Curved line Trouble(photoshop)
 

Ok, I need to make a straight line I have look like this: http://www.phong.com/tutorials/wire/1.gif
But, how can I transform the sraight line into this nice, gradual curve you see?:igor: :o

I don't have photoshop but in ms paint you use the curved line tool. :D

Either use the pen tool to create a point to point line, and adjust the curve. Or make a circle and cut bits out of it.

I thought of the pen thing earlier, but how can I add the points exactly on the edge of the line? I dont want it to be off by any pixels.

use what you've got there to make a custom shape :D

it's always the simplest things that are the hardest to do in photoshop

Hey I remember that curved line. I think it's from either ThinkDan.com or a Phong tutorial.

Meh, anyone have any solutions? papadoc?

I have questions first:
How did you draw the original straight line,
that you want to curve?
Is this line on a seperate layer?

My answers would depend on how you made the line.

I used a 15 px thick paintbrush and zoomed in to make sure it was straight. Yes, its on its own layer, just like everything is in my new project.

Ok.
Since you created the line with the paintbrush,
it is a raster object.
In order to curve it, it has to be converted into a vector object.
Photoshop is not powerful enough to do that.
Adobe Illustrator can, but not Photoshop.
Sorry...:(

The only way I know to curve it is to try this:
(it may work and it may not, because you might loose some
of the thickness. You'll just have to try and see)

Select the line layer.
Go to Filter > Distort > Shear.
When the Shear box comes up select Repeat Edge Pixels
(to maintain as much of the pixels in the line as possible)

You'll see two handles, one at the top of the line,
and one at the bottom.
You can move these handles left and right.
To create a curve, add another handle anywhere in the middle of the line, by clicking on the line.
Move the new handle to create a curve.
When you get the curve like you want it click OK.

If it's not exactly like you want it
hit Ctrl-Z on the keyboard (to go back to the original straight line)
open the shear box and try again.

The "Defaults" botton removes all handles you made,
leaving only the default top and bottom.

After you curve it, if you loose any thickness,
you can always use the paintbrush to thicken it.

Try that and see if it will do what you want.

Wait wait, I have Illustrator too! How do I do it?;)
edit: I tried shear before too, couldnt get it the way I wanted.

I'm not as familiar with Illustrator.
I don't have it here at home, just at school.
I remember that you place a Photoshop image into Illustrator,
and there are ways to convert images into shapes or objects,
which can then be curved and straightened like paths,
then exported back to Photoshop.
I remember doing it, but I don't really remember how.
I'd need the program in front of me to do it again.

If you haven't got it by tomorrow, I'll run over there,
and get it for you.

how about you make the curve in MS Paint, copy it, and paste it into Photoshop?

If it was done in paint it would be a flattened image...including the background.

Maybe this will jog your memory papadoc:
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/bar.txt[/img]
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/menu.txt[/img]
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/object.txt[/img]
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/type.txt[/img]
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/select.txt[/img]
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/filter.txt[/img]
[img]http://goldensphinx86.***********/effect.txt[/img]

oh, wow, 7 red X's :D

is it just me or does our tripod image-linking trick not work anymore? :(

It works for me.:)

works for me too.

Works for me also.

Back to the question please:D

I worked on this all day, and came real close,
But couldn't quite get it right.
(My Illustrator skills need improving)
I know you want it precise like I would,
so here's what I did, you can see how you do with it:

Opened file in Illustrator using File > Open >
Convert Photoshop Layers to Objects > OK.

Selected line layer > Create New Layer @ bottom of layer palette.
(Use this new layer to trace the line, which is what you'll work with)
Using the pen tool...created a path around the line with 4 anchor pts,
2 @ the top and 2 @ the bottom, making Bezier curves on each end.

Switched to Add Anchor Point tool > added 2 more anchor points,
in the middle, one on each side.

Changed to Direct Selection Tool > click outside work area >
then clicked on the line anywhere but not on an anchor point.

Shift clicked to select both middle anchor points.
Dragged to create the curve.

Swithced to Convert Anchor Point tool and converted the angle to a curve.(You'll see what I'm talking about)
(Here you can use Direct Selection Tool to adjust the curve,
or use any of the tools to fine tune the curve)

Hide the straight line. (Don't delete it, you may need it again sometime)

Switched to Selection Tool and selected entire curve.

Filled selection with black.

Saved as AI file > opened in Photoshop > dragged onto Photoshop image.

This came real close to making a curve out of the straight line.
With some tweaking I hope you can get it.
Try and see.

My project....
 

What did you think of it so far?:)

I just opened it.
It's awsome !!!
I wish I'd opened it sooner.
I just worked with the line in Photoshop.
You can do the same thing there, without using Illustrator.

Create a new layer at the top of your layers.(above wire)
Use the pen tool to trace the line, exactly like I did above.
Then use the selection tools like above to curve it and tweak it,
using the anchor points and Bezier handles.
(You'll notice in the layers palette, you are creating a vector mask)
You can also use the Transform tools to rotate or scale or whatever.
When you get it like you want it...hide the "wire" layer.
Then duplicte the mask layer ( in case you want to work with it more)
Select one of the shape layers > go to Layer > Rasterize > Layer.
Watch what happens...:D

Thanks a lot man, for all your help.:) Im almost done with it, just some last finishing touches and then I submit it.