Quick & Dirty Photoshop Vector Tutorial

I want to start by saying that this is not a great tutorial but will give you basic understanding of how to get started vectoring.  There are really good in depth tutorials online. 

And with anything, practice makes perfect.

1. You want to start out with a pretty large template to vector on.  Hit file  –  new and the size box opens.  3000 x 4000 pixels at least.  You can resize it later to fit whatever template you are using for your project.

 

 

For every shape we vector, we will click the new layer button.

 

Take note that these are the pen tool settings you want selected upper left hand side of tool bar.

 

 

Now your going to start tracing around the largest backround shape of your picture.  In this case it's the face

 

 

 

 

Once you finished tracing the shape of the face you right click and hit fill path on the pop up box.

Take a look at your color choice to the left. The selected color is going to be your fill color so make your color choice before right clicking and hitting fill path.

 

 

Your path has been filled now right click and hit delete path and you now have your first vectored shape.

 

 Click on the eye next to the layer your face shape is on (right side of screen) to hide it so you can trace the next shape.

next pick the next largest backround shape to vector.  In this case it's the large circle around the eye. 

 

Again I want to stress that you must hit new layer button to the right.  Using the pen tool trace around the shape.  Following same steps as above. 

 

 

You now have your second shape vectored.

Now continue vectoring all of your shapes. Eventually and a while later you will have a complete picture that prints beautifully.

 

 

 

When you are done you want to turn off your photo layer and save a PNG. ( see red circled left hand side of screen)

Complete vector.

 

I hope this helped a bit.  There all sorts of tricks and tips all over the Internet.