it you will fill your path with the choosen color.

Now you should have something like this:

Custom shape Photoshop

Finally select “Edit –> Define Custom Shape” and give your new shape a name and press “Ok”

Now you will be able to create as many bottles as you like with different colors and style just by selecting the “Custom Shape Tool” from your toolbar.

Custom shapes from images