Path Selection Tool

You can create and save a Tool Preset for any tool, which will remember settings that you choose for that tool, so you can quickly and easily select different presets and settings for a particular tool. The degree of usefulness of presets varies, depending on the tool.

You can reset any tool back to its default settings by right clicking on the Tool Presets button and select Reset Tool. Take care not to Reset All Tools, unless that is intended.

Choose whether to select All Layers or Active Layers.

Choose from different Fill styles: Solid Color, Gradient, Pattern.

You can also select from recently used colors, or from a range of colors, arranged in various groups.

A Stroke in Photoshop is an outline. Strokes can vary in width, color and style.

You can adjust Stroke Width either with the dropdown size box and the slider, or directly, using the Scrubby Slider (highlighted in red).

Move the cursor over the word "Stroke" and watch for the cursor to change to a hand+arrows. Click and drag to the left to decrease, or to the right to increase the width of the stroke. While dragging, you get a live preview, which is very useful.

The Stroke options are highlighted in green. Click to open the panel shown below.

Choose from different Stroke styles: Solid Color, Gradient, Pattern.

You can also select from recently used colors, or from a range of colors, arranged in various groups.

Note that Fill and Stroke panels are identical, but when the panel is opened from Stroke, options will change the Stroke settings.

Choose the line style of the stroke and also choose options for Align, Caps and Corners.

Align: Align the Stroke Inside or Outside the path, or Centered on the path.

Caps: Caps are the beginning and end of a line. Choose from Butt, Square or Rounded Caps.

Corners: Where you have corners in a path, choose from Round, Bevel or Miter.

More Options: You can also select the above 3 options in More Options. You can also customize a Dashed Stroke.

This works the same as in word processors. Align text to the Top, Middle, or Bottom of the textbox.

This option is only valid in Paragraph Text, where text is within a box. It does not apply to Point Text.

You can combine shapes by adding, subtracting, or intersecting.

Shapes interact in the same way as selections interact. For examples of how selections interact, see Selections Interactions.

Select options regarding Alignment and Distribution.

For more information, see Align & Distribute.

When you have multiple elements, you can arrange them by bringing forward, so they are in front of other elements, or sending back, so they are behind other elements.

Bring Shape to Front brings the shape to the front, so it is visible over all other shapes.
Bring Shape Forward brings a shape forwards, so it is in front of the next shape. It may still be behind other shapes.
Send Shape Backward Sends a shape backwards so it is behind other shapes. It may still be in front of other shapes.
Send Shape to Back Sends a shape to the back, so it is behind all other shapes.

Align vector shapes to the pixel grid.

These are some options for your preference while you work with a path.

Set the thickness for the visible path, while your work.

The Rubber Band option creates a line while you move the cursor to create the next anchor.

Constrain proportions while dragging.

The Path Selection tool is used for moving or selecting paths or shapes. It is often used in conjunction with the Direct Selection tool, which is used for modifying the shape of a path or shape.

Both tools are in the shape of an arrow. The Path Selection Tool is black, while the Direct Selection Tool is white.

You can switch between them by holding the Ctrl key and clicking.

Select the Path Selection tool on the Toolbar. It shares the button with the Direct Selection tool, so the visible tool will be the last one used.

Here is a simple shape I created with the Curvature Pen Tool, just by clicking a few times to add anchor points. The tool automatically created the shape, which I filled with green.

If I click again with the Curvature, or any other Pen tool, I will be adding a new layer for a new shape.

To edit the shape, you need the Path Selection Tool, or the Direct Selection Tool.

With the Path Selection Tool, click on the outline of the shape and the path will be visible. You can change the color of the path, using Additional Path Options. This is sometimes necessary, depending on colors used in the Fill or Stroke, make it hard to see the path.

If I click on an anchor point with the Path Selection Tool and drag, it will move the entire path. Whilst dragging, you will just see the path move. When you release the mouse button to complete the move, the whole shape, complete with Fill and Stroke, will move. See the next step.

This is the result of the previous step, where I clicks and dragged the path to move it.

To change the Fill, click on the Fill button on the Options bar.

Choose which type of Fill you want. I've selected Solid Color (highlighted in green).

Other options are;
No Color (highlighted in pink)
Gradient (highlighted in blue)
Pattern (highlighted in white

You can open the Color Picker (highlighted in yellow), or select any of the color groups.

I have selected blue from the Recently Used Colors.

Here is the blue Fill.

Click on the Stroke Type button on the Options bar. That opens the panel shown.

You have the same options as in the Fill Type panel, for No Color, Solid Color, Gradient, or Pattern.

I have selected a magenta color from the Pure dropdown list.

Here is the Magenta Stroke.

It has been applied using my last used Stroke Width (74.08 px).

To change the size, I have moved the cursor over the Scrubby Slider. Note the hand + 2 arrow icon.

Click and drag to the right to increase the width of the Stroke. See the next step.

I have dragged the Scrubby Slider to the right to increase the Stroke Width to 140.07 px (the whole number isn't visible).

Here is the wider Stroke.