Photoshop and curves

[SharkBait]

Hi,

  I am trying to make better shapes for the web using photoshop and I am having issues creating images with curves that don't look so pixelated for the web.

I dont have an example at the moment, but if someone could a) point me to a good tutorial to making un-pixelated curves in PS that be good (yea I know there a billions of PS tuts out there)
b) Perhaps guide me via the forum here how I would go about it.

I currently use PS CS1 and been using a mix between the shape tools and the pen tool to manipulate the vertexes.

This is the image actually that is pixelated and I want to make smooth.  [img]http://tingram.ca/pixelate.jpg[/img]

[AndyB]

This might help.  Make the curved parts at a much larger size, then resize them to the size you want in the final version.

[SharkBait]

So you mean make it like 400% the size it should be, and then just resize. 

I'll have to try that..

[wildteen88]

Best way to create curves in PS is to use the Pen tool. When you go to create a curve click then create your next point, while you are creating your secound point hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse to left/right to create the desired curve. Masting the Pen tool isn't easy, however if you enabl the grid it can become alittle easier to perfect a decent curve. Thats how I create curves with the pen tool.

[Koobi]

when i used PS, what i would do is create a curve with a marquee tools (feathering) on an alpha channel and then blur it by very small amounts many times and then apply Curves (ctrl+m  or image > Curves ?) and sharpen the blur.

i would then use the alpha channel to load a selection and use that selection.

worked perfectly everytime :)


i wish i could better instruct you, but i don't have access to PS nor have i used it properly in the last 2 years or so.

[jcombs_31]

Koobi, that seems like a lot of work for a curve.  Really, you need to just learn the pen tool.  For some things you can use the  eliptical tool and get by, but really the pen tool needs to be mastered for any real shapes and lines.

[Koobi]

but a pen tool won't be as smooth as manipulating a blur on an alpha channel.

for most web graphics (72dpi), the pen tool should be fine but for print graphics (150/300dpi), it can make a difference depending on the size of the graphic in which case i believe using alpha channels is very appropriate :)

[SharkBait]

In the first post example, I think the way I tried making it is using the Rounded Corner shape tool, get it to the size I wanted and then use the pen tool to manipulate the points I've selected.

If I were to add more points to it would that help it out?  After I've used the pen tool on a shape I do a feather selection of 0 and then fill in the selection (or cut depending on what I want it to do).  I have just noticed that doing things like this, the selection isnt always as percise as I would like it to be.