HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map? - Adobe Photoshop

DragonLife wrote:
> HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
>
> How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making
> borders for a map, and need to make these.

Well, you'd probably be better off using a program which supports dotted
lines, like Illustrator, however, in Photoshop you can create a path and
then Edit->Stroke (not on the shape layer) using a brush with a large
spacing.

No, you'd /definitely/ be better off using a program like Illustrator. Then
you can edit the lines rather than erasing and re-doing them if any change
is needed.

Andrew

"Andrew Morton" <akm@in-press.co.uk.invalid> wrote in
news:4tsop8F15f6beU1@mid.individual.net:

> DragonLife wrote:
>> HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
>>
>> How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making
>> borders for a map, and need to make these.
>
> Well, you'd probably be better off using a program which supports
> dotted lines, like Illustrator, however, in Photoshop you can create a
> path and then Edit->Stroke (not on the shape layer) using a brush with
> a large spacing.
>
> No, you'd /definitely/ be better off using a program like Illustrator.
> Then you can edit the lines rather than erasing and re-doing them if
> any change is needed.
>
> Andrew
>
>
>

yeh use Illustrator, PS is for images, maps are vector

--
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In article <4578e7f8$0$7141$a8266bb1@news.titannews.com>,
DragonLife <na.na@na.na> wrote:

> How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making borders
> for a map, and need to make these.

You're using the wrong tool. Doing this in Photoshop is difficult and
frustrating; doing it in Illustrator is quick and effortless.

--
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all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Nanohazard, Geek shirts, and more: http://www.villaintees.com

alternatively, Fireworks8 can be used, but your end result would have to
stay a raster image.

Andrew is correct about Illustrator. That and Fireworks are about your
only choices on the Adobe side of things, esp. for maps.

However, if you'd like the answer in Photoshop, this may be a
(relatively) pain free way of doing things (please note you will have to
do extra work unless your operating on a "closed" shape):

create a repeating tile pattern of your choice to use for the dashes,
create a Photoshop pattern out of it.

next create your country border with the pen tool.

set a stroke effect to "pattern" (namely, the pattern tile you just
created) and set the shape's fill to 0%.

Now about the closed shape: You may have noticed that Photoshop tried to
close the shape you were making after three points. This "closing" line
would have to be removed with a layer mask, by creating a mask and
checking the box marked "Layer Mask Hides Effects" in the Advanced
Blending Options of the line you want.

theartist

Andrew Morton wrote:
> DragonLife wrote:
>> HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
>>
>> How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making
>> borders for a map, and need to make these.
>
> Well, you'd probably be better off using a program which supports dotted
> lines, like Illustrator, however, in Photoshop you can create a path and
> then Edit->Stroke (not on the shape layer) using a brush with a large
> spacing.
>
> No, you'd /definitely/ be better off using a program like Illustrator. Then
> you can edit the lines rather than erasing and re-doing them if any change
> is needed.
>
> Andrew
>
>

This is one of the few frustrating deficiencies of Photoshop. Yes, it isn't
a vector program, but I don't see why Adobe couldn't put a decent bit-map
curved line drawing tool in. After all, the Commodore Amiga program Deluxe
Paint was a bit-map program too and much more basic than PS, yet it had a
brilliant curved line tool over a decade ago! It isn't rocket science, and
it's a feature I have often needed for digital art, maps, diagrams, etc.



"DragonLife" <na.na@na.na> wrote in message
news:4578e7f8$0$7141$a8266bb1@news.titannews.com...
> HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
>
> How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making borders
> for a map, and need to make these.
>
>
> TIA!
>
>
>
> ................................................................
> Posted via TITANnews - Uncensored Newsgroups Access
> >>>> at http://www.TitanNews.com <<<<
> -=Every Newsgroup - Anonymous, UNCENSORED, BROADBAND Downloads=-
>

Use the Pen tool to make a curved path where you want the dotted line
to go. Choose a hard-edged round brush. In Brush Options, set Spacing
to more than 100% (this makes the brush a dotted-line brush). Make sure
the Brush tool is selected and select your path (named Work Path by
default) in the Paths palette. Now click the Stroke Path button (the
solid-edged circle, second from the left in the Paths palette).
Photoshop strokes your path with a dotted line.

Done!

Tom Nelson
Tom Nelson Photography


> "DragonLife" <na.na@na.na> wrote in message
> news:4578e7f8$0$7141$a8266bb1@news.titannews.com...
> > HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
> >
> > How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making borders
> > for a map, and need to make these.
> >
> >
> > TIA!
> >
> >
> >
> > ................................................................
> > Posted via TITANnews - Uncensored Newsgroups Access
> > >>>> at http://www.TitanNews.com <<<<
> > -=Every Newsgroup - Anonymous, UNCENSORED, BROADBAND Downloads=-
> >
>
>

Tom Nelsons answer from a day or so ago is spot on, using paths, but
you might also try using the method used in the video tutorial from
this site: http://www.watchandlearnphotoshop.com/983647.html

Don't want to add petrol to the "best/worst video tutors" thread, just
a quick and free video worth seeing, as it like Tom Nelson, also
addresses DragonLifes precise question.
Curt Hakl
el Condor Loco Graphix
Queensland, Australia

>
> > "DragonLife" <na.na@na.na> wrote in message
> > news:4578e7f8$0$7141$a8266bb1@news.titannews.com...
> > > HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
> > >
> > > How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making borders
> > > for a map, and need to make these.

I'm using PS7 and I'll be danged if I can find the "Spacing" box or
slider for the brush tool.
I know I've seen that before, but now I can't find it anywhere.

Tom Nelson wrote:

>Use the Pen tool to make a curved path where you want the dotted line
>to go. Choose a hard-edged round brush. In Brush Options, set Spacing
>to more than 100% (this makes the brush a dotted-line brush). Make sure
>the Brush tool is selected and select your path (named Work Path by
>default) in the Paths palette. Now click the Stroke Path button (the
>solid-edged circle, second from the left in the Paths palette).
>Photoshop strokes your path with a dotted line.
>
>Done!
>
>Tom Nelson
>Tom Nelson Photography
>
>
>
>
>>"DragonLife" <na.na@na.na> wrote in message
>>news:4578e7f8$0$7141$a8266bb1@news.titannews.com...
>>
>>
>>>HELP! How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as in a map?
>>>
>>>How do I make CURVED DOTTED LINES as a map often has? I'm making borders
>>>for a map, and need to make these.
>>>
>>>
>>>TIA!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>................................................................
>>> Posted via TITANnews - Uncensored Newsgroups Access
>>> >>>> at http://www.TitanNews.com <<<<
>>>-=Every Newsgroup - Anonymous, UNCENSORED, BROADBAND Downloads=-
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>

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DOH, ya gotta be on the brush tip shape area. LOL

RicSeyler wrote:

> I'm using PS7 and I'll be danged if I can find the "Spacing" box or
> slider for the brush tool.
> I know I've seen that before, but now I can't find it anywhere.
>
> Tom Nelson wrote:
>

--
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Online Racing: RicSeyler
GPL Handicap 6.35
ricseyler@SPAMgulf.net
http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~ricseyler
remove –SPAM- from email address
--------------------------------------
"Homer no function beer well without."
- H.J. Simpson